After being teammates on FAMU’s men’s track and field team the last four years, seniors Eric Ramsay and Clyde Mathes will be running down two totally different paths of life.
On May 1, Ramsay will receive his bachelor’s of arts in business administration while Mathes will receive his bachelor’s of science degree in political science.
Ramsay, who runs the 200, 400 and 800 meters as well as the 4×400 and 4×800-meter relays, wants to pursue a professional track and field career after graduation.
This May, the Fort Lauderdale native said he plans to compete in the Jamaican Olympic Trials in Kingston.
The road to graduation hasn’t been the smoothest for Ramsay. He entered FAMU as a general studies student before changing to business administration. Ramsay said that some of the classes he took while in the School of General Studies didn’t transfer over into the School of Business and Industry.
“Because I was in general studies, I was in a lot of classes that I didn’t need to be taking,” Ramsay said, “The curriculum in general studies and the curriculum in business didn’t match up.”
According to men’s head track and field coach Rey Robinson, the track team emphasizes to their athletes that academics should be their primary focus. The track team has outside help available to their players on road trips.
“We try to stress to our athletes they should put their academics first, that’s the main reason they are here,” Robinson said. “They have tutors on the road and the kids help one another out. We also have a great academic learning center and that helps a lot.”
Unlike Ramsay, Mathes is looking forward to more school. Mathes said he is planning to apply to law school in the New York area. The Gainesville native wants to become a corporate lawyer. He said practicing law up north will allow him to make more money.
However, his dream job is in the realm of sports.
“My most perfect job would be to be a sports agent for one of the top athletes in the world,” Mathes said “I want to work side by side with my clients and be their friend as well.”
Mathes, who runs the 100, 200 and the 4×100-meter relay, said as a collegiate athlete it will help him be able to relate to his athlete clients on a more personal level. Mathes also said he intends to prepare his clients to deal with everything from financial issues to dealing with injuries.
“I will try to relate to my clients that they have to prepare for a life outside of sports,” Mathes said
Robinson said both Ramsay and Mathes have been model student-athletes throughout their careers.
“It has been wonderful coaching Eric and Clyde the last four years,” he said.
“They are both academically strong, 3.0’s or better, they have good work ethics and come out here on the track and put forth great effort, every day.”
contact nick birdsong at mrbirdsong@hotmail.com.