Make Way For The New Guy

Now, three years later, Ann is looking forward to her husband's career in the NFL. "I try not to count the chickens before they hatch, and I'm not going to pin my hopes on it, but I'll tell you what: I can't wait to turn in my resignation at work."

The only thing that might get in the way is the decathlon. Rohn started to compete in that event in his sophomore year at FSU, and last spring finished eighth at the NCAA Track & Field Championships with 7,612 points. Early in Stark's decathlon career, Head Track Coach Dick Roberts asked Jim Long, the decathlon assistant, how his pupil was doing. Long was enthusiastic, saying he hadn't found anything yet that Stark couldn't handle, and added, "He made 12'6" in the vault today."

"Oh," said Roberts, "when did he start vaulting?"

"Yesterday," answered Long.

Several weeks later, Stark was reaching 15 feet using a Fosbury Flop at the top of his vault. In his second decathlon he scored a school-record 7,083.

If Stark can get over 8,000 points—his best events are the pole vault (a high of 16'9"), the high jump (6'10�") and the 100 meters (10.72)—he'll consider trying out for the 1984 U.S. Olympic team. And if that happens, there are lawyers who see his case as a perfect test of the amateur regulations of the IOC. A professional in football, they would argue, isn't necessarily a professional in the decathlon, and Stark's case might be one of the best to take up because Stark really can compete in his two sports at the same time, and training in one does not abet the other.

It's likely Stark will go high in the NFL draft next spring. In an average year he would be a good bet to be taken in the first few rounds. But 1982 is supposed to be one of those "off" years, making Stark a near certainty to become the second "pure" punter (Guy is the other) ever to be picked in the opening round.

Ann would get a kick out of that.