University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Latavious Brini
September 07, 2021 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Latavious Brini of course knew he was in a big game well before Georgia teammate Christopher Smith made the biggest play of the Duke's Mayo Classic last Saturday in Charlotte, N.C., intercepting a pass and returning it for the game's only touchdown in the Bulldogs' 10-3 win over Clemson.
Still, it was that moment and its ensuing roar of the Bank of America Stadium crowd of 74,187 — some cheers of joy, others moans of despair — that reminded Brini, a 6-foot-2 and 210-pound defensive back from Miami Gardens, Fla., just how special it was to be in a big-time game in front of a packed house.
Brini had four tackles and a pass breakup in the Bulldogs' stellar defensive performance against Clemson. The Bulldogs held the Tigers to 2 rushing yards and 180 yards of total offense. During a Quick Chat on Monday, Brini talked about being in a defensive duel, the roar of the crowd during Smith's 74-yard interception return, his favorite foods, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: How fun was the defensive battle the other night?
Brini: Oh, man, it was more of an astonishing moment. There was no place I'd rather be. It was very exciting because it was like, me versus you. At the end of the day, it was like, who is the bigger dog? Who's going to stand up when it really matters? It was a beautiful moment.
Frierson: Can you remember the last time you played in a game like that, when neither defense gave up a touchdown?
Brini: I probably haven't played in one of those games since I was playing rec ball or something. That was a very intense game, and the thing about it is, playing in a game you don't know how intense it is until the people outside watching it describe to me how intense the game was.
To me, because of our preparation, you just go through it. You're calm and you don't panic about anything. It was a great moment.
Frierson: The last time you guys played a game, there were about 15,000 there for the Peach Bowl. On Saturday, there were more than 74,000 people there. For you on the field, what is that difference like?
Brini: I told somebody earlier today, it was crazy because when Christopher Smith caught the interception, the roar of the crowd — I'm in the game and the roar of the crowd really astonished me. You just hear the whole crowd, the whole tone just shifted.
I'm running with Chris trying to get him to the end zone, and in my head I'm thinking, oh, my gosh, this is really loud. I was like, wow, this is what it feels like to be in one of those big games when the crowd is really into it. It was an amazing experience, for sure.
Frierson: We hear a lot about Miami, but what can you tell me about Miami Gardens? What makes it special to you?
Brini: What makes it special is, [home address redacted]. That's the house and the street that I grew up on. That's what makes Miami Gardens very, very special to me. All the memories and everything that contributed to making me the person that I am today, that's all in that area. It's very special to me.
Frierson: What's something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Brini: That's the $1 million question [smiles]. I have a lot of stuff that I could eat every day and not get tired of it. OK, I'm going to tell you my top three.
Spaghetti, for sure. I could eat spaghetti any time of the day every day. Chipotle — oh, my gosh, Chipotle is the best thing ever created. And third, I can eat Chinese food — oh, my gosh, yes, Chinese food. That's the dagger right there, Chinese food, I could eat that every day.
Frierson: If you had to pick one ...
Brini: Ooh, that's hard.
Frierson: ... what's it going to be?
Brini: Chinese food; I'll go with Chinese food. It's one of the best creations.
Frierson: What do you order when you go?
Brini: The honey chicken, for sure, and fried rice. That's the perfect order, right there. But I haven't had it in a long time.
Frierson: Who is the funniest guy on the team?
Brini: Jordan Davis, for sure. Jordan always keeps a smile on his face and he'll always have a joke or a story. I've never met a big person like that, that can be so funny. He's just very funny.
Frierson: I hope he goes on to a long NFL career but at the same time I can't wait to see him on TV one day. He'd be great at it.
Brini: I believe Jordan can be a comedian [laughs]. I think he could do it. It'd be kind of strange seeing that big of a person (Davis is 6-6 and 340) be a comedian, but I think he could do it.
Frierson: If you could be great at anything for a day, just to experience it, what would it be?
Brini: I think I want to be a great fisherman.
Frierson: Really? That was unexpected.
Brini: I love fishing and to just go out there and catch a great white or something exotic would be incredible.
Frierson: Have you caught anything big before?
Brini: I went to the Everglades when I was younger with my father and my brother and I caught a 10-pound bass — it was pretty nice. I was excited.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
Latavious Brini of course knew he was in a big game well before Georgia teammate Christopher Smith made the biggest play of the Duke's Mayo Classic last Saturday in Charlotte, N.C., intercepting a pass and returning it for the game's only touchdown in the Bulldogs' 10-3 win over Clemson.
Still, it was that moment and its ensuing roar of the Bank of America Stadium crowd of 74,187 — some cheers of joy, others moans of despair — that reminded Brini, a 6-foot-2 and 210-pound defensive back from Miami Gardens, Fla., just how special it was to be in a big-time game in front of a packed house.
Brini had four tackles and a pass breakup in the Bulldogs' stellar defensive performance against Clemson. The Bulldogs held the Tigers to 2 rushing yards and 180 yards of total offense. During a Quick Chat on Monday, Brini talked about being in a defensive duel, the roar of the crowd during Smith's 74-yard interception return, his favorite foods, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: How fun was the defensive battle the other night?
Brini: Oh, man, it was more of an astonishing moment. There was no place I'd rather be. It was very exciting because it was like, me versus you. At the end of the day, it was like, who is the bigger dog? Who's going to stand up when it really matters? It was a beautiful moment.
Frierson: Can you remember the last time you played in a game like that, when neither defense gave up a touchdown?
Brini: I probably haven't played in one of those games since I was playing rec ball or something. That was a very intense game, and the thing about it is, playing in a game you don't know how intense it is until the people outside watching it describe to me how intense the game was.
To me, because of our preparation, you just go through it. You're calm and you don't panic about anything. It was a great moment.
Frierson: The last time you guys played a game, there were about 15,000 there for the Peach Bowl. On Saturday, there were more than 74,000 people there. For you on the field, what is that difference like?
Brini: I told somebody earlier today, it was crazy because when Christopher Smith caught the interception, the roar of the crowd — I'm in the game and the roar of the crowd really astonished me. You just hear the whole crowd, the whole tone just shifted.
I'm running with Chris trying to get him to the end zone, and in my head I'm thinking, oh, my gosh, this is really loud. I was like, wow, this is what it feels like to be in one of those big games when the crowd is really into it. It was an amazing experience, for sure.
Frierson: We hear a lot about Miami, but what can you tell me about Miami Gardens? What makes it special to you?
Brini: What makes it special is, [home address redacted]. That's the house and the street that I grew up on. That's what makes Miami Gardens very, very special to me. All the memories and everything that contributed to making me the person that I am today, that's all in that area. It's very special to me.
Frierson: What's something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Brini: That's the $1 million question [smiles]. I have a lot of stuff that I could eat every day and not get tired of it. OK, I'm going to tell you my top three.
Spaghetti, for sure. I could eat spaghetti any time of the day every day. Chipotle — oh, my gosh, Chipotle is the best thing ever created. And third, I can eat Chinese food — oh, my gosh, yes, Chinese food. That's the dagger right there, Chinese food, I could eat that every day.
Frierson: If you had to pick one ...
Brini: Ooh, that's hard.
Frierson: ... what's it going to be?
Brini: Chinese food; I'll go with Chinese food. It's one of the best creations.
Frierson: What do you order when you go?
Brini: The honey chicken, for sure, and fried rice. That's the perfect order, right there. But I haven't had it in a long time.
Frierson: Who is the funniest guy on the team?
Brini: Jordan Davis, for sure. Jordan always keeps a smile on his face and he'll always have a joke or a story. I've never met a big person like that, that can be so funny. He's just very funny.
Frierson: I hope he goes on to a long NFL career but at the same time I can't wait to see him on TV one day. He'd be great at it.
Brini: I believe Jordan can be a comedian [laughs]. I think he could do it. It'd be kind of strange seeing that big of a person (Davis is 6-6 and 340) be a comedian, but I think he could do it.
Frierson: If you could be great at anything for a day, just to experience it, what would it be?
Brini: I think I want to be a great fisherman.
Frierson: Really? That was unexpected.
Brini: I love fishing and to just go out there and catch a great white or something exotic would be incredible.
Frierson: Have you caught anything big before?
Brini: I went to the Everglades when I was younger with my father and my brother and I caught a 10-pound bass — it was pretty nice. I was excited.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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