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Editor’s note: Gators Wire recently interviewed former Florida and NFL great Trace Armstrong to discuss a variety of topics, ranging from his youth to the modern game of football. During our conversations, he provided a plethora of fascinating anecdotes that we will share in a multi-part series.
Be sure to check back each Wednesday in the coming months for future installments of “Talking with Trace.” The series is part of a partnership between our colleagues at Campus Lore and the NFLPA.
Previously, we have discussed who was the greatest Gator ever and why the Miami Dolphins was such a great place for Trace, as well as his take on the NCAA and modern college football, his prediction for the Gators in 2021 and how he still dreams about third down in the NFL.
In this installment, we talked with Trace about what it takes to make a professional athlete.
Becoming a professional athlete in any sport is no easy feat, and despite what some may say, it takes more than just one talented individual. In fact, it takes a team to nurture and support someone who seeks to excel at the highest level of competition.
This week, Gators Wire’s Adam Dubbin asks Trace about the importance of having the right people on your side when it comes to every aspect of player development.
ADAM DUBBIN: “You know, it takes a lot of moving parts to make a successful athlete, doesn’t it? It takes mentors. It takes surgeons. It takes teammates, coaches. … There are a lot of working parts in there, aren’t there?”
TRACE ARMSTRONG: “There’s no question, and I’m the perfect example of that. You know, every key moment in my life and my career I found the right person to help me get through what I was going through or help me take the next step.”
“Whether it be a strength coach, an orthopedic surgeon or a great position coach, I was really lucky at every point in my life — that I had somebody like that in my corner.”
Former Gator and NFL Pro Bowler Trace Armstrong: ‘I still dream about third down’
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