Q&A with Red Bryant
Apr 08, 2004 | Football
April 08, 2004
Amanda Burke, an all-conference and all-region midfielder on the nationally-ranked Texas A&M soccer team, will spend some time visiting this spring with fellow student-athletes in a regular feature here on AggieAthletics.com. Amanda sat down this week with Joseph "Red" Bryant, a redshirt freshman defensive lineman from Jasper.
What was it like being able to come in with your friend from high school, Jorrie Adams?
"It's great. He's helped me out with easy transition, you know, by me coming here not knowing too many people. So, he pulled me through fall camp and my redshirt year. He's just...it was tremendous having him here."
What's it like coming here from your hometown of Jasper?
"It's very different. It was kind of hard adjusting to just seeing so many different people everyday. I'm glad I got the opportunity to come here now."
It sounds like you were a star on your high school basketball team--scoring 50 points in a single playoff game. Did you like football or basketball better then?
"I really loved basketball a lot. I thought I could fill in for Charles Barkley because you know he's just 6'4", but my heart was with football. My heart was with basketball, too, but it just worked out though. I got the opportunity to come play big time football so I'm just thankful for that. I love basketball to death, and I wish I had the opportunity to play here, too."
Did you do any other sports?
"I won state in track--in the shot put."
Tell me about your nickname, "Red."
"My mom said that when I was born, I was really red. She said they just called me 'Red,' and it just stuck with me so long. (Laughing) Sometimes I forget my first name because I'm so used to 'Red.'"
What is it about A&M that you love?
"Well, it's really close to home, and I'm really family oriented. I'm close to my mom. And I believe the coaches would give me the best opportunity to contribute...It was great during the recruiting. They didn't lie to me. They were up front with me, and that just meant so much to me. Being this is a great school, I'm just happy I got the opportunity to be here."
Tell me what Coach Fran is like.
"He's similar to my coaches--Coach Love and Coach Brooks. Part of him is strict. He doesn't tolerate just you doing any kind of thing. That's the part of him that reminds me of Coach Brooks. Then he's got a compassionate side. If you're doing your best, you're trying and you're just working hard, he's going to acknowledge you. That's what means the most because he's real well-known around, and it just means a lot for him to acknowledge you."
What is the Golden Triangle Defensive Player of the Year award, and what did winning this mean to you?
"In that area, it's like the best defensive player in southeast Texas...It was a major honor for them to think that highly of me. It's a prestigious award."
What other schools were you looking at before you chose A&M?
"I really liked Penn State a lot because Joe Paterno reminded me so much of Coach Fran-he's straightforward. And I liked Arkansas a lot. Those are the two schools I traveled to. I didn't have interest in Texas or Miami, but those were two other schools recruiting me, but I didn't have an interest in those."
Were you always an Aggie at heart?
"Not really. I grew up wanting to play for Florida State, but it worked out that my sophomore year (in high school) I came here and saw them (A&M) play Notre Dame, and I knew then this is where I wanted to be."
What's the atmosphere like in Kyle Field?
"It's just amazing. I can't wait to just get out there and play because I got to see Ty Warren and Marcus Jasmin play my sophomore year in high school, and it was unbelievable how many people know you and cheer for you and just wish you the best. It's just a great atmosphere."
What are you planning to major in?
"Well, right now I'm in Ag Development, but I'm going to most likely go to Ag Business. I would like to be an accountant."
