ORLANDO, Fla. -- College football coaches are re-examining
their training methods following the deaths of three players in
Florida during the past five months.
Last week's death of Florida freshman Eraste Autin from heat
stroke after a voluntary workout prompted coach Steve Spurrier to
review the way he conducts running drills.
Florida State's Bobby Bowden and South Florida's Jim Leavitt are
also mourning a player.
Florida State linebacker Devaughn Darling died in February while
weight-lifting, most likely of a heart arrhythmia. South Florida's
Patrick Payton died last month in a motorcycle accident.
"I don't know if there's any one thing that has happened in my
coaching life that has impacted myself more," Leavitt said Sunday.
"It makes you realize that you coach, in my mind, not to win
championships. I don't coach to get to bowl games. I coach to have
a chance to be involved with these young people's lives. It really
bought me back to grips with why I coach."
The Florida football coaches were in Orlando to meet with the
state's media.
Miami coach Larry Coker got a scare Saturday night when three of
his players -- running backs Jarrett Payton and Clinton Portis and
defensive lineman Clint Hurtt -- escaped with cuts and bruises in a
highway car accident.
"There is a big sigh of relief for the university, those
players and, without question, their families," Coker said.
Autin's death, in particular, has coaches re-examining their
training methods. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound fullback collapsed July
19 shortly after running sprints on a hot and muggy afternoon. His
body temperature was measured at 108 degrees. He died Wednesday
after six days in a coma.
"We all feel the tremendous loss," Central Florida coach Mike
Kruczek said. "It's a tragedy. It really is."
Spurrier says he hopes coaches now realize that when a player is
struggling during a run, he should not be pushed to keep running.
Even that may not have saved Autin, who gave no indication he
was in trouble before he collapsed.
"You have to tell our players, 'Give it your best shot. If you
feel like you can't make it, you have to use your discretion,"'
Spurrier said.
Coaches, he said, have to ensure "something like this doesn't
happen again."
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