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“My Mom Absolutely Hated Coach Knight” My Interview with Brody Boyd
“My mom absolutely hated Coach Knight” My Interview with Brody Boyd
Brody Boyd is one of my all-time favorite Hawkeyes. Maybe because he was fun to watch. Maybe because he always seemed like he had something to prove. I'm not exactly why but I loved watching him play.
Boyd, a blue collar point guard from Indiana was an Iowa Hawkeye from 2000-2004. Brody was a part of the cinderella team in 2000-2001 that won 4 games in 4 days to win the Big Ten Tournament Championship. He played in 128 games as a Hawkeye and is currently 5th all-time in 3-point field goals with 193.
Yesterday I spoke with Brody about his time as a Hawkeye and what he is up to now.
My brother was an Iowa basketball manager, Josh Larsen, along with Quinn Collins, do you remember them?
Brody:”Oh heck yes, I tell you what managers are the hardest working people on the team, they probably work harder than we do. A lot of love to them for what they do.”
He will appreciate that. So tell me, when you originally decided to come to Iowa, was there any Indiana fan resentment?
Brody: “From the fans, not necessarily. Coach Alford originally recruited me for Southwest Missouri State but I wanted to play big time basketball on a big stage. My mom absolutely hated Coach Knight, I knew I could play for him, but my mom didn't want me too.”
What was it like playing for Coach Alford?
Brody:”I'm sure a lot of coaches around the country prepare, but on one prepares like Coach Alford, we were in his classroom as his students. In fact sometimes we might have over-prepared.”
Do you still keep in touch with Coach Alford?
Brody: “I still talk with Coach Alford quite often, usually a text or something telling him good job on a win. We still keep in touch once or twice a month atleast.”
What was your favorite experience as a Hawkeye?
Brody: “My best experience was definitely the Big Ten Championship, winning 4 games in four days was phenomenal. Stepping in for Luke who was hurt as a Freshman meant everything to me, I had to step up for the team. Also being able to play in Australia, against professional teams and win the MVP was a great experience too.”
Thoughts on the Hawkeyes now and going forward?
Brody: “Coach McCaffery has everything headed in the right direction, this first year is only a small part, once he gets his guys in and is able to get everything flowing, Iowa will be good, very good.”
What are your opinions of Iowa Head Coach Fran McCaffery?
Brody: “Honestly, he is the best coach I have seen and when I say that., I mean it in many ways. The way he relates to his players, the person he is off the floor, a guy who knows how to recruit, I could go on and on about Coach McCaffery, but you all will see how good he is in the near future. To be a great coach at this level it is not about what you see just in between the lines, it's about character and the family he has in that locker room with the players. He is as good as it gets when it comes to that!”
Any other moments as a Hawkeye that stick out for you?
Brody: “Being able to play in the NCAA Tournament is like nothing else. Unfortunately I got hurt against Creighton, torn quadriceps muscle, and then had to play against Kentucky and try to guard Keith Bogans, yea right! I could barely walk.”
Any fun stories?
Brody: “Reggie drove a broken down van that every time I got in it I thought the wheels were gonna fall off. But he kept telling me one day he'd have an Escalade with spinners, and sure enough now he does. Every time we talk I still clown around with him about that.”
I remember when I first met you I was 14 and I asked for your armband, you told me it was special to you, can you explain that?
Brody: ” I wore an arm band that a basketball was sewn on to by my grandmother. In middle school, I was playing well and my grandpa kept telling me I was gonna be big someday, he unfortunately passed away due to lung cancer and never got to see me play a high school game. I wore it for him.”
What's it like today being a former Iowa Hawkeye?
Brody: “Being an Iowa Hawkeye you are always a popular person, I'll go to Walgreen's and people will ask for autographs or tell me I was their favorite Hawkeye, it comes with the territory but I love it.”
What have you been doing since you were done at Iowa:
Brody: “I have a DVD that's out but it wasn't exactly what I wanted it to be. It is being re-done and made into something different. I will also be doing camps in Keokuk, Central Lee College and Iowa City. Not for sure on dates of those yet but they will be announced soon.”
What's your take on Greg Lansing at Indiana State?
Brody: “Congrats to coach Lansing at Indiana State for winning the MVC championship, I'm really happy for him, he should have gotten a shot a lot earlier than he did. Coach Lansing is a proven winner, period. He got a championship here at Iowa as an assistant and now as the head man at Indiana State.”
Last but not least, who do you have in the tournament this year?
Brody:”Definitely doing a bracket and picking Duke to win it all, with Irving back they will be really tough.”
I definitely want to thank Brody for taking the time to talk with me and do the interview. It is always great to talk to someone you looked up to as a kid, especially a Hawkeye athlete.
Joseph Larsen
Community Contributor
