Post by Free Agent Fan on Feb 1, 2007 15:51:55 GMT -5
Coach Charlie Brown
By LANNIS COLEMAN
Staff Writer, The News Journal
Florence, S.C.
The Super Bowl is fast approaching, and Florence Phantoms Coach Charlie Brown has been there and done that. Twice, in fact. Brown played with the Washington Redskins in Super Bowls XVII (1983) and XVIII (1984). Washington won over Miami 27-17 in 1983 in the Rose Bowl at Pasadena, Ca. and lost to the Raiders 38-9 in 1984 in Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Fla.
Brown is a Charleston native and graduate of South Carolina State University. His college coach was Willie Jeffries. The Washington Redskins drafted Brown in 1981.
Before becoming a member of the NFL himself, Brown was a die-hard fan of the Cleveland Browns. His favorite player was wide receiver Paul Warfield who played his first six seasons with the Browns and was part of the Miami Dolphins 1972 undefeated season, a record the Dolphins still hold.
“It’s amazing how you can love a team until you play for a team,” said Brown. “The Redskins and the Falcons have my heart now.” Brown’s NFL playing career included four years with the Washington Redskins and three with the Atlanta Falcons. He has also served as an NFL coach and scout.
“I was lucky,” said Brown, “to be part of one of the two best teams in the NFL, the Redskins, and go to the Super Bowl for my first two years. It’s the best feeling in the world. That’s what you live for as an NFL player.”
“Most people can never really know how fantastic it all is, all the festivities, and now they have upgraded it so,” Brown added.
“During Super Bowl week, we had no curfews,” said Brown of his experience. “We were a disciplined team. We knew how important the job was and what was at stake. There was no animosity among the players. We were a totally united team.”
The night before the game, the team went to a different hotel and there was a curfew. On game day, wake-up call was 9 a.m. Game day was spent with the team only. Three buses took the team members to the stadium early. The first thing after arriving the team had their ankles taped.
Some team members would listen to music, read or just be alone. The team would walk out on the field and check it out. The specialists – kickers and punt returners would go out first. Then the skilled teams – wide receivers, quarterbacks, defensive backs, running backs, linebackers. Last the offensive and defensive linemen. The team would exercise, warm up and run through some plays, then go back in until about 10 minutes before the game.
“I remember when we went out before those 103,000 plus fans. All those lights. It was unbelievable. It was packed before, but in those minutes between warm up and coming back out, it got jam-packed. All that burgundy and gold. It was just an amazing sight,” Brown recalled.
“In that first Super Bowl, I had so much adrenaline. I was not nervous. It’s like I wondered what had got control of me. After the first two plays I was still feeling that way. By the end of the first half, the Dolphins were leading 17-10.”
“We had an extended half time. We were behind but there was no pressure on us. The coaches were not up tight. We were calm. We knew the second half would be different. We were going to take control of the game and win it.”
“The defense played a good game. In the second half there was no positive Dolphin yardage. John Riggins dominated the running game and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. I caught six passes, one for a touchdown that was the game-clinching touchdown. I heard one commentator say that it ‘put the nail in the coffin.’ We shut them down in the second half for the final score of 27-17.”
“I remember the party after my first Super Bowl was in Beverly Hills. I have in mind what it was like. It was so nice. It was huge. The people and the way they orchestrated the party were great. It was where I met Columbo (Peter Falk) and had my picture taken with him. It was just great, just awesome.”
One thing Brown missed was the homecoming parades in Washington, D.C. because he played in the Pro Bowl both years after his Super Bowl games.
“To really understand what football meant to Washington, you would have to be there,” Brown commented.
The Pro Bowl in Hawaii was nice. It was beautiful there. I got to play with Joe Montana, Walter Payton and so many great players. I remember my locker was next to Payton’s. He called me ‘Super Rookie.’ He clowned around. He turned my jersey around backwards. I remember when I got home and was turning in my equipment. Walter Payton had put a beer sticker on the back of my helmet. He was playful and nice, just the best person.”
Being dubbed the Smurfs, along with Alvin Garrett and Virgil Seay is another of Brown’s recollections. “I was ‘Super Smurf’ and Garrett was ‘Papa Smurf.’ The term was used because of size – Charlie Brown, 5’10’, Alvin Garrett, 5’7’’ and Virgil Seay, 5’7.5.”
They also had the Fun Bunch. After a touchdown, the group would go into the end zone and do a group dance. “They outlawed that shortly after,” Brown quipped.
Brown recalled being at a charity event in Georgetown after the Super Bowl. He had a friend who wanted to introduce someone to him.
“I was only 23 then, and the guy who met me was maybe 25-26. He started crying. At that point it made me feel, ‘This guy really loves us.’ I talked with him. I learned how faithful fans can be and the importance of respect for fans and all people.”
Brown recently found out that Dale Earnhart Jr. had said that Brown was his favorite player. “You never know who your fans are,” Brown stated.
Brown also recalled being at an event with other professional players. All the players could have great accomplishments – could be the greatest player in the world. One of the players asked to hold his Super Bowl rings. The majority of the players look toward that ring.
“There are so many awesome players who feel like that ring is the number one thing missing,” Brown said. “To get to the Super Bowl, they have to have a total team effort. That one component missing can keep a team away.”
Brown earned two Super Bowl Rings – one for World Champions for 1983 and one for NFC Champions for 1984. He also was awarded 10 game balls during his career, including the game ball for Super Bowl XVII. He has been inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame and the South Carolina State University Hall of Fame.
Brown has not been in the stands to watch a Super Bowl game since he participated in XVII and XVIII. “I always watch it on television, though. It’s kind of weird, after participating as a player to think about sitting in the stands. My wife and I might go to one in the future.”
Brown lives in Florence, is Florence Phantoms coach and owns a bridal shop in Bennettsville. He is married to Tonya Brown, WPDE TV 15 bureau chief and general assignment reporter.
“I want to apply the NFL principles of professionalism – class, respect and organization to the Phantoms,” said Brown of his current coaching position.
The Phantoms will be practicing Feb. 2, will participate in some children’s festivities on Feb. 3-4, and have their opening game on Feb. 17 at the Civic Center. Team information is available at www.florencephantoms.com.
“I love Florence,” said Brown, who has lived here four years. “I’m not a big city person. I like a small town where I can enjoy being a regular person.”
Brown’s pick for Super Bowl XLI is Indianapolis.
By LANNIS COLEMAN
Staff Writer, The News Journal
Florence, S.C.
The Super Bowl is fast approaching, and Florence Phantoms Coach Charlie Brown has been there and done that. Twice, in fact. Brown played with the Washington Redskins in Super Bowls XVII (1983) and XVIII (1984). Washington won over Miami 27-17 in 1983 in the Rose Bowl at Pasadena, Ca. and lost to the Raiders 38-9 in 1984 in Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Fla.
Brown is a Charleston native and graduate of South Carolina State University. His college coach was Willie Jeffries. The Washington Redskins drafted Brown in 1981.
Before becoming a member of the NFL himself, Brown was a die-hard fan of the Cleveland Browns. His favorite player was wide receiver Paul Warfield who played his first six seasons with the Browns and was part of the Miami Dolphins 1972 undefeated season, a record the Dolphins still hold.
“It’s amazing how you can love a team until you play for a team,” said Brown. “The Redskins and the Falcons have my heart now.” Brown’s NFL playing career included four years with the Washington Redskins and three with the Atlanta Falcons. He has also served as an NFL coach and scout.
“I was lucky,” said Brown, “to be part of one of the two best teams in the NFL, the Redskins, and go to the Super Bowl for my first two years. It’s the best feeling in the world. That’s what you live for as an NFL player.”
“Most people can never really know how fantastic it all is, all the festivities, and now they have upgraded it so,” Brown added.
“During Super Bowl week, we had no curfews,” said Brown of his experience. “We were a disciplined team. We knew how important the job was and what was at stake. There was no animosity among the players. We were a totally united team.”
The night before the game, the team went to a different hotel and there was a curfew. On game day, wake-up call was 9 a.m. Game day was spent with the team only. Three buses took the team members to the stadium early. The first thing after arriving the team had their ankles taped.
Some team members would listen to music, read or just be alone. The team would walk out on the field and check it out. The specialists – kickers and punt returners would go out first. Then the skilled teams – wide receivers, quarterbacks, defensive backs, running backs, linebackers. Last the offensive and defensive linemen. The team would exercise, warm up and run through some plays, then go back in until about 10 minutes before the game.
“I remember when we went out before those 103,000 plus fans. All those lights. It was unbelievable. It was packed before, but in those minutes between warm up and coming back out, it got jam-packed. All that burgundy and gold. It was just an amazing sight,” Brown recalled.
“In that first Super Bowl, I had so much adrenaline. I was not nervous. It’s like I wondered what had got control of me. After the first two plays I was still feeling that way. By the end of the first half, the Dolphins were leading 17-10.”
“We had an extended half time. We were behind but there was no pressure on us. The coaches were not up tight. We were calm. We knew the second half would be different. We were going to take control of the game and win it.”
“The defense played a good game. In the second half there was no positive Dolphin yardage. John Riggins dominated the running game and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. I caught six passes, one for a touchdown that was the game-clinching touchdown. I heard one commentator say that it ‘put the nail in the coffin.’ We shut them down in the second half for the final score of 27-17.”
“I remember the party after my first Super Bowl was in Beverly Hills. I have in mind what it was like. It was so nice. It was huge. The people and the way they orchestrated the party were great. It was where I met Columbo (Peter Falk) and had my picture taken with him. It was just great, just awesome.”
One thing Brown missed was the homecoming parades in Washington, D.C. because he played in the Pro Bowl both years after his Super Bowl games.
“To really understand what football meant to Washington, you would have to be there,” Brown commented.
The Pro Bowl in Hawaii was nice. It was beautiful there. I got to play with Joe Montana, Walter Payton and so many great players. I remember my locker was next to Payton’s. He called me ‘Super Rookie.’ He clowned around. He turned my jersey around backwards. I remember when I got home and was turning in my equipment. Walter Payton had put a beer sticker on the back of my helmet. He was playful and nice, just the best person.”
Being dubbed the Smurfs, along with Alvin Garrett and Virgil Seay is another of Brown’s recollections. “I was ‘Super Smurf’ and Garrett was ‘Papa Smurf.’ The term was used because of size – Charlie Brown, 5’10’, Alvin Garrett, 5’7’’ and Virgil Seay, 5’7.5.”
They also had the Fun Bunch. After a touchdown, the group would go into the end zone and do a group dance. “They outlawed that shortly after,” Brown quipped.
Brown recalled being at a charity event in Georgetown after the Super Bowl. He had a friend who wanted to introduce someone to him.
“I was only 23 then, and the guy who met me was maybe 25-26. He started crying. At that point it made me feel, ‘This guy really loves us.’ I talked with him. I learned how faithful fans can be and the importance of respect for fans and all people.”
Brown recently found out that Dale Earnhart Jr. had said that Brown was his favorite player. “You never know who your fans are,” Brown stated.
Brown also recalled being at an event with other professional players. All the players could have great accomplishments – could be the greatest player in the world. One of the players asked to hold his Super Bowl rings. The majority of the players look toward that ring.
“There are so many awesome players who feel like that ring is the number one thing missing,” Brown said. “To get to the Super Bowl, they have to have a total team effort. That one component missing can keep a team away.”
Brown earned two Super Bowl Rings – one for World Champions for 1983 and one for NFC Champions for 1984. He also was awarded 10 game balls during his career, including the game ball for Super Bowl XVII. He has been inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame and the South Carolina State University Hall of Fame.
Brown has not been in the stands to watch a Super Bowl game since he participated in XVII and XVIII. “I always watch it on television, though. It’s kind of weird, after participating as a player to think about sitting in the stands. My wife and I might go to one in the future.”
Brown lives in Florence, is Florence Phantoms coach and owns a bridal shop in Bennettsville. He is married to Tonya Brown, WPDE TV 15 bureau chief and general assignment reporter.
“I want to apply the NFL principles of professionalism – class, respect and organization to the Phantoms,” said Brown of his current coaching position.
The Phantoms will be practicing Feb. 2, will participate in some children’s festivities on Feb. 3-4, and have their opening game on Feb. 17 at the Civic Center. Team information is available at www.florencephantoms.com.
“I love Florence,” said Brown, who has lived here four years. “I’m not a big city person. I like a small town where I can enjoy being a regular person.”
Brown’s pick for Super Bowl XLI is Indianapolis.
Smurf 
