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No sophomore slump expected

By DAVID MURPHY
Published January 24, 2007

Andy Leavine entered his freshman year eagerly awaiting his first win as a college football player.

He'll enter his sophomore year doing the same.

Leavine spent his freshman year getting used to a new position coach, a new head coach and a new offensive system.

He'll spend his sophomore year doing the same.

Though Leavine's freshman year at Florida International saw him start all 12 games, it was marked by more drama than an episode of the Real World.

FIU lost all of its games. Coach Don Strock resigned. And a mid-season brawl with Miami dominated national headlines.

"It sure was an experience," Leavine said Monday via cell phone as he walked from the weight room on campus to his dorm room.

But the former Central lineman says he is having the time of his life on FIU's Miami campus. There are friends, there is football. And, of course, there are girls. "I'm having a great time," Leavine said. "It's Miami."

After Strock's resignation in November, FIU hired former University of Miami offensive line coach Mario Cristobal. Leavine said he is grateful for the chance Strock gave him - the Panthers' were the only school to offer him a scholarship - but is excited about playing for a coach like Cristobal. For a guy who started every game as a freshman under the old regime, there is some anxiety over what the future holds. But Leavine said by adhering to his guiding philosophy he is confident he will continue to see time on the field.

"There are a lot of guys who are insecure about their jobs," Leavine said. "But my mentality is, 'Ain't nobody gonna outwork me.' Nobody who is here is going to out work me. Nobody who is coming in is going to out-work me. Either way, you are going to be seeing me."

Leavine said he has put on about 20 pounds since the season ended. He arrived at college weighing 272 pounds. At his most recent weigh-in, he clocked in at 292. He said he is paying strict attention to the meal plan his strength and conditioning coach has put him on: salads, chicken, fish. He said he's like to reach a target weight of just over 300 pounds. He's hoping to stay at left tackle, considered the marquee position on the offensive line.

But he realizes things can change.

"It's tough," he said. "It's intense. You are playing the best of the best."

And, right now, that's good enough for him.

David Murphy can be reached at dmurphy@sptimes.com or 352 848-1407.

[Last modified January 23, 2007, 21:42:10]