The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Catching up with Tony Brackens
07.19.2009 | Football
July 19, 2009
What brings you out to Griffin's camp?
Guys I go to church with were attending the camp, and I asked to ride down with them so I could refresh some of the things that I used to know, and see what I could learn from the camp.
What are you up to these days?
I'm back in Fairfield cattle ranching. My father and I have a combined area of ranch land of about 8,000 acres. It involves hay, cows and horses. That's what I know. That's what I've been doing my whole life. There was an opportunity for me to go back and provide a means of income for myself and my family, and it was already something that I was interested in. I'm just becoming family oriented and doing it right.
Do you get your family involved in the ranching?
My kids are making the transition from house kids to ranching kids. It can be fun, but it is a lot of hard work and they're getting used to that. My son is six. He'll be seven this month. My daughter is four and I have another daughter that is one. She just started walking.
Have you gotten back into team roping?
I compete in team roping with my brother, Keith. One guy ropes the head and the other the feet. It's kind of like cattle branding on the ranch. I've been doing it for a long time, since the sixth grade, but have been able to commit a little more time to it since retiring from football. I'm able to compete. I do a good job of competing. I enjoy it. It fuels some of my competitiveness because it's something I don't practice a whole lot. So, when I get in the situation where I could possibly win something, you start thinking that you can win. I'm learning.
Have you won any roping competitions?
If I'm roping against you guys then I'll win, but the real good ones, no.
Do you have any competitions coming up?
I have a rodeo that I sponsor next weekend in Fairfield. It's the Ike Carden rodeo. This will be the 11th annual rodeo. They use the funds to issue scholarships for the kids. I think they gave out maybe four scholarships last year. The rodeo has all kinds of different events. It's pretty serious.
What are your thoughts on Mack Brown and the program since you left?
They've done a great job of recruiting and getting guys that can contribute right away. They've done an awesome job of not really restricting the guys, but allowing the guys to be athletes and allowing them to use their talents for what they recruited them for.
What are your opinions of Brian Orakpo?
I got to watch him a little bit. He did a great job, and I was a little torn because I didn't come down and work with him. I felt like I could have told him a couple of things that could have helped him, just stuff I learned over the years. I remember coming into college and how initially you just do things off of raw talent and you learn things from the coaches and other people along the way that can be beneficial to you. He was definitely coached well and got better every year and today we talked about some other things he can do as he transitions into the NFL. He did a great job in college and I think he'll do great in the NFL defensively.
