Catching up with former Gators star Carlos Alvarez, who will be honored at Alabama game
Friday, September 30, 2011 | Football, Scott Carter
It has been a special year for Carlos Alvarez. The former Gators All-American receiver learned in May that he was being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this December.
Alvarez spent three seasons at UF as "The Cuban Comet," re-writing the Gators' record books for receivers. Alvarez's 1969 season still stands as perhaps the greatest campaign ever for a Florida receiver.
Alvarez caught 88 passes for 1,329 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning first-team All-American honors.
Alvarez will be honored at Saturday's game against Alabama with an on-campus salute from the National Football Foundation for his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. The ceremony is scheduled to take place during the first timeout of the first quarter.
Here is a Q&A with Alvarez:
Q: What does being honored at The Swamp for your Hall of Fame induction mean to you?
A: I'm really looking forward to it. I get to see some old friends from the teams that I played with. We are going to tailgate and I also get to see some old friends and teachers that I had, so overall, it's going to be a very nice Saturday. It's superb to be playing Alabama and have this going on. That just adds to the niceness of the event.
Q: What has the reception been like from Gator fans since the news came out about you making the Hall of Fame?
A: The reception has been superb. It's amazing how supportive people are on an award like that. Gator fans, really since I played, have always been superb to me. And I wasn't the least controversial guy out there. I had some controversies with me. Gator fans have always been supportive through thick and thin and I've always appreciated them. A lot of the people who have called me are from my generation, but I've even had some younger Gator fans that have called me or emailed me and have been very supportive of this. I couldn't have asked for more.
Q: When you played, not many teams utilized receivers the way you were used early in your career. Do you think you could play in today's game and be successful as well?
A: I would fit in real well in the Charlie Weis offense. That was our offense to some extent [my first season]. Basically, the pro-style offense is really what we ran. I would feel very comfortable now as I did then playing. I love that style of an offense. They put a few more wrinkles into it now obviously nowadays, but that style of an offense is really very favorable to wide receivers. Like any wide receiver, you want the ball in your hands, and they will get it to you enough if you can catch it and run with it. So I would feel very comfortable doing it now.
Q: You've accomplished a lot in your life after football, so where does getting inducted into the Hall of Fame rank in your life achievements?
A: I've told a few people that are close to me that if I were to die now, I'd be a very happy guy. I hope to do a lot more things in my life, but fortunately I've been gifted in so many ways from a football career to a great law career to a great family. I've been gifted in so many ways. This is not just because I'm being interviewed by you or to praise the University of Florida, but frankly it has opened up so many doors for me. I have traveled the world. I have tried in the legal field very interesting cases. I have enjoyed my family. I've climbed great mountains. I have had a faceoff with a grizzly bear. I have dived in great places. I have raised a great son. Really, I have been blessed and I don't consider one thing greater than another. Really, for me, it's all a beautiful thing. I tend to be positive by nature, but really, when I look at the way things have gone in my life, I better be positive because really there have not been that many negatives.
Q: Have you had a chance to make it back for a game this season?
A: This is going to be the first. I've seen every game. I've watched every game all the way through, but this will be the first game back.
Q: What's your impression of this year's team so far?
A: I know everybody focuses on the offense and the defense, but you know what I like about this team: this team seems to have passion. They seem to have this wonderful passion. You can see the players are excited. They are making mistakes, but there is an excitement when they go onto the field. I really, really enjoy that in a team. I think there is a really nice cohesion to this team and a really nice passion. That's what I'm really enjoying. We're going to face some tough opponents and have some downs and ups coming up – hopefully a lot more ups – but I love the passion they are playing with because that's the way college football should be played.
Q: Can you give us an update on what you are doing these days?
A: I live in Tallahassee and I'm an attorney in the environmental and land use area. I do litigation and I also do – what I mostly do now – is mediation or alternative dispute resolution in that area.
Q: What do you expect the induction ceremony in New York in December to be like to complete the process?
A: It's going to be very interesting. In my class is also Deion Sanders, so that in and of itself tells you that it's going to be interesting. I'm sure him and I will have a few words with each other and kid each other well while we're there. I've had the opportunity talk with Archie Manning, who played in my era. He is very involved in the National Football Foundation. I'm really looking forward to seeing Archie and seeing other people up there. I always enjoy those kinds of events.
