Instant Interview Replay: Art Brown

Instant Interview Replay: Art Brown

06/19/2003

GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Pirate running back Art Brown joined ECUpirates.com for an exclusive, live chat session on Thursday. Following is a complete transcript of his responses.

ECUMOG : Hey Art, my question is how has this past spring ball been different with Coach Thompson? Has it been a big adjustment for you?
Art Brown : Spring ball was a lot of fun. It gave us an opportunity to find out our new coaches' personalities on the field. We had already had a chance to go through winter conditioning and that was pretty much just 6 am workouts. We really didn't get a chance to get to know them on the field. I thought spring ball helped us find out a lot about our coaches. Coach Thompson is a heckuva coach.

David : Art, what changes do you expect to see with the advent of the "Stockstill offense", and what do you think about the prospect of "smashmouth" football at ECU????
Art Brown : In the running game, our offense is a lot similar to Doug Martin's style of football. I like 'smashmouth' football. We have a great fullback blocking for us tailbacks in Vonta Leach, so I think this year we'll be a lot better at 'smashmouth' football considering we have the best offensive line in Conference USA.

Rocky Mount Pirate Fan : Have you recouped from the injury that kept you from spring practice?
Art Brown : I'm getting a lot better. I progressed from this week and last week so I just have to continue to work hard and get in shape because I didn't participate in winter conditioning or spring ball due to a groin pull and the knee scoping. I'm progressing and I will be ready come the first day of preseason.

Michael Brown : Do you have aspirations to enter the NFL Draft?
Art Brown : That's every young man's dream who plays football is to play in the NFL. But I'm not going to let that take over my head ... I'm just going to go out and play the sport that I love to play and help my team win games and if it happens, it happens.

dan, raleigh : which quarterback do you think has shown the most promise for next year?
Art Brown : I think both quarterbacks are getting better this summer. Sometimes one shows better times during pass scales than the other but I think we will have two pretty good QBs in Robinson and Troth this coming season. The team feels pretty confident with either one in at quarterback.

Mike Troth : Art(AKA Capt.Quick), having been around you the last three years I have come to admire and respect the calm you present to your fellow team mates. Knowing how important football has been to you what do you do to mentally prepare for practice,games, and life. Thank you for always being there for my son. Your friendship will be one that my wife and I will always cherish. Thanks for giving your all for all of us to enjoy!!!!!!!!
Art Brown : For practice and games, it just comes natural. I really don't go out of my way to prepare myself for practice and games because I'm playing the sport that I really love to play. As far as life, I just try to put God first which sometimes can be hard but my grandmother always told me, if I put God first, everything else will take care of itself.

Scooter : I heard that Chris Schieder doesn't have clue as far as Equipment is concerned? What do you think of him?
Art Brown : Schieder is a special case. He pretty much knows what he's talking about, equipment-wise ... that is, when he can talk because he usually has so much dip in his mouth! Us guys really enjoy Schieder a lot ... he's a lot of fun.

david - goldsboro : Straight up! Will the defensive secondary be able to shut down a passing attack next year? I think everyone feels like the offense will definitely put up points. Will the opponent put up more?
Art Brown : The defense is coming along. It's hard to come in and pick up on so many defensive schemes in so little time, but they're getting better every week during pass scales and we definitely have the talent. It's a matter of just executing the defensive schemes. I think this year, we're going to surprise a lot of opponents with our defensive play.

Greg : Art, my brother went to school with you at Fork Union Military Academy. I was wondering if you could maybe talk about how that experience helped you prepare for college, both on the field and in the classroom. Thanks, and good luck this year. Go Pirates!!!
Art Brown : Fork Union Military Academy helped me become a man really fast because I was put in a position to where I had no choice and Fork Union was the only option. It is not the average place that an athlete can enjoy himself, but it can help you out and give you some discipline that is sometimes good for young men that have made some wrong decisions coming out of high school.

Rob : Art, with yourself, Vonta Leach, and Marvin Townes do you think our backfield is the best in Conference USA and one of the top backfields in the nation?
Art Brown : With Vonta, Marvin and myself, I personally think that we have the best backfield in Conference USA and one of the top 10 backfields in the country. Marvin has progressed a whole lot in the offseason and I'm just hoping that he will be able to play more this year to show that he has progressed. Vonta Leach, I think if he were to have played fullback his entire career here, he has enough talent where he could have left for the NFL after last season!

Jason Hayes : What do you think about changing ECU's uniforms?
Art Brown : I think the uniforms that we have this year are pretty awesome. We have purple pants. This year instead of wearing all white at away games, we'll wear purple pants with white jerseys. Of course, we'll still wear white pants and purple jerseys at home. I think we're gonna look pretty good this year.

Brian Cupstid : I was wondering if Marvin Townes is over his cramping problem. I know you need to come out every now and again and the thought of you getting hurt scares everybody if he can't go...
Art Brown : I think he's over the cramping situation. He is preparing himself mentally to be able to take some of the load. I did have a lot of carries last season and I'm hoping to reduce some to be able to be stronger toward the end of the games. I think Marvin will help me out a lot this year and the team will not miss a beat with him in there.

Tiffany : What's your favorite restaurant in Greenville?
Art Brown : My favorite restaurant is Chili's. If I'm out eating, there's more than likely where I'm eating at with my roommates or a friend.

Thomas- Key West, Fla. : Art, can't wait to see you on ESPN in September and thanks for all your hard work and leadership. Who do you think will be the biggest surprise player this year on offense and on defense!defense!
Art Brown : I'm excited about the ESPN games this year and can't wait to be on the center stage. The biggest surprise on offense this year, I would have to say by far, would be Vonta Leach. On defense, it's no surprise, but he is very underrated and that is Travis Heath. He's a tremendously talented safety and I think he has what it takes to play at the next level.

Jason : When you're not involved in football, what do you like to do?
Art Brown : When I'm not working out or practicing, I play a lot of Playstation2 and joke around with my roommates.

CAMMAN : I know you guys treat every game with importance. But is there going to be an extra edge when the Tarheels come to Greenville this year. Do you guys feel the rivalry as much as the fans do?
Art Brown : I think the Carolina game is pretty much self-explanatory when you see it on the schedule. We would love to get that Carolina game and NC State game in the same year, but this year we have Carolina and we are very much looking forward to that game. We are wishing that that one could be on ESPN. I think we feel the rivalry more than the fans because we are playing against some of the guys that we know and played with in all-star games as well as in high school. So, I know everyone who's from North Carolina that plays on this ECU football team is very excited about that game.

O.D.B. : Who is the fastest man in our backfield?
Art Brown : Without a doubt, Marvin Townes is one of the fastest running backs I've been around. He's very quick.

Bgoody : Hey man, Is the O-line going to be better than it was last year under the new Staff?
Art Brown : We are projected to have the best offensive line in C-USA this year. I'm very excited to be able to run behind the best offensive line in the conference.

Greg in Charlotte : Some preseason Mags have ECU 7th in CUSA this season. Does it motivate you guys (to prove 'em wrong) or do you try not to read that stuff?
Art Brown : It doesn't really motivate us. We really don't pay it any attention. We just want to go out and play to the best of our ability and not focus on what the media is portraying. Hopefully we can be successful this coming season.

BrettinDurham : Will the recievers catch more balls this year. After dropping so many last year.
Art Brown : I think our receivers have come a lot way from last year with more experience. We really didn't lose anyone that really made a difference in our receiving corps except for Richard Alston, but we have an outstanding leader at receiver in Terrance Copper who is not much of a vocal guy but leads by his performance. I think he will step up his game this year in that position and help that group of guys step up their games, as well.

Jake : Do you have a favorite NFL back? Who do you consider you style most similar to?
Art Brown : My favorite back, if you know me -- I'm a St. Louis Rams fan -- so Marshall Faulk is by far my favorite running back. He can do so much to help his team be successful. He can block, he can catch the ball out of the backfield, he can run with the ball. When you have so much in your repitoire, you're so much harder to defend.

RL Brown - WS Journal : With a new coaching staff in place for your senior season, what major adjustments will you have to make and how will your role change?
Art Brown : I won't really have to make that many adjustments because we're doing a lot of the same things as far as offense is concerned. But I just have to be a leader, what a senior is supposed to do, and not necessarily being vocal, but leading by performance.

ECUpirates.com : Thanks so much, Art, for taking time out of your busy schedule to join us this afternoon.
Art Brown : Thanks for all the comments and questions that you guys asked today and I hope you will attend as many games as you can. Make sure you go out and support all of ECU athletics and my jersey's in the stores now, so get them and wear them! [smiles] Sorry I didn't a chance to answer everyone's questions. God bless you all!

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