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Austin's ISU success was around cornerBy NANCY MORGAN © St. Petersburg Times, published November 12, 2000 When Atif Austin graduated from Tarpon Springs High School three years ago, the Pinellas County Player of the Year expected to be a tailback in college. After being redshirted his first season at Iowa State, Austin was switched to left cornerback and became a starter when Jamarcus Powers broke his foot. "I was switched about halfway through the spring and jumped into the starting role," said Austin, who turns 22 this month. "Although it took me a year to adjust to the change and the different role, it's really more natural for me," he said. Against Oklahoma State last month, Austin intercepted a pass to set up the Cyclones' winning touchdown drive late in the game. He also had four tackles and broke up three passes. Austin earned a career-high five tackles against then top-ranked Nebraska in a 49-27 loss, and he had four tackles about a week ago against Iowa in a 24-14 victory. "That win over Iowa assured us a bowl bid for the first time since 1978," said Austin, a Tampa Bay native. "That's something I wanted to be a part of -- a team that would start a tradition." Iowa State, third in the Big 12 Conference North Division, improved to 6-3 overall and clinched its first winning season since 1989 with the victory over the Hawkeyes. Austin had 24 tackles in nine games, raising his two-season total to 63. "When I switched to cornerback, the toughest thing I had to learn was the footing," he said. "As a fullback, you're always running forward and you know where you're going. As a cornerback, you're running backwards and you don't know exactly where you're going to go because you don't know what the receivers are going to do." Austin has been playing with an impingement in his left shoulder since last season and expects to have surgery at the end of the year.. He has no plans of missing the school's first bowl game in 22 years or his first college post-season action. "Coming out of high school, I never expected to be where I am now," Austin said. "I'm glad for the experience I've had at cornerback," he said, "and I'm really glad to be a part of starting a tradition at Iowa State." MORE FOOTBALL: Sam Meinrod (East Lake) has started all nine games for the Air Force Academy at strong safety. He has 22 unassisted tackles and 20 assisted. The junior is second in quarterback sacks with eight. In a 41-27 win over Army, Meinrod, who has been troubled by a bruised shoulder, contributed one assisted tackle. The Falcons' victory resulted in Air Force receiving the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy for the 14th time in 19 years. It's a symbol of supremacy among the Air Force, Navy and Army. Chad Nikolic (Dixie) is a freshman reserve kicker for the Air Force program's junior varsity team. Casey Moore (St. Petersburg Catholic) has started all nine games for Stanford at fullback. He has 176 yards and a touchdown on 41 carries. A 37-35 loss to Pac 10 opponent UCLA eliminated the Cardinal from post-season action for the first time in three years. John Culley (Shorecrest) is a freshman linebacker for Columbia University's junior varsity squad. Ryan Fowler (Seminole), a starting linebacker for Duke, registered his sixth quarterback sack of the season in a 28-26 victory over Wake Forest. The freshman is tied for sixth among Blue Devils in single-season sacks. Fowler has 50 unassisted tackles and 22 assisted. SOCCER: J.R. Casadonte (Shorecrest), a reserve midfielder at Stetson, last month was named the Trans America Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week. The sophomore scored seven goals in the last three games. In the first round of the recent TAAC Tournament, a last-second goal in the second overtime by Florida Atlantic thwarted Stetson's chances of advancing and ended its season at 8-11. Margery Kraus (Dunedin), a sophomore defender at Florida International, assisted in a victory in the inaugural Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship in Mobile, Ala. FIU avenged an earlier loss to University of North Texas with a 3-1 decision in the tournament final. Florida International finished the season 15-5-2. VOLLEYBALL: Erin Gornes (Northside Christian) is leading the Georgia Bulldogs in blocks with 1.2 per game and is third in kills (2.97). Playing outside hitter the last two years, the junior was switched to middle blocker and has notched double figures in kills in 15 matches and a season-high of 17 kills three times. TENNIS: Chris Starnes (Seminole/University of North Carolina) was named head professional at Asheville Racquet Club, the third largest in North Carolina. Starnes was a two-year captain for the Tar Heels. He's No. 1 in the state in open doubles with partner Sarge Luke, and Starnes is among the top 10 in open singles. Georgia sophomore Lori Grey (Seminole) is ranked 22nd in the International Tennis Association and was the second-seed and defending champion in this month's South Regional Championships in Mobile, Ala. The All-American fell to Auburn's Andrea Piski in a quarterfinal match. Grey and her partner, Tina Hojnik, were eliminated in the quarters in doubles.
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