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'I shocked the world' FSU's Edwards finally getting his life in order
Posted: Sunday January 03, 1999 08:44 PM
By B.J. Schecter, Sports Illustrated TEMPE, Ariz. -- Mario Edwards is silky smooth and he's always played the game of football with ease. As a sophomore last year, Edwards earned a starting position at left cornerback coming out of spring practice, and was already being compared to former Seminole greats Deion Sanders and Terrell Buckley. He was the talk of the town, untouchable. Or so he thought. That summer, in July 1997, Edwards made the biggest mistake of his young life and it nearly cost him his football career. One night Edwards was involved in a fight with a female student, which ended when campus police showed up. Edwards was accused of striking and choking the girl. Although no criminal charges were filed, a Florida State disciplinary board dismissed him from school for a minimum of two semesters. He had to get his act together, the board said, and football would be on hold until he did so. "A lot of people were down on me," Edwards says. "They were saying I never would come back and that I screwed up the chance of a lifetime. But I knew I made a big mistake and if I wanted to come back I would have to do it on my own." Coach Bobby Bowden told Edwards he would hold his scholarship, but his destiny was in his own hands. While he was suspended from school, the coaching staff would provide little assistance. Edwards had to prove he had learned his lesson and that he could accept responsibility by taking classes on his own. Last season was painful for Edwards. He watched every game on television knowing he should be on the field. Whenever the Seminoles gave up a big play through the air Edwards looked away, an empty feeling in the pit of his stomach. "I never realized how much I loved playing football until it was taken away from me," he says. "I felt I let my teammates down and I tried to avoid the guys as much as possible. It was very difficult, but I knew I had a second chance, and I owed it to everyone who believed in me to take advantage of it." Anytime he felt down and contemplated giving up, Edwards thought of his four-year-old son Mario Jr., who was living with his mother in Gautier, Miss. Edwards never did give up hope. He passed 15 hours at Tallahassee Community College in the spring and stayed in shape by working on his own. Still, Florida State coaches weren't sure if he would be back this season. Edwards wasn't eligible for spring practice and when the media guide went to print, Edwards wasn't in it. That didn't deter him. Edwards worked conscientiously, passing five more hours before being readmitted to school in August. He quickly earned back his starting spot two games into the season and is a major reason the Seminoles have the top-ranked defense in the country entering Monday night's national championship game with Tennessee. "When I first came back I was in [defensive coordinator Mickey] Andrews's office," he says. "It overlooks the field in our stadium and I pointed to the field and said, 'Coach, you see that out there, I'm going to be all over that field.' He said, 'Mario don't tell anybody. Just go out and show people.' That's what I've done every game." At 6'2", 195 pounds, Edwards is the type of big corner Florida State hasn't had since Sanders. He is both physical and fast and will play a key role in containing Tennessee's trio of dangerous receivers -- Peerless Price, Cedrick Wilson and Jeremaine Copeland. "Mario came right in and fit perfectly into our defense," says right cornerback Tay Cody. "He's big and has those long arms. It's tough to do to either side because we're both convinced the receiver isn't going to catch the ball." Edwards finished the season with an ACC-leading six interceptions--four in one game against Wake Forest. He isn't surprised at his success this season. In fact, he says sitting out a year helped him see the game from another perspective. He may not be in the media guide, but Florida State's opponents know who he is. "You know what happened this year. I felt like Muhammad Ali: I shocked the world," says Edwards. "A lot of people never expected me to come back. People said I was done and undisciplined. I shocked them all, I shocked the world." Sports Illustrated writer-reporter B.J. Schecter will file daily reports from the Fiesta Bowl for CNNSI.com.
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