2008 Woodie Awards
Meet the Marine
Daily News: How much has the confidence you gained from your block at Navy last season led to your growth as a player?
Brandon Crawford: It made me just focus more on the little things, making sure I paid attention to what was going on so I could know when the coaches made their calls what they wanted us to do on the field. When you're younger, you tend to not really focus as much. Just me, personally, I think I took it more personal to where I wanted to better myself and get things accomplished. So it helped me focus more on the little things and helped me build for the next upcoming season, which is this year. So, I think, paying attention to the little things, that's the main focus for me this year.
DN: What did it mean to you to be voted as defensive captain by your teammates?
BC: That was a great feeling. I mean, to know that my teammates had voted me captain, none of the coaches, it was all my teammates that I work with daily. We've been here all summer working together, and it was their decision who they wanted to represent them. That was a great feeling. I have a tremendous, utmost respect for all of my teammates. I joke with them all the time, but once I was elected captain, I stepped in front of them and I told them I would take my job seriously, I would do what they expected of me. I know I have high expectations because coaches have high expectations of me. But at the same time I expect the same thing from you guys, and I won't let you guys down. I told them I'd continue to lead them, and I won't take anything for granted. And I'd just continue to give everything I have.
DN: What were your emotions as you stood on the sidelines before the season-opening game against Northeastern?
BC: I was just ready to go. I was just thinking about all the running, all the training and all the weight lifting we'd been doing. When everything was going through my mind, it was like, "This is finally the time to show everyone the new team this year." And we're about to get the chance to hit someone else besides our teammates during two-a-day camp. So it was basically like, "OK, it's time to release what we have now."
Brandon Crawford: It made me just focus more on the little things, making sure I paid attention to what was going on so I could know when the coaches made their calls what they wanted us to do on the field. When you're younger, you tend to not really focus as much. Just me, personally, I think I took it more personal to where I wanted to better myself and get things accomplished. So it helped me focus more on the little things and helped me build for the next upcoming season, which is this year. So, I think, paying attention to the little things, that's the main focus for me this year.
DN: What did it mean to you to be voted as defensive captain by your teammates?
BC: That was a great feeling. I mean, to know that my teammates had voted me captain, none of the coaches, it was all my teammates that I work with daily. We've been here all summer working together, and it was their decision who they wanted to represent them. That was a great feeling. I have a tremendous, utmost respect for all of my teammates. I joke with them all the time, but once I was elected captain, I stepped in front of them and I told them I would take my job seriously, I would do what they expected of me. I know I have high expectations because coaches have high expectations of me. But at the same time I expect the same thing from you guys, and I won't let you guys down. I told them I'd continue to lead them, and I won't take anything for granted. And I'd just continue to give everything I have.
DN: What were your emotions as you stood on the sidelines before the season-opening game against Northeastern?
BC: I was just ready to go. I was just thinking about all the running, all the training and all the weight lifting we'd been doing. When everything was going through my mind, it was like, "This is finally the time to show everyone the new team this year." And we're about to get the chance to hit someone else besides our teammates during two-a-day camp. So it was basically like, "OK, it's time to release what we have now."
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