Behind the Facemask: Brandon McGee

August 10, 2011

CORAL GABLES, Fla.–They are stories of perseverance. Stories about growing up, becoming men and being a part of a family. One-by-one, we hear from them. These are the Miami Hurricanes…

Brandon McGee | Defensive Back | Junior | Plantation, Fla.

The U is about legacy and tradition. It’s about all the past players that came through the university and made it what it is today. From Michael Irvin to Ray Lewis and people like that, that’s what it’s all about.

Competition is something that this program is built on. It’s about going out and competing every day, whether it’s just having fun or with intensity. Practice field, workouts, or in the weight room, we just compete every day.

Playing football has given me an outlet as a way to clear my mind. Not necessarily escape reality, but when I’m on the field, it’s the only thing that’s on my mind.

I secretly wish that I could sing (laughs). I always hear myself trying to sing in the shower and it never goes well.

When I was six years old, I remember scoring a 98-yard touchdown. That was back in 1997, when I was still playing running back as a kid.

The Golden Era is about excitement. I’m anxious to see what this future holds and see what this season holds. I’m ready to get it all under way.

I’ll never forget when my mom told me, before she passed, that God was going to bless me. That has stuck with me my entire life.

The hardest part of life is understanding that adversity comes in a lot of different forms. It’s not there to break us, but rather to make us into the people we’re supposed to become. That’s the hardest part. Once you understand that, you’re better off.

South Florida is my home. Growing up in my hometown, seeing the people before me go on and play college football and play professional sports, it’s given me a motivation to know that I can do the same. I see the work that they put in and the neighborhoods they grew up in, it’s just made me want to do it too.

Family is the most important thing in my life. Going through college and going through high school with everything I’ve been through, I’ve learned that I need them. I rely on them a lot.

We are all one. I know it sounds cliché, but at the end of the day, when we’re out there working together as a team, you feel the togetherness. When we ran our conditioning tests, the way we got everyone over the hump was coming together and becoming one.

I was raised to respect everyone around me, to be mindful of my surroundings, and to know that nothing will be given to me. My dad and mom did a great job of instilling that in me at a very early age. I was really independent, whether it was in elementary school making my own breakfast and washing dishes and clothes, I learned that nothing comes easy and you have to earn everything.

I didn’t think I was going to run the fastest 40-yard dash during conditioning. I thought Travis Benjamin was going to edge me out. I’ll take that and say it with pride.

My favorite song right now is “I’m a Boss” by Rick Ross and Meek Millz. My favorite R&B song right now is “Sure Thing” by Miguel. I’ll roll with those two.

Other than football, one thing I’m talented at is guitar. I’ve been teaching myself, but you could say I’m talented on the strings. I was bored one day and wanted to learn how to play. The song “How to Love” by Lil Wayne kind of inspired me to learn. I’ve been watching a lot of videos on YouTube to learn how to do it.

If I could spend a day with anyone, it would be my mom. I would trade anything to spend a day with her again.

The most influential person in my life is my father. Seeing him step up to the plate the way he did when my mom passed, the sacrifices that he made, just to provide for me and my siblings, he has a big heart. He took on so many responsibilities that he didn’t really have to, from my nieces and nephews to everything, he definitely inspires me to keep going. He gets all my jerseys too and he gives them out to my family members.

I’m a Hurricane because I want to be the best. From watching the way the group of high school players I knew that were here, guys like Brandon Harris, Jacory Harris, DeMarcus Van Dyke, I wanted to be a part of that. The coaching staff embraced me and I felt comfortable here. I’m close to home, which is important. My grandparents didn’t want me to be far away, and I didn’t want to leave my dad, because he wanted to be at every game. It worked out well.

My favorite thing about being part of the U Family is the feeling itself. There are never awkward moments amongst us, moments when you might feel like an outsider or an outcast. We make jokes, but that’s what family does. We may argue at times, but that’s what family does too.

At the U, I’ve learned so much from Brandon Harris. My freshman year, coaches would ride me a lot, and I would think, “Why are they riding me like this?” He told me to relax, and explained how it’s part of the process. Watching his work ethic, and how he breaks down game film on his own, I took note of that and watched it and try to mimic that myself.

When I played football as a kid, I pretended to be Michael Vick. I played quarterback sixth grade through senior year of high school. I had a glove on my left hand just like him. They gave #7 to a senior one year, so I just stuck with #4. Mike Vick was my idol.

The song no one would believe I have on my iPod is “Like a G6” by Far East Movement.

No one can believe I used to be in drama. I used to be an actor. I did performing arts through elementary school and middle school. The reason I started was because they went on a lot of field trips (laughs). It was a fun experience.

Becoming a man is learning about yourself. You go through so many phases and challenges through this process, I think if you’re not strong-minded, or don’t have a strong mindset it’s easy for you to lose your way. You’re going to stumble. That’s not a question. It’s your ability to pick yourself up after you stumble that defines the true character of a man.

Make sure to check in for a new Behind the Facemask profile each and everyday in preparation for the Hurricane football season opener. For a review of all past profiles, check out Behind the Facemask Central.