Because playing football at Florida State is not enough for Fred Jones. Actually, it's only the start.
Jones could be an easy entry if FSU held a competition for its most active student-athletes during the spring semester. When he's not at football, he's throwing discus for the school's track and field team.
And then there's his academics. Jones, who will be a redshirt junior this fall, is on pace to graduate with an economics degree this December. From there, he'll begin pursuing a master's in business administration in January.
"It's about laying down your foundation for when I leave here," Jones told Warchant.com. "It's like [head coach Jimbo Fisher] says, 'When you leave here, how do you want to be remembered?' When we pass away, how do I want to be remembered?
"I want to be remembered as somebody different. I don't want to follow the crowd."
Jones joined FSU's track team last season and participated in both sports this spring. He's balanced football and track by taking a smart approach. He's particular about what he eats, and he knows when to get treatment to make sure his body stays in good condition.
He's also become adept at managing his time.
While spring football was taking place during March and April, Jones would work each day to fit track practice around his classes and any football-related activities.
The plan worked well, with Jones qualifying for this weekend's Atlantic Coast Conference Championships in Atlanta. It's his second straight season qualifying for that event, and Jones said his goal is to reach the NCAA Regional Championships later this month.
"Fred wants it really bad, and it's why he doesn't really miss much [practice time]," said Dorian Scott, who is the Seminoles' throws coach. "But he's beat down some days. He'll get a little frustrated because he kind of forgets he did a [football] practice just an hour ago. He'll be like, 'Man, Coach, why is [the discus] not going anywhere?' I'm like, 'You're kinda exhausted.'"
