Anthony Gaitor, FIU’s all-conference cornerback, will participate in Saturday night’s Texas vs. the Nation as he continues to prepare for April’s NFL Draft. He took time out of practice Thursday to talk with us.
Q: So how’s it going out in San Antonio?
“It’s great. I'm learning how to interact with other scouts, the whole process, and being around other players, I’m learning from them. It's very competitive. All of these guys from a lot of big schools. Going up against the best.”
Q: Who have you covered in practice?
“I've covered guys from everywhere, like Kris Durham from Georgia, Derrell Johnson-Koulianos from Iowa. Everything's a rotation right now, we're just rotating in, getting the same amount of reps. We run the 4-3, so I’m playing a lot of Cover-1 and Cover-3. We're getting the one-on-ones, competing, trying to show the scouts what we can do.”
Q: Are you still enrolled at FIU, or are you focused completely on draft preparation?
“I'm doing my last class online, and I will walk in the spring with a degree in sports management. I'm very proud. It's a dream come true. I’m so blessed. It's one of my dreams. My dreams are coming true, every day.
“I'm just happy right now that I'm blessed. I got the opportunity to play in an all-star game. I just need to enjoy the process. Most people don't have this opportunity. Most people don't have the opportunity to get drafted. I know a lot more work needs to be put in. I’m grateful.”
Q: You’re not the only Golden Panther to get selected to an all-star game. Have you talked with Brad Serini at all?
“I talk to him, and see how things are going for him. He told me that every day you're out there, show what you're capable of, what your ability is. He just wished me good luck. I’ll see him on March 3. That's FIU’s pro day.”
Q: What did you think of FIU’s latest recruiting class? They have more and more Northwestern High kids signing with the team each year.
“I heard it went nice. I’m happy that FIU is a team that's not overlooked anymore. That was my whole reason for attending FIU, to build something from the ground up. No matter how bad a team is, that's not the end of it. That’s what I tell my high school teammates, who looked up to me, questioned why I chose FIU over Georgia. I’m thankful and grateful that I went there.
“I never once a regret that I chose a Sun Belt school over an SEC school. Your talent is going to always show. That's one of the things that I show guys. I appreciate everything they've done for me. I’m thankful that they gave me an opportunity to play at FIU. They never once gave up on me. It's not all about the big schools. But when you see a team like that, you want to be part of something big. Now, look at us now. We're getting there. We won the SBC and conference. That’s step one of the process.”
Thank you Mr. Gaitor for an incredible career at FIU. Good luck with your pro career, we will be following and rooting for you where ever you may end up.
Posted by: Max | February 03, 2011 at 09:03 PM
Guarantee he'd be projected higher than the 6th round if he had played in the SEC.
But at least he got FIU to the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. Worth it.
Posted by: nickel | February 03, 2011 at 11:38 PM
Anthony Gaitor helped build this thing from the bottom up. All of our future successes will be built on the foundation that he and a few others laid.
Thanks for the memories and we will be rooting for you wherever your career takes you.
Posted by: TheChampionUnderdog | February 04, 2011 at 02:25 AM
Hey Mr. Gator what happen when you went against Lester Jean? He lit you up!
Posted by: FAU FAN | February 04, 2011 at 03:12 AM
I guarantee that at Georgia he probably would have been forced to sit out 2 years, then played in blowouts only his third year, and been under developed going into his senior year.
But hey atleast he would have gotten to lose to UCF in a sh-1tty bowl. Georgia is worth it I guess.
Posted by: fiu fpl | February 04, 2011 at 05:33 AM
Right on FIU FPL... Gaitor made the best choice going to FIU. Thanks AG.
Lester Jean ... lol i think the whole team got LIT UP!!!
FAU, cant wait for the game this season @ FIU.
Posted by: FIURage | February 04, 2011 at 07:12 AM
Thank you Gait for all the great memories at FIU, you decided to set out and make your own footprints for others to follow.
Good Luck this weekend, as well as your Pro Day and I have a good feeling we'll be hearing your name on Draft Day.
Posted by: InnerCity-Reverend | February 04, 2011 at 08:31 AM
Sad the fact that president Rosenberg and AD Pete Garcia were absent from the signing celebration last Wednesday. Where were they?. How could they motivate us to support the team when they don't do it themselves.
Shalala and Hocutt were all over the news thanking and praising Al Golden.
Dr. Rosenberg, Pete Garcia, SHAME ON YOU.
Go Panthers
Posted by: SunbeltChamp | February 04, 2011 at 09:59 AM
I honestly thought Gaitor would be invited. I realize we were not going to have all 4 Senior going to Indi but very suprised about Gaitor. More Fuel for the Fire.. Go Gaitor!
Go FIU
Posted by: Gooch7 | February 04, 2011 at 11:24 AM
SunbeltChamp,
If you attended any FIU events you would know that Pete Garcia and Pres. Rosenberg attend every event and celebration. FROM the selection day for the college world series regionals to pep rallies at UF, Detroit (little ceasers bowl), every football game, etc.... The pres. has even led the chants/cheers and danced with the dazzlers/players/fans.
They missed one, really? that's the complaint. Stop Trolling.... they were probably negotiating with Mario's agent!
Posted by: chiaPanther | February 04, 2011 at 11:42 AM
Thanks AG for everything. Keep up the great work ethic and attitude and you'll go far. And never forget about your FIU Family. :)
Go Panthers !!!
Posted by: FIUFan | February 04, 2011 at 12:44 PM
Sports management - another B.S. major that gives this kid nothing to fall back on when he's cut from his team before training camp.
What, criminology and sociology were full? FIU should be ashamed that they encourage these kids to waste the education that they worked so hard on the football field to earn.
Posted by: shame | February 04, 2011 at 01:50 PM
Shame,
Come on now. Is that really necessary? Why don't you go through every other D-1 school's roster and make a table listing every athlete's major. Not every kid is Paul McCall and can leave his D-1 Football Career with a Masters in Engineering.
You act as if FIU forced him to choose that field. What if he wants to be an agent or something? Maybe a coach? Maybe an AD at his local high school?
Stop trolling. Gaitor worked his ass off for his success both on and off the field. Don't come on to a message board and try to down play those accomplishments.
AG, we're proud of you. Regardless of what schmucks like Shame have to say, you did it all on your own and you deserve it! Best of luck to Gaitor!!!
Posted by: pikedanny | February 04, 2011 at 02:45 PM
Well said and right on point, pikedanny. Geez....
Posted by: FIU Fanatic | February 04, 2011 at 02:53 PM
Sports Mgmt. sounds like a great degree to me. You can support that later with an MBA, Law School, physical therapy, etc. If you hadn't noticed shame, Sports are becoming a greater and greater part of today's society. I wish this degree was around when I was an undergrad.
Posted by: FIUFan | February 04, 2011 at 04:49 PM
It's even worse at schools like UM and UF but especially at FIU, where these guys are not going to make enough to retire on with NFL careers, they shouldn't be being encouraged to take nonsense majors.
FIUFan - it's a completely noncompetitive degree and wouldn't even help you get a job taping ankles at a high school for the rest of your life. Yes sports is big business. Run by people with business degrees.
Posted by: shame | February 04, 2011 at 05:31 PM
I have to disagree with "Shame".. Not all student athletes get what you call "BS" degrees.. Those kids choose to major in something that might not guarantee them millions of dollars (perfect example is education). So being a teacher is a bad career also?? I think you study a career that will make you happy for the next 40-50 years..
JUSTIN
I asked this once but I will give it one more chance.. Can you post what are some of the TOP recruits that we were in the hunt for but decided to go somewhere else? I know we won many battles against big time schools but I'm sure we also lost a couple here and there.. Just an idea of 3 or 4 players that could have come our way but didn't thats all.. Thanks!
Go FIU!
Posted by: Gooch7 | February 04, 2011 at 08:25 PM
No, the kids are told (they don't choose) that they will be able to graduate in four years while playing football if they major in something easy like criminology, sociology, or sports management.
None of these major lead to a legitimate career like being a teacher. Criminology is the best of the three because it replaces a three year police academy, but sociology and sports management are 100% B.S. Honestly, look at FIU's roster, see how many of them are majoring in anything that could help them get a job like teaching. You'll be disappointed.
Posted by: shame | February 04, 2011 at 10:52 PM
ChiaPanther, I hope you're absolutely right when you said "they were probably negotiating with Marios' agent. At this time MC signing should be priority #1.
Posted by: Panther2001 | February 05, 2011 at 12:17 AM