T-Buck Back At FSU To Get Degree
Published: Aug 18, 2007
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TALLAHASSEE - He still has the physique and athletic swagger of a world-class athlete, but this time, Terrell Buckley is more interested in being a student and a teacher than a football player.
For the first time in 16 years, Buckley - forever known as T-Buck around the Florida State campus - is spending a football season at FSU, finishing his undergraduate degree and working as an unpaid student assistant on Coach Bobby Bowden's staff.
A lot has changed since Buckley led the nation with 12 interceptions in 1991, setting an FSU single-season record that still stands and finishing his career with a school-record 21 career interceptions. Buckley is a father of three girls - Sherrell, 12, Brianna, 9, and Britney, 6 - and made millions during a 14-year NFL career that concluded with four games with the New York Giants in 2005.
Buckley, 36, obviously doesn't need to finish school so he can get a good job, so why is he back taking classes with students half his age?
"I always knew I would finish my degree," said Buckley, who left school after his junior season and was Green Bay's first-round pick in the 1992 NFL draft. "Education is important. I preach that to my kids. I just think the more knowledge you pick up, the better off you'll be."
When Buckley left FSU in the spring of 1992, he needed about 75 credit hours to get his degree. In the years since, Buckley has taken classes at a community college, online, and most recently, at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, not far from his home in the Miami area. But as he moved closer to completing his degree in sociology - with a minor in political science - Buckley wanted to finish what he started at FSU.
He is scheduled to graduate Dec. 15 if he passes all his courses and completes internship requirements this fall.
"I could have finished outside Florida State, but I believe in garnet and gold," Buckley said Friday. "I always feel like my first major decision as a young man was choosing a school. It turned out to be the best decision I ever made."
When Bowden first heard Buckley was interested in returning to school and possibly helping the football team, he welcomed him back with open arms.
"We are lucky," Bowden said. "Terrell was a tremendous defensive back."
Buckley said he never considered coaching when he was a player, but he seems at least open to the possibility after a couple of weeks around an FSU program that has lost some of its luster the past few years.
"I've enjoyed this experience up here hanging around the coaches and players," Buckley said. "I feel like coaching is nothing more than mentoring young guys on life and what to expect. I kind of enjoy it. Every day you can see a little bit of improvement, and I get excited about it."
Junior cornerback Tony Carter said having Buckley around to talk to is invaluable, considering the player he was. Buckley and Deion Sanders are the only two FSU players to win the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive back. Buckley finished his NFL career with 50 interceptions and won a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots in 2001.
"He's a positive aspect to the secondary because he has been there and done that," Carter said. "He is one of the guys that we look up to and probably one of the reasons why I'm here. I'm looking forward to learning a lot from him."
Reporter Scott Carter can be reached at (850) 294-3088 or scarter@tampatrib.com.
