Condoleezza Rice talks Cleveland Browns in NewsChannel5 exclusive at Republican National Convention

TAMPA , Fla. - Condoleezza Rice has held many titles, secretary of state most prominent among them, but the one she's had the longest and worn most proudly is Browns fan.

When Rice was a born in November 1954, her father, John Wesley Rice, was hoping for an All-American linebacker son he'd name John, a son he would share with his love of football.

Condoleezza may not have a become linebacker, but she grew into the Browns fan her father had hoped for in a child.

Her dad was a former football player and coach, who followed the Browns because they were one of the first integrated teams, featuring Hall of Famer Jim Brown, and because they were very often on television growing up in Alabama.

So what does she think her teams prospects are?

"As usual, I'm optimistic, like Browns fans always are," Rice joked, during an exclusive interview Wednesday in Tampa prior to her speech at the Republican National Convention.

"I'm hoping that (Brandon) Weeden will show a little bit more consistency, but I'm really excited for Trent Richardson to come back. I'm an Alabama Crimson Tide fan and that really is a perfect marriage for me: Trent Richardson and the Cleveland Browns," Rice said.

"I think Pat Shurmur's a fine coach and we're going to be OK. We'll be young, we'll make some mistakes, we'll be pretty good."

Rice recently showed her love for her team in an NFL women's apparel photo shoot sporting a Josh Cribbs jersey.

"I've gotten a lot of people asking if I'm taking up a new career. I said 'No, I just wanted to state my case for my team,'" she said.

Rice will need to wear the jersey in California come fall as she will be tied up teaching this fall at Stanford, so attending a game in person doesn't seem likely but she promises to be "cheering really hard for the Browns."