Brian Robiskie Conference Call Transcript - Sun, Apr 26 2009 at 11:40 am
(On going from ball boy to Cleveland Brown) - “It’s unbelievable. I think, you know just the connection that I have with that team and spending the time that I did up there with my dad (former Browns coach Terry Robiskie). To come back and be a part of that team, that franchise is unbelievable and I feel so blessed to have that opportunity and to go and contribute anyway I can. I’m excited about it.”
(On if he heard the media screaming, if he was in Atlanta and the overall reaction in the room) – “I didn’t. How are you doing? Yes, I am. Everybody was overjoyed. I have a lot of my immediate family here. It was real personal and low key. I think everyone was really excited when I got the call and it was just unbelievable for everybody to be here and for me to be a part of it.”
(On how much interest did the Browns show in him leading up to the draft and if he was surprised by being drafted by the Browns with his family’s history with the team) – “They were one of the teams I didn’t spend a lot of time with. I didn’t workout with them, didn’t meet with them too much, but none of that mattered. Knowing my dad he said that a team can draft you just off what they see and this is what happened. I’m just excited to be a part of this team and I’m excited to be here.”
(On what it means to be able to play in front of his friends and family every weekend and if there is any pressure in that or is it exciting) – “I think it is an exciting thing. My family is one that, with the nature of my father’s business, we moved around a lot, so I know that we’ve got family all over the place. I’m excited to come back to Cleveland, being that I did spend five years there. I’m excited to come back to that city and help the Cleveland Browns any way that I can. I know that we are just excited to be a part of this.”
(On how he compliments Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards) – “First and foremost, I think Braylon is a tremendous receiver. I’m just, obviously, ecstatic about the fact that I can just come up there and help them with anything they need me to do, play inside or play outside. Whatever they need me to do I’m just excited about the fact that I can come up there and help that offense go to the next level.”
(On how long he was a Browns ball boy) – “That would have been, I think it was the summers I was in high school so it probably was three summers.”
(On if he has spoken to his father, former Browns wide receivers/interim head coach Terry Robiskie) – “I’m sitting with him right now. He got off work a little bit earlier than I thought he would have. I’m sitting here, and he is with me along with the rest of my family.”
(On his father’s reaction) – “I mean, he’s just, everybody is excited. I think that this is something that we have dreamed about, and I know myself, I have dreamed about being here for so long. And, to have him here and have all my family here, we are just all excited.”
Terry Robiskie now on the call
(On his overall thoughts) – “I guess it’s almost like coming home. Wouldn’t you have to say it’s like coming home?”
(On how he will follow Brian while coaching for the Atlanta Falcons) – “I’ll find a way. I always do. I’ll find a way. I’ll find a way, I guess it’s going to be like the first couple of years I left Cleveland. I left Cleveland a year or so ago, and I had to find a way to always get back and watch Braylon. I had to get back to see what Braylon Edwards was doing. You know it’s kind of like with all your kids. You just have to keep your eyes on them. Braylon Edwards was obviously like a son when I left so I always find a way to look back and, you want to look back and see how your students are doing, so it’s going to be the same deal. I just have to keep my eyes focused and I’ll find a way to watch him, I promise you that.”
(On how he separates himself from being a parent and coach) – “I’m just extremely, extremely proud. I’m happy and I’m thrilled that he is going to an organization that I am very familiar with. I’m happy that he is going to a city that I am very familiar with. He’s going back to, what I’ve told people is, he’s going back to the number one city for which I’ve coached in that I fell in love with. I’ve coached in some tremendous cities, but I fell in love with Cleveland. Cleveland, Ohio, the fans are unbelievable. The opportunity I had there, to be the interim head coach was phenomenal. I think the coaching staff that they have there now is terrific. I believed in the staff that I left there. I thought it was tremendous. I think all the coaches that they have there today, those guys are fabulous. How I separate myself, I’m just a father. Today, I’m a father. He can go up there to Cleveland and go to work. Those connections and getting things and completing that deep ball, that’s between him and the quarterbacks. Those guys got to get it done. I’m just a father. From this day forward, he’s on his own now, I’ve got to let him go. In a year or two we’re going to play Cleveland and I’m going to have to beat him so, I’m not going to worry about coaching him anymore. ”
(On if the Browns should keep Braylon Edwards) - “That is one question I’m going to stay away from. I’ll let them guys make the decisions. I got my battles in Cleveland I’ve got to fight. I’m going to let them guys make that decision. The only thing I will say is I’m going to reach out to Braylon Edwards and say teach this kid everything you learned because the guy that taught you is finished with this kid. He’s with Braylon now, so I’m going to tell Braylon you to take him under your arms and tutelage him and teach him everything you know.”
(On the most important thing he has taught Brian) – “How to compete. Just straight out never stop competing. That’s all. Just take advantage of every opportunity you have, and go compete and never, ever underestimate or overestimate your opponent. Never look at anybody as being better than you. You can beat anybody you play. Anybody you compete against, you got to outwork them and out compete them. And that’s all I ever taught him my whole life.”
(On his football scouting report on Brian) - “I think he is a terrific football player. Again, I don’t want to get too high on him as to say, I think he’s got the capabilities to make the plays and do the things that Braylon Edwards can do. Again, he grew up in an area where he understood all those guys and he knows those guys. He has been around Braylon Edwards, he has been near Braylon Edwards. He knows Braylon Edwards’ thought process. He can compete like that and again, I think he has a chance to rise and rise to that level. It’s going to be exciting and I’m looking forward to it.”
(On if this was the team he wanted Brian to get drafted to) - “No, deep down inside, I can’t say this is the team I hoped he’d end up at. Deep down inside, I was hoping that maybe he would have a chance to sneak up into that late first round. I felt that if it got into that second round, I’d be extremely thrilled for him to go to Cleveland. Again, knowing (the late) Mr. Lerner, knowing the Lerner family, knowing Randy (Lerner), just knowing all the people that they have there. Knowing (President) Mike Keenan, just knowing the people that are there, I think it helps. Familiarity is a big part of it. He is familiar with all the people there, he’s familiar with the area. He grew up there. Most kids have to come there and find out where to go and where not to go. He knows where to go and where not to go. He went to high school there. It’s coming home, and you can’t ask for anything better than that.”
