Alabama / Auburn Iron Bowl 2003 postgame interviews with Brodie Croyle, Brandon Brooks, Shaud Williams, Joe Kines, Mike Shula and Tommy Deas

Brandon Brooks (#5 So. SE, 5-4 163 lbs. Birmingham, AL - Shades Valley High School)

Kick returner Brandon Brooks sparked the Tide with a 96-yard kickoff return to start the second half

These comments came following the 2003 Auburn game as Brandon Brooks answered questions from the press pool ...

Brandon Brooks … I told myself I was going to get this team ignited and run it back for a touchdown. I touched the ball, and that’s what I did.

Press Pool … You first got in a couple of games ago. Did you ever dream you would have a game like this?

Yeah. I always knew it was in me. I tell my teammates I can hype it up. I started playing during the Mississippi State game and had a great game that game. Against LSU, I really didn’t get a chance to do anything. But I think that I have a lot of good games in me. This was just one of the many left to come.

The call was a middle return. So I caught the ball, started up field and it just opened up like the parting of the Red Sea. I hit the hole, made the kicker miss and headed for the end zone.

Yeah, that’s all I needed was a crease. I saw it and just burst through it full speed ahead and didn’t look back.

Yeah (laughs). My teammates always tease me. I’m kind of considered fast, but I’m only good for 60 meters, you know (laughs). After that, I guess my stride kicks in or something. But that’s what you need in football, is that burst of speed and knowing that no one is going to catch you.

Yeah, it was all adrenaline pumping. Like I said, there wasn’t nobody gonna catch me. I was going to get to the end zone no matter what.

My teammates came in and were real happy for me. It was a big emotional scene on the sideline. Everyone was happy and we were ready to play then. Unfortunately, we just came up a little short.

Talk about that being the biggest play of your career, but then losing the game.

That’s the bad thing. It was a good play, but I felt like I could have done a lot more. I wish I could have done a lot more for the team.

The best way to describe the season ... (long pause) … I can’t really think of a word. I guess more disappointment, a learning season. I’m going to learn a lot from this season and all those close games. Coach Shula came in and said to remember the feeling, and then he named all the close games we lost. We’re not going to have that feeling anymore next year. So I guess I’d describe the season as a learning season.

What did you think about the atmosphere tonight. Have you ever come across anything like that?

No, never. But actually, it was the first game I came out and wasn’t even nervous, despite the crowd. The crowd actually kind of pumped me up. I’d never played in a game like this, and it was exciting playing in the Iron Bowl for the first time. I was looking forward to it.

When you talk about this game with your friends and family back home, what will you tell them about it?

They probably watched it, but if they didn’t, I’ll tell them it was a good, hard-fought game with two good teams going head to head. We fought to the end, but unfortunately like I said, we came up a little short.

I think I can definitely be a game breaker for this team. We’ve got Tyrone Prothro running with me, also playing the receiver position. We’ve got a couple guys that didn’t play much this year. I think we’re going to have a lot of game breakers who will step up. Although, Shaud is leaving, we still have Ray Hudson here and a lot of players who I think will rise to the occasion.

Click on the name for their post-game comments ...
Coach Mike Shula (Head Coach)

Brodie Croyle (#12 So. QB, 6-3 200 lbs. Rainbow City, AL - Westbrook Christian High)

Brandon Brooks (#5 So. SE, 5-4 163 lbs. Birmingham, AL - Shades Valley High School)

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