Happy Birthday! 10 Things You Should Know About Derrick Brooks

Aug 2, 2014; Canton, OH, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers former linebacker Derrick Brooks poses with his bust during the 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Brooks’ Mom and 6-Year-Old Sister Convinced Him That Florida State Was the Right Choice

There is no place like home, and Brooks chose Florida State University because it felt like home. Brooks recognized the potential to play for the best college football program and for a future Hall of Fame coach in Bobby Bowden. However, his decision was made easy when he realized how Bowden put his family at ease.

"As Bowden sat down in the living room with Brooks and his mother, Geraldine, Brooks’ 6-year-old sister, Latoya, crawled up from the floor onto the coach’s lap. Soon, she fell asleep in Bowden’s arms. “I looked at my mom and she nodded, and I could tell by her demeanor, that is the coach she wanted me to play for,” Brooks said. “It’s a true story.”"