Northwestern University Athletics
Coaches Corner: Jerry Brown
9/17/2015 11:06:00 AM | Football
As the Wildcats look to continue their early-season success, associated head coach/defensive backs coach Jerry Brown sat down with NUSports.com to talk about his experiences as a Northwestern student-athlete and coach, what he has seen in the growth of head coach Pat Fitzgerald and what it was like to become a internet sensation following the season-opening victory against Stanford.
NU: How has the program changed from when you were a player to now as a coach?
JB: "Wow. Probably the biggest difference is, I say this to the players all the time, I think they're spoiled. They get so much stuff. They are so well taken care of. Not that I don't think we weren't taken care of, but in comparison its not even close. Especially the kind of equipment they have, the nutrition they have, the facilities as far as the weight room. We didn't have all that stuff. I think the weight room was over in Patten Gymnasium. I'm not sure if anyone has been over there lately, but it was like a dungeon."
NU: Does that have to do with the evolution of the game of football?
JB: "It's an evolutionary type thing. I get it. I'm not jealous. When I played it was the best we have and now with these men it is the best they have. Who knows 20 years from now what it's going to be like and what players are going to have. Especially Division I football, its an arms race. Facilities are a big thing. When we get the new facility it is going to help us in recruiting as well."
NU: What is one of your favorite moments during your time with Wildcat Football?
JB: "One that sticks out in my mind right away is back in '95, we had a pretty good football team. Well, we didn't know we had a pretty good football team but it kind of grew as we went along. We were playing Wisconsin and we ended up shutting them out. At that point in time, we won our sixth game so we were bowl eligible. I was so excited because going into the season, being bowl eligible was going to make us very happy. As that season went on, we ended up making the Rose Bowl, but winning that sixth game like that helped jumpstart the program. When Coach Barnett got here, his thing was to 'expect victory'. As I have seen this program grow, that expectation is alive and well, especially now. The last two seasons we were 5-7 and that isn't acceptable, but back then they would have been tearing down the goal posts."
NU: What has it been like to see Coach Fitzgerald grow from a player to the head coach of this program?
JB: "I realized how bright he was as a football player, but he is just so smart football wise. He sees things that others don't see. He has a gift. To see him grow as a head football coach has been phenomenal. The core part of him is still the same, but the maturation part of him, you have been able to see him carry himself so well as a head coach. He knows that it is his responsibility to steer the program in the right direction. From day one to now, he is totally in charge and that is a great thing."
NU: Who have been some of you favorite players to coach over the years?
JB: "I have had a lot of guys to work with that have been very, very enjoyable and I'm still experiencing that with the young men I have now. I'm pretty fortunate. I tend to look at myself as being blessed with the young men that all of our coaches have to coach here at Northwestern, because it really is a special school."
NU: There is a rumor that you eat a victory hot dog after big wins…
JB: "That is just a rumor (laughter). I've had a hot dog or two after games. When Red Auerbach was the head coach of the Boston Celtics, towards the end of the game he would light a victory cigar. I can't light a cigar and I'm not going to light a cigar, so a hot dog isn't so bad."
NU: What was your reaction to your dance moves becoming a viral sensation?
JB: "I was a little stunned. I didn't think it was such a big deal, but all of a sudden my phone was blowing up. I got over to the coaches' office; people started asking me what was going on. I tell people, if I knew the camera was rolling like that I may not have done it. They caught me in a happy moment and that was a big win for us."
NU: Have you always had those dance moves?
JB: "No (laughter). I don't know where they came from."
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook and check us out on Instagram. For more information on following specific Northwestern teams online, visit our Social Media page!
NU: How has the program changed from when you were a player to now as a coach?
JB: "Wow. Probably the biggest difference is, I say this to the players all the time, I think they're spoiled. They get so much stuff. They are so well taken care of. Not that I don't think we weren't taken care of, but in comparison its not even close. Especially the kind of equipment they have, the nutrition they have, the facilities as far as the weight room. We didn't have all that stuff. I think the weight room was over in Patten Gymnasium. I'm not sure if anyone has been over there lately, but it was like a dungeon."
NU: Does that have to do with the evolution of the game of football?
JB: "It's an evolutionary type thing. I get it. I'm not jealous. When I played it was the best we have and now with these men it is the best they have. Who knows 20 years from now what it's going to be like and what players are going to have. Especially Division I football, its an arms race. Facilities are a big thing. When we get the new facility it is going to help us in recruiting as well."
NU: What is one of your favorite moments during your time with Wildcat Football?
JB: "One that sticks out in my mind right away is back in '95, we had a pretty good football team. Well, we didn't know we had a pretty good football team but it kind of grew as we went along. We were playing Wisconsin and we ended up shutting them out. At that point in time, we won our sixth game so we were bowl eligible. I was so excited because going into the season, being bowl eligible was going to make us very happy. As that season went on, we ended up making the Rose Bowl, but winning that sixth game like that helped jumpstart the program. When Coach Barnett got here, his thing was to 'expect victory'. As I have seen this program grow, that expectation is alive and well, especially now. The last two seasons we were 5-7 and that isn't acceptable, but back then they would have been tearing down the goal posts."
NU: What has it been like to see Coach Fitzgerald grow from a player to the head coach of this program?
JB: "I realized how bright he was as a football player, but he is just so smart football wise. He sees things that others don't see. He has a gift. To see him grow as a head football coach has been phenomenal. The core part of him is still the same, but the maturation part of him, you have been able to see him carry himself so well as a head coach. He knows that it is his responsibility to steer the program in the right direction. From day one to now, he is totally in charge and that is a great thing."
NU: Who have been some of you favorite players to coach over the years?
JB: "I have had a lot of guys to work with that have been very, very enjoyable and I'm still experiencing that with the young men I have now. I'm pretty fortunate. I tend to look at myself as being blessed with the young men that all of our coaches have to coach here at Northwestern, because it really is a special school."
NU: There is a rumor that you eat a victory hot dog after big wins…
JB: "That is just a rumor (laughter). I've had a hot dog or two after games. When Red Auerbach was the head coach of the Boston Celtics, towards the end of the game he would light a victory cigar. I can't light a cigar and I'm not going to light a cigar, so a hot dog isn't so bad."
NU: What was your reaction to your dance moves becoming a viral sensation?
JB: "I was a little stunned. I didn't think it was such a big deal, but all of a sudden my phone was blowing up. I got over to the coaches' office; people started asking me what was going on. I tell people, if I knew the camera was rolling like that I may not have done it. They caught me in a happy moment and that was a big win for us."
NU: Have you always had those dance moves?
JB: "No (laughter). I don't know where they came from."
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook and check us out on Instagram. For more information on following specific Northwestern teams online, visit our Social Media page!
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