Now that Evan Crowell’s high school football career is over, the Plant City High senior needed something to do in the offseason. He joined the track and field team for the spring and, in last week’s Hillsborough County meet at Leto High, Crowell placed first in the county in the shot put.
What events do you normally compete in?
I do shot put and discus.
How long have you been doing track and field?
I did track my sophomore year, but I didn’t do the whole season. I was just kind of messing around with it. This is the first year I’ve actually been serious about it, and did it because I wanted to compete.
What made you want to come back?
As a senior, football in high school’s over. Right now, until college, I’m just kind of sitting around, doing nothing. Track’s the perfect opportunity: It’s in the offseason, it gives me something to do, and I like it a lot.
So on Saturday, you won the shot put event. What about discus?
I’m not sure what place I got. I don’t think I got top three, but I’m not sure. In the shot put, I threw it 45 feet.
What other sports do you play, besides football and track?
Football and track are enough for me. I don’t really have time for anything else, really.
I know you had a lot of football offers from the Ivy League schools, and Air Force Academy. How high is your GPA right now?
It’s 5.5, I think. All of my classes this year are AP classes.
What made you pick App State over one of those schools?
I went to App State over the summer, to do football camp, and I fell in love with the campus. That campus is literally in the mountains, and it’s beautiful up there. Plus, Ivy League schools, they can’t really give a lot of money to middle-class kids. It’s really, really expensive. App State was just the right fit for me. It felt right.
You played on the offensive and defensive lines for Plant City football. What will you be playing at Appalachian State?
In college, I’ll be playing on the D-line. I know one of the key reasons why they loved me is because I’ll be playing D-line for them, but when we switch to scout they can use me as an offensive lineman because I have experience there. I’ll be able to help the team.
What do you plan to major in?
Medicine. I want to do the pre-med program. I like orthopedic medicine — sports medicine.
What’s your favorite subject in school?
I like my science classes. I have AP physics and AP environmental science right now, and those are fun. And I need those credits for my doctorate anyway, so I might as well knock them out of the way right now.
The Plant City football team just made a big coaching change. What was your reaction to that, even though your Raider playing days are over?
I love Coach Ward a lot. He’s been my coach the past four years. Honestly, I was surprised to hear that he stepped down at the end of the season. But, I’m really, really happy that Coach Meyer got chosen as the head coach. To me, he’s the next logical choice: He’s well-equipped for it and he knows what he’s doing. He’s got a lot of connections at the college level, and he’s got experience with a state championship program at Plant.
How are the younger guys taking the news?
They like it a lot. All of them, all of us, we love Coach Meyer. He makes the task of going to football practice every day and grinding enjoyable. He makes it more than just going to practice.
What else do you like to do in your free time?
When I’m not playing football or track, usually I’m just staying at home, relaxing, reading books, playing video games.
What books are you reading for fun?
The “Game of Thrones” series. I’ve seen the whole series, but I just started reading. I’m on the first book now.
What’s better: the book or TV show?
So far, probably the book. It does go a lot more into detail, and it’s more interesting.
What’s your team in Madden?
The Buccaneers, all the way. I can beat some people with the Buccaneers now. They’re lethal in Madden.
Who’s your favorite athlete of all time?
Mike Alstott. My dad, he’s a photographer, and he had a photoshoot with Alstott a while back, when we were kids. We got to meet him and he signed us autographs. Really, really nice guy.
If you could be either rich or famous, what would it be?
Famous, because if you’re rich, you can just buy stuff. If you’re famous, you can make an impact. People know who you are, they listen to what you say and you can influence people for the better. I wouldn’t want to be famous just for everybody to be like, ‘Oh, Evan Crowell, he’s awesome!’ I’d want to be famous to make an impact for something.
What’s the most-played song in your iPod right now?
Probably an Ellie Goulding song. “Explosions.” That song’s awesome.
That was unexpected.
I love Ellie Goulding a lot. A lot of people give me crap for it, because I’m a big football player who loves Ellie Goulding, but I can’t explain it.
