By St. Clair Murraine, Tallahassee DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
One of the selling points that coach Rubin Carter made to Kevin Elliott when the receiver was being recruited was the opportunity to run track. Track coach Rey Robinson, who also had an interest in Elliott, made the same pitch.
"I'm glad it worked out," Elliott said. "It would have been a bummer if I couldn't participate in both sports. I'm just happy."
Elliott, a freshman on the football team, is living his dream because of a push by Carter and Robinson to give him a no-hassle pass to either sport. He played football at Orlando Colonial, where he was a two-time state champion in the high jump and triple jump.
College coaches allowing athletes to play multiple sports is by no means new, but what Carter and Robinson have embarked on is a renewed effort between the programs at FAMU. So far, all of the participants are football recruits with track backgrounds.
"It was a no-brainer for me because that's an opportunity for our kids to continue doing something that they enjoy - playing another sport," Carter said. "We want to allow them a chance to utilize their athletic ability, whether it's in football and track, basketball or any other sport that will help to promote the athletic program."
Just as in the case of Elliott, encouraging athletes who want to play more than one sport will have recruiting advantages, Carter said.
FAMU has had a history of stellar athletes in more than one sport, the most prominent being Bob Hayes, who ran track and played football in the 1960s. The track-football interchange has not flourished in recent years, though, unless the athlete took the initiative to walk-on in either sport.
Last season, Antwaun Moore, a standout runner and football player from Lincoln High School, participated in a few track meets. He'll skip track during the upcoming season, but Robinson's program will have Elliott and Phillip Sylvester, a sprinter out of Marianna High School.
Frank Scott, a track recruit, also will try to make the football team as a walk-on at defensive end later this month when classes begin, Robinson said.
While Elliott isn't sure how much playing time he'll get this season, he said football is preparing him for a strong track season.
"It's a learning experience," he said. "It keeps me in shape and I'll definitely get faster. Speed is a factor."
Both Carter and Robinson were two-sport athletes in College Ð Carter at Miami and Robinson at FAMU. Carter held the Florida shot put record for 15 years and has been enshrined in the Florida Track and Field Hall.
Robinson was a specialist in the 100-meter sprint and shared the world record (9.9). He also was on the U.S. Olympic team in 1972, the same year he set the world record.
They said they decided to revive a strong relationship between both sports because their experience, but especially because of the benefit to the athletes. The only overlap expected will be in the spring when track runs indoors and football will be involved in spring training.
But Carter has promised to let the football players split their time training for both sports, Robinson said.
"He was very positive about it," Robinson said of the plan. "He thinks those two (football and track) go just like peanut butter and jelly.
"I'm elated about the opportunity to work with these athletes. With Coach Carter's attitude, I'm pretty sure it will go for a while."
One of the selling points that coach Rubin Carter made to Kevin Elliott when the receiver was being recruited was the opportunity to run track. Track coach Rey Robinson, who also had an interest in Elliott, made the same pitch.
"I'm glad it worked out," Elliott said. "It would have been a bummer if I couldn't participate in both sports. I'm just happy."
Elliott, a freshman on the football team, is living his dream because of a push by Carter and Robinson to give him a no-hassle pass to either sport. He played football at Orlando Colonial, where he was a two-time state champion in the high jump and triple jump.
College coaches allowing athletes to play multiple sports is by no means new, but what Carter and Robinson have embarked on is a renewed effort between the programs at FAMU. So far, all of the participants are football recruits with track backgrounds.
"It was a no-brainer for me because that's an opportunity for our kids to continue doing something that they enjoy - playing another sport," Carter said. "We want to allow them a chance to utilize their athletic ability, whether it's in football and track, basketball or any other sport that will help to promote the athletic program."
Just as in the case of Elliott, encouraging athletes who want to play more than one sport will have recruiting advantages, Carter said.
FAMU has had a history of stellar athletes in more than one sport, the most prominent being Bob Hayes, who ran track and played football in the 1960s. The track-football interchange has not flourished in recent years, though, unless the athlete took the initiative to walk-on in either sport.
Last season, Antwaun Moore, a standout runner and football player from Lincoln High School, participated in a few track meets. He'll skip track during the upcoming season, but Robinson's program will have Elliott and Phillip Sylvester, a sprinter out of Marianna High School.
Frank Scott, a track recruit, also will try to make the football team as a walk-on at defensive end later this month when classes begin, Robinson said.
While Elliott isn't sure how much playing time he'll get this season, he said football is preparing him for a strong track season.
"It's a learning experience," he said. "It keeps me in shape and I'll definitely get faster. Speed is a factor."
Both Carter and Robinson were two-sport athletes in College Ð Carter at Miami and Robinson at FAMU. Carter held the Florida shot put record for 15 years and has been enshrined in the Florida Track and Field Hall.
Robinson was a specialist in the 100-meter sprint and shared the world record (9.9). He also was on the U.S. Olympic team in 1972, the same year he set the world record.
They said they decided to revive a strong relationship between both sports because their experience, but especially because of the benefit to the athletes. The only overlap expected will be in the spring when track runs indoors and football will be involved in spring training.
But Carter has promised to let the football players split their time training for both sports, Robinson said.
"He was very positive about it," Robinson said of the plan. "He thinks those two (football and track) go just like peanut butter and jelly.
"I'm elated about the opportunity to work with these athletes. With Coach Carter's attitude, I'm pretty sure it will go for a while."
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