1. Draft day 1990, 8:45am.
My dorm room phone rings.(I answer.) It’s Mr Rooney from the Pittsburgh Steelers.(I immediately think ”It’s freezing in Pittsburgh!!”) They tell me they like me and hope to pick me later in the day...

2. Five minutes later I get a call from the Houston Oilers DB coach. (Yes Oilers kids). He had been on me throughout the entire draft process. They had the 10th overall pick and were going defense. (I knew they wouldn’t grab a kid from a D II at 10)...

3. Then... Ray Bob calls and life changes. Ray Bob (9ers DB coach, Ray Rhodes) emphatically, and enthusiastically told me, “I’m drafting your little ass, so be ready to get on a flight and get to work in a few hours!”. He told me no matter what it took he was drafting me.

4. He said “You’re a 9er! Now we just need to tell the rest of them.”
We hang up, I go to sleep and I awaken to my teammates pounding on my door after seeing me be selected on tv by the 49ers.
Then... Ray Bob calls back and said “I told you, you’re a 9er! Now they all know!”