New Tider
Connie Brown

Birthday: 3-11-80
High School: Petaluma
JUCO: CCSF
JUCO Coach: George Rush
JUCO Number: 5
Official Visits: Alabama and UNLV
Second Choice: Tennessee or Georgia
Host During Alabama Visit: Milo Lewis
Committed: 2-2-2000
Roommate To Be: Shawn Oglesby

From the same school that sent Milo Lewis to the Tide last year and Canary Knight and Miguel Merritt the year before. Over the past two seasons Connie had 11 interceptions. He was a first-team All Golden Gate Conference selection. He was a second-team JC Grid-Wire All-American.

Q&A with Connie Brown

TI: When did Alabama begin recruiting you?

CB: Alabama started recruiting me, or at least said they were interested in me, at the end of my freshman season. Coach Cottrell was out here to recruit Milo [Lewis] when we were playing in the national championship game. He saw me and said that they were probably going to want me at Alabama.

TI: Which other schools recruited you?

CB: Mainly, I was only interested in SEC schools. I've always wanted to play in the SEC. Alabama was recruiting me, but I wanted to have some other options in case I needed them. So I asked our coach [George Rush] to call some of the SEC schools, like Tennessee and Georgia. He called them and they started recruiting me. Tennessee recruited me harder than Georgia. I was scheduled to visit Tennessee when they played Vanderbilt, but there was some confusion about my transcript and I ended up not going. I already knew I was going to Alabama anyway.

TI: What did Tennessee tell you?

CB: They said that I could come in and play with that safety they already had, Deon Grant. They said if he didn't go pro, we could start together. If he went pro, they said I could take his position.

TI: You mentioned that you knew that you were going to Alabama. When did you decide that you were definitely going to Alabama?

CB: I visited in November and I knew two weeks before the visit that I was going there. I liked their tradition and the program. Plus, with Milo already being there, he told me everything that I needed to know about the program. He gave me a lot of insight to the team and the coaching staff and I liked what he had to say. Then when I visited there I liked the way they treated me. It was a real nice place too. And with Shawn [Oglesby] going there too, I knew there would be somebody I would know for both years I was there. Not that I had to have somebody go with me, but it made my decision a little easier.

TI: How good is Shawn Oglesby?

CB: I guess that I haven't played with a lot of great defensive ends, so it wouldn't be saying much to say he's the best I've ever played with. But he's the best I've ever played with or been around. He's a very smart player and he understands his strengths and weaknesses. He looks kind of small [weight] for a defensive end, but he's very strong. He's going to be a great player at Alabama.

TI: When you came out of high school, were you recruited by any Division 1 schools?

CB: I had been recruited by a few Pac-10 schools, but I didn't have a Spanish course that I needed. My high school coach told me that I had a few options to look at in junior college and I ended up at CCSF.

TI: Describe yourself as a player.

CB: I'm a new breed of safety. Most safeties are smaller than I am. I'm a finesse player, but I use my size to my advantage. I'm taller and bigger than most receivers are and I've got good jumping ability. I play off of receivers so the quarterback will think that they have me beat. Then I use my speed, height and jumping ability to make up ground.

TI: Do you have a favorite game from your junior college career?

CB: It was the two national championship games. My freshman year, the first time Coach Cottrell saw me play, I made three interceptions in the championship game. And Shawn [Oglesby] blocked an extra point that I picked up and ran 95 yards with for two points. In the championship game last year, I had two interceptions. We lost the championship my freshman season. This year we won it.

TI: How do the Alabama coaches plan to use you?

CB: They're telling me free safety and strong safety. It really doesn't matter which. I'm more concerned with learning the system. Going in this summer would make it tough to learn the system and be ready to play by the first game, but Alabama uses the same defense we ran here at CCSF. I talked to Milo about it and he said that the only difference in the schemes is the terminology. The names of the schemes are different. So once I learn the different names I should be OK. Milo said it takes a little time, but that it won't be any problem. The main thing he's telling me to work on is footwork.

TI: When do you plan on reporting to Alabama?

CB: I graduate from here at the end of May. Coach Cottrell says he would like for us to be there by July 4th. But I'll probably go in a few weeks earlier to get used to the weather and everything.

TI: Going from California to Tuscaloosa seems like a big change of lifestyle.

CB: I don't think it will be for me. I liked it a lot when I visited Alabama. It was a nice place. I'm a laid back person and don't really like the fast-paced lifestyle. If I need a break or something, there are a lot of places close by that I'd like to see. I could go to Atlanta or to Florida.

TI: Growing up in California, did you ever watch Alabama on TV?

CB: I was a college football fan and I watched them some, but we didn't get many of their games out here. The things that I always remember the most about Alabama were David Palmer and Antonio Langham. They were great players, especially Palmer. I remember he could do it all.

TI: Obviously you never dreamed that someday you'd be playing for Alabama and your first game would be in the Rose Bowl against UCLA.

CB: No, not at all. It's unbelievable when you think about it. I'm going to like being center stage at the Rose Bowl because I know a lot of people that go to UCLA. A lot of my old high school classmates go there.

TI: Will they be there for your homecoming?

CB: They will be there. My whole family is going to be there. Everyone is really looking forward to it.

TI: From what you know of the team, what are your expectations of next season?

CB: I know that Alabama has a lot of talent. Realistically, I think if we play up to our ability that we will beat everybody on our schedule and will be playing in the last bowl they play next January. Considering our talent, we should be there.