Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Freshman Brent Little Adjusts To Collegiate Athletics
04/17/2003 | 12:00:00 | Football
April 17, 2003
Carbondale, Ill. - Being a college freshman can be hard enough without all the extra pressure of being a Division I athlete. However, being a two-sport Division I athlete can be even more difficult.
Southern Illinois' freshman Brent Little is just that--a two-sport athlete at a Division I school.
Little came to SIU for just that reason. He wanted the opportunity to participate in both football and track and field and SIU seemed to be a good fit for the Poplar Bluff, Mo., native.
SIU's head football coach Jerry Kill, along with assistants Brian Anderson and Jay Sawvel, highly recruited Little. Little was an all-state, all-region, and all-conference selection his senior year at wide receiver.
"Coach Kill, Coach Anderson and Coach Sawvel talked to me quite a bit, and we developed a good relationship," commented Little. "I really liked Coach Kill's loyalty to a good offensive system."
Not only was Little a great football player at Poplar Bluff High School, he also earned plenty of recognition in track and field as well. He won the long jump at the state meet his junior and senior years and participated in the Junior Track World Team qualifying meet. At that meet, he finished in a six-way tie for third with a jump of 24-feet.
This fall Little gained the opportunity for success on the football field when he became a starter at wide receiver when teammate Kellen Allen, a sophomore who also participates in both football and track and field, injured his right hand. Little caught a big touchdown pass to help SIU win in a close Homecoming game against in-state rival Western Illinois.
"He made a big impact on our football team this past season as a true freshman," said Kill. "Brent is unusually talented and has a lot of confidence in his abilities. He thinks he's going to score a touchdown with every pass that is thrown his way."
Kill mentioned one of Little's hardest adjustments to the college game was learning the routes and schemes of SIU football, and Little agreed.
"It was hard to learn all the plays in the playbook. I really had to study it," said Little.
Little also thought juggling friends, academics, and athletics was difficult until he figured out a system that worked for him.
Putting together a schedule that would accommodate football and track and field was also something that was a little trying. Head track and field coach Cameron Wright and Kill got together to figure out a schedule that would benefit Little and get the most out of this young athlete's potential.
"His schedule has been difficult, and a challenge to figure out," said Wright. "Since Brent is on a football scholarship, we understand that football is a priority. We needed to figure out what works best for him."
Wright went on to express his gratitude towards the football coaches for allowing athletes to compete in track and field.
"We're grateful to football for allowing us to use their athletes, and they know that we're only trying to make them faster and more explosive which will help them in both track and football."
"Once the coaches get things figured out, the kids usually handle things well," said Kill. "They understand their emphasis is on the in-season sport for the most part, but they also understand that where their scholarships come from."
The past couple of weeks, Little has turned his attention once again to football after coming off a very rewarding indoor track season. The freshman was crowned Missouri Valley Conference champion in the long jump in February with a career best 24-3 1/2.
Soon it will be time for Little to switch gears once more to complete the outdoor track and field season. Little will be looking to defend his long jump title at the 2003 MVC Outdoor Championships May 15-17 at a place all too familiar to him, McAndrew Stadium.
By Abby Gonzales SIU Media Services
