Anthony receiving experience, Blazers begin second championship run

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Posted 9:50PM on Thursday, August 25, 2005

VALDOSTA, Ga. (AP) One of Valdosta State's newest coaches is in the middle of a journey that has led him from the Gators to the Bucs and now on to the Blazers. New graduate assistant Reidel Anthony brings a wealth of Division I college and professional football experience as Valdosta State vies for second straight Division II title. The Blazers open their season against Fort Valley State on Saturday in Macon. ``He's got great knowledge of playing wide receiver and playing the game of football,'' said Blazers coach Chris Hatcher. ``Of course he has a big name to go along with that.'' Anthony became a big-time name among receivers starting his junior year at Florida in 1996. The 5-foot-11 receiver had 72 catches for 1,293 yards and 18 touchdowns en route to an All-American season. He also set an NCAA record of 11 consecutive games with a touchdown catch during the Gators' championship run. Anthony's dominant season persuaded him to skip his senior year for the pros. He was drafted No. 16 overall in 1996 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Anthony played five years with the Buccaneers, compiling career totals of 144 receptions for 1864 yards and 16 touchdowns in 73 games. ``My body couldn't take no more,'' Anthony said. ``I'd been playing football since I was five years old, I've been in the game a long time. ``I just couldn't play up to my potential for my self expectations.'' Since then, Anthony has earned his bachelor's degree in education from the University of Phoenix. A Division II program was ideal for Anthony, so he could gain more experience. ``He was looking into get into coaching and we had a graduate assistant (position) available, and we talked him into coming,'' Hatcher said. Now, he wants to provide wisdom for the Blazer players. ``One thing about here is we let our graduate coaches coach a little bit because of the staff size that we have,'' Hatcher said. ``He's a graduate assistant in title, but he's just another coach. ``He has the knowledge of the game especially at wide receiver.'' The players have taken advantage of the opportunity to learn under Anthony. He has already taught numerous techniques to players who are willing to learn from the NFL veteran. ``Passing on what I've learned over the years to kids that are willing to work and learn and they've done a great job with it,'' Anthony said. ``Some kids pick up on stuff real quick and some don't. They just need time.'' Anthony recognizes that the players he teaches are young. However, he refuses to accept how the players are making him feel older than he is. ``They try to make me feel old, but I'm really not that old, I'm only 28 and I have one or two on the team that are about 24 or 25,'' Anthony said. ``They go, 'I remember seeing you at Florida way back when I was in such-and-such grade,' makes me go 'wow.''' With the age difference not too far apart, Anthony is often challenged by a few Blazer players. ``He doesn't want to see me at (defensive back),'' Michael Terry joked as he crashed Anthony's interview with The Valdosta Daily Times. ``I want a piece of him. That guy's an animal. He doesn't want none of that.'' But Anthony brushes off the challenges, enjoying the player and coach relationship. ``You've got guys like this to mess with everyday,'' Anthony said. ``You can't help but have fun.'' Anthony is enjoying learning from the other coaches and the players at VSU, but he does not know where he will travel next. Hatcher believes that Anthony's coaching career will be a successful as his playing days. ``With the experience he's gaining here, its going to be hard to keep him around here for long,'' Hatcher said. ``He's got a bright future ahead of him.'' (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)