Warrior captain Chris Brown chats with readers
Stephen Tsai: Aloha. Thanks for joining us. we will being in one minute. Please whisper your questions to me, and Chris will answer them. We will begin now, with Chris Brown making an opening statement.
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| University of Hawai'i linebacker and team captain Chris Brown answers questions from readers during a live chat tonight in The Advertiser's newsroom. Advertiser staffer Casey McGuire-Turcotte provides typing assistance.
Scott Morifuji • The Honolulu Advertiser |
Stephen Tsai: EARL writes: can uh be a consistent top 25 team?
Chris Brown: Yes, because we have a lot of talent on our team and we have great coaching. I feel that we're only beginning. We're not even close to being what we can become.
Stephen Tsai: what did you do with the cincinnati helmet you were holding up after the fight?
Chris Brown: It was taken away from me...by our equipment manager.
Stephen Tsai: Jane S writes: Chris, weren't you a running back earlier in your career? would you like to be used on goal line plays?
Chris Brown: I wasn't a running back at UH, but in high school I was used as a fullback.
Chris Brown: I would like to be used if they ever needed me as an r.b.
Stephen Tsai: DieHard asks: Are you guys pumped up for the Alabama game?
Chris Brown: Yeah, we're fired up. Practice has been very intense, and we're all really excited for Saturday.
Stephen Tsai: Gilbert L writes: During the melee...what was going on on the field? I could see a lot of jawing between theplayers. What do you think of all of this?
Chris Brown: During the whole game there was a lot of bad talking going on between both teams. We expected something to happen because of all the stuff that was going on on the field during the game.
Stephen Tsai: Kurt in Hilo asks: Looking toward next year, can you comment on the linebackers who will be back next year?
Chris Brown: The linebacker squad will be excellent, I think. Chad Kalilimoku, Keani Alapa, Ikaika Curnan, and Kilinahe Noa have great lb instincts.
Stephen Tsai: What do you do during your free time?
Chris Brown: I like to workout and just relax. I like to get away from all the hard work.
Stephen Tsai: Michael and Nancy L write: My question, did the bravado of payback to the instigators of the fight need to be boasted to all who would hear and comment?
Chris Brown: We feel that nobody comes into our house and pushes us around. We didn't want the fight to happen, but we had to defend ourselves.
Stephen Tsai: DieHard: Have you talked to Nate Jackson lately? How's he doing?
Chris Brown: I haven't talked to Nate, but I heard he's doing ok...our prayers are always with him.
Stephen Tsai: Will Timmy Chang play on Saturday?
Chris Brown: It looks like he will. He's trying really hard to practice. He hasn't suited up with pads, but he's been working out throwing the ball and watching a lot of films.
Stephen Tsai: If you were visiting from Alabama, how would you explain linebacker Matt Wright?
Chris Brown: He's a hard-nosed linebacker who like to mix it up. He has one mission--to destroy the tightend.
Stephen Tsai: Is there anything unusual about him. Say, is he a clean freak? Does he have a nickname?
Chris Brown: We call him the "spaz." He has a habit of skipping around to and from the huddle. He also does weird dances that we always tease him about. It always looks like he's spazing out.
Stephen Tsai: Diehard asks: Do people recognize you around the island and ask you for your autograph or anything? If so, how do you feel about it?
Chris Brown: Yeah, people recognize me. It feels great for little kids to come up to me and ask for an autograph, or a fan to tell me good luck or good game.
Stephen Tsai: Chester asks: Are you getting pumped up for the game?
Chris Brown: I'm fired up! This is the biggest game for us seniors. This is a dream come true for me, to face Alabama, the team I watched as a child.
Stephen Tsai: Do you still inhale smelling salts before games?
Chris Brown: Yeah. It
Chris Brown: Sorry. It's a way of getting me jacked up for battle.
Stephen Tsai: Tell us something we don't know about linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa.
Chris Brown: He has a soft side. He's a good person to speak to if you have problems, especially about girls.
Stephen Tsai: DieHard asks: Do you have like...luckysocks or something that you wear during games?
Chris Brown: Before the games, I write a certain a quote to myself on my wrist that I refer to throughout the game.
Stephen Tsai: Chester asks: What kind of music do you listen to before a game like the one coming up?
Chris Brown: I like to listen to crazy music, like Korn, Saliva, or P.O.D.
Stephen Tsai: Are you currently dating anyone?
Chris Brown: Yes.
Stephen Tsai: Dior asks: Hi, Chris, I got to see you a few times at pipeline and maitai. what are your future plans after graduating?
Chris Brown: I would like to continue playing football, but in all I just want to make some money and support my family.
Stephen Tsai: DieHard asks: Can you tell us something unknown about Hyrum Peters?
Chris Brown: Hyrum Peters is a really good polynesian dancer. He is an excellent Tahitian dancer, too.
Stephen Tsai: How do you manage to balance school, football and parenthood?
Chris Brown: It's really hard. I wish I could spend every moment with my son, but I know that playing football and going to school will all pay off in the end.
Stephen Tsai: dior asks: Any chance of playing in the NFL, because you have the potential
Chris Brown: It has always been a dream of mine, and I hope one day that that dream can come true. I'll do whatever it takes.
Stephen Tsai: What the heck is a Bearcat?
Chris Brown: I have no clue...
Stephen Tsai: Are Bearcats scared of Warriors?
Chris Brown: Warriors hunt Bearcats.
Stephen Tsai: DieHard asks: How old is your son?
Chris Brown: Five years old.
Stephen Tsai: Dior says: My brother DJ wouuld like for you to sign his warrior helmet. is there a way to arrange to have that done?\
Chris Brown: Yes. I'm around the UH locker room and the weight room all day. Or call 956-7523, our UH sports information director, to set something up.
Stephen Tsai: Can you sign a Cincinnati helmet?
Chris Brown: Uh, whatever.
Stephen Tsai: Diehard asks: Have any of you guys read fan reactions to the fight? how did you guys feel about it?
Chris Brown: There making us out to be the bad guy, like we started the whole thing. But we feel we were just standing up for each other.
Stephen Tsai: Norman O asks: Is there any particular team you would like to play on Christmas Day?
Chris Brown: I would like to play a Pac-10 team because they're on the West coast, and they can bring in the crowd. If I had a choice, it would be Washington.
Stephen Tsai: Dawson Morrison asks: What is the most difficult thing you expect to encounter from the Bama offense?
Chris Brown: Stopping their run. They execute really well, and they make few mistakes.
Stephen Tsai: Who's your favorite Wahine volleyball player?
Chris Brown: Margaret Vakasausau. She's a really hard worker, and a very nice person.
Stephen Tsai: Pugsballa asks: Chris, how do you feel about this weekend's game?
Chris Brown: I feel that it's a huge test for our team. I feel that we can make a big statement to the rest of the country and show everyone that we have good football out in Hawai'i.
Stephen Tsai: DieHard wants to know if it would be OK if he asked theplayers for autographs at the football banquet.
Stephen Tsai: Dior says: I've heard your favorite movie is T
Chris Brown: Sure. No problem in that.
Stephen Tsai: ...The Program. My brother's favorite character is Mack.
Stephen Tsai: Who's yours?
Chris Brown: It's an even tie between Mack and Latimer.
Stephen Tsai: Pugsballa asks: How do you guys prepare mentally and physically in the days leading to a game?
Chris Brown: We work hard in practice, watch a lot of films, and work out hard in the weight room.
Stephen Tsai: Dior asks: Does your girlfriend attend UH, also?
Chris Brown: Yes.
Stephen Tsai: If you could be anybody on the team, who would you want to be?
Chris Brown: I would want to be Vincent Manuwai because it looks like he's gonna be a guarenteed millionaire in a matter of months.
Stephen Tsai: is he stronger than you are?
Chris Brown: We're about the same, but just remember--he's 50 pounds heavier than I am!
Stephen Tsai: flyinhawaiian asks: is timmy going to play this weekend?
Chris Brown: Looks like he will. He's trying hard to suck it up.
Stephen Tsai: ddk asks: who will be the next stars at lb position?
Chris Brown: Chad Kailimoku, Keani Alapa, Ikaika Curnan, and Kilinahe Noa.
Stephen Tsai: hilo girl asks: If a fan wanted to take pictures with some of you after the game, would they be able to?
Chris Brown: Yes. They would have to meet us in the back of the Aloha Stadium locker rooms.
Stephen Tsai: pugsballa asks: wht's your opinion of the two different coaches youve played under at UH?
Chris Brown: Do you mean head coaches or position coaches?
Stephen Tsai: flyinhawaiian asks: do you think we can move the ball against the no. 3 defense in the nation?
Chris Brown: Yes, because Alabama has never seen an offense like ours. It's a lot different than running teams from the South.
Stephen Tsai: pugsballa says: both -- head coach and position coaches.
Chris Brown: I never really played under Von Appen. Coach Singletary and Lumpkin were very good coaches. They were patient with me and taught me a lot about how to play the position.
Stephen Tsai: hilogirl asks: which guy on the team, would you say, gets the most attention from girls?
Chris Brown: Timmy. He's the star quarterback!
Stephen Tsai: dior asks: have you played the 2003 football league?
Chris Brown: No.
Stephen Tsai: pugsballa asks: which season do you think has been the best -- 99, 01 or 02?
Chris Brown: 2002, because it's a great way for me to end my career at UH.
Stephen Tsai: ddk asks: where do you think the fb program is heading?
Stephen Tsai: ,,,and what wil it take tofill more seats?
Chris Brown: I think the program is heading for greatness. The way we will fill more seats is by winning all the time.
Stephen Tsai: hilo girl asks: do you think pisa will leave after this season?
Chris Brown: Yes, because I think he would rather make a lot of money than go to school.
Stephen Tsai: pugsballa asks: if you could change one thing in your carer, what would you change, and why?
Chris Brown: I wish I began playing linebacker as a freshman, so I could be more skilled at the position.
Stephen Tsai: diehard asks: who do you hang out with the most on the team?
Chris Brown: My roommates, Pisa and Matt Wright, Laanui Correa, Lance Samuseva, Vince and everybody else.
Stephen Tsai: dior asks: what is your career objective?do you have any advice for my 11 year old brother?
Chris Brown: Make sure he goes to school. I struggled a lot, and I wish I had paid attention.
Stephen Tsai: bowzoboy asks: what's your prediction for the alabama game?
Chris Brown: A great game. A fight to the finish.
Stephen Tsai: who's your favorite sportscaster, and why?
Chris Brown: They're all good, but the hottest one is Liz Chun.
Stephen Tsai: diehard asks: which high school team are you cheering for?
Chris Brown: Since I'm an ILH boy, I would like to keep it in the ILH. But it would be cool to see a different team win it for a change.
Stephen Tsai: where do the players hang out on saturdays of bye weeks?
Chris Brown: The boys like to go to Paina's, Mai Tai, Pipeline, and Blue Tropix.
Stephen Tsai: Diehard asks: do you have a nickname?
Chris Brown: Coaches call me "Brownie."
Stephen Tsai: Christina Aguilera or Jennifer Love Hewitt?
Chris Brown: Jennifer Love Hewitt to the day I die.
Stephen Tsai: why?
Chris Brown: Because she's is gorgeous!
Stephen Tsai: dior asks: What about JLo?
Chris Brown: She's the bomb too.
Stephen Tsai: Diehard asks: do you hang out with any guys from the b-ball or v-ball teams?
Chris Brown: But I'd rather have J.Love
Chris Brown: Not really, but if we see each other somewhere, we always end up cruising together.
Stephen Tsai: hilo girl asks: are you planning on keeping touch with the rest of the players after you leave?
Chris Brown: Yes, they are some of my best friends.
Stephen Tsai: Explain Laanui Correa
Chris Brown: A big dude who I'm glad is my friend.
Stephen Tsai: dior says: my brother wants to know if you played the EA Sports NCAA 2003 video game
Chris Brown: Yes. The whole team likes to play it.
Stephen Tsai: ddk asks: is boise state for real or did they catch us at the right time?
Chris Brown: They're for real. And they would beat a lot of really good teams.
Stephen Tsai: hilogirls asks: besides yourself, who's the best defensive player on the team?
Chris Brown: Pisa, Hyrum, Travis, Issac, and the rest of the defense. We're all good.
Stephen Tsai: Diehard asks: does uh always win when you guys play the (video) game?
Chris Brown: No, not every time.
Stephen Tsai: Tell us the craziest thing a fan has ever done?
Chris Brown: One fan made a huge sign that had my name on it and she was sitting in the front row.
Stephen Tsai: Which would you choose: football or jennifer love hewitt?
Chris Brown: Football because it's a better chance of a dream coming true.
Stephen Tsai: diehard asks: what's something about you that not many people know?
Chris Brown: That I come from a strong Christian family and I try to make it to church every Sunday.
Stephen Tsai: ddk asks: do you think being in the wac is good or bad for uh football?
Chris Brown: It's good for now.
Stephen Tsai: hilo girl asks: did you or the rest of the guys find a fan stalking you?
Chris Brown: Sometimes it happens.
Stephen Tsai: what's the best advice june jones has ever given you
Chris Brown: To remember that in football, you learn more about life than anywhere else.
Stephen Tsai: ddk: do you get to talk to recruits when they take their visits to UH?
Chris Brown: Yes. I try to do my best to tell them that UH is a good school to go to.
Stephen Tsai: diehard asks: what do you guys chant in the huddle before the game?
Chris Brown: We say who's house? Our house.
Stephen Tsai: Can you tell us what it's like in the locker before a game?
Chris Brown: It is really quiet up until the last 5 minutes before the game, than it gets crazy.
Stephen Tsai: who gets the loudest? who says the inspirational things?
Chris Brown: That's me. I try to do my best to get the boys pumped up.
Stephen Tsai: what's it like when your name is announced and your running out toward Vili the Warrior?
Chris Brown: It's the greatest feeling in the world. That's what I will miss the most when I'm done playing football at UH.
Stephen Tsai: Hilogirl asks: Who is the craziest player on the team?
Chris Brown: There are a lot of crazy guys, but other players will tell you that I'm pretty nuts.
Stephen Tsai: ddk asks: what were the emotions like when the news came out on Coach Jones' accident?
Chris Brown: Everyone was scared and shocked. We all headed to the hospital as soon as we heard to show our support.
Stephen Tsai: diehard asks: what's hyrum peters like? quiet, loud?
Stephen Tsai: we'll take two more questions and then chris wil make a final statement.
Chris Brown: He can be really quiet or really loud.
Stephen Tsai: chris will make a final statement.
Chris Brown: Thanks for chatting with me online and for all the support for me and the rest of the Warrior football team. Come out to our final two regular season games, and the bowl game. Aloha from #54.
Stephen Tsai: Thanks for joining us. A transcript will be posted shortly.
