North Carolina State’s Tom O’Brien is 63 years old who has spent more than half his life (36 years) in the college coaching ranks. He’s also a 1971 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and served nine years in the Marines.
He’s one of the most unexpected people we can think of to say, “That’s a clown question, bro,” which was first uttered by Washington Nationals phenom Bryce Harper when a reporter asked what he deemed a ridiculous question regarding Canadian beer last month.
O’Brien uttered the phrase — which has become a huge Internet meme also used by the likes of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid — in response to a question asked at the Triangle Pigskin Preview on Thursday.
The moderator asked both O’Brien and Duke head coach David Cutcliffe, “Do older coaches make better coaches?” O’Brien was clearly giddy at the opportunity to use a now-exhausted comeback: “You know, I’ve been waiting to say this, Don: That’s a clown question, bro.”
No word on how long O’Brien has known about the phrase. Or if he even knows who Bryce Harper is.
