In today's world of collegiate athletics, playing multiple sports is extremely difficult. As the word "offseason" has morphed into "offseason workout," the atmosphere surrounding Division I athletics has intensified dramatically.
An NCAA athlete is expected to work year-round with his teammates, and concentrate fully on an upcoming season months in advance, because he knows that athletes at other schools are doing the same.
Yet, in the age of year-round training, Duke's Reggie Love defies the prevailing view that an athlete must choose only one sport. As a starting wide receiver on the football squad and a key reserve on Duke's championship basketball team, Love not only competes in two sports, he does so at a high level.
Interestingly, despite football's heavy physical emphasis, Love described the winter transformation from football to basketball as more physically demanding than spring's return to the gridiron.
"I think it's a bigger conditioning thing to go from football to basketball," he said. "During football season, it's more quick sprints, where you get rest. In basketball, it's more up-and-down. So, I think I'm better conditioned when I come from basketball to football."
On the basketball court, Love is the equivalent to a very capable walk-on athlete. Although basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski is certainly grateful for Love's contributions, it is on the football field where the sophomore is counted on most heavily to produce. Accordingly, Love's mindset changes as the seasons do.
"I think I probably put a little more pressure on myself, football-wise," the sophomore said. "Not that I don't have a leadership role on the basketball team, but I have more of a lead-by-example role on the football team. I have to be more careful about what I say, and then make sure that I'm really positive, really upbeat."
Seeing his extraordinary potential, advocates of each sport wish Love would simply forget the other.
Yet, despite facing continual pressure to decide on one sport, he resists, in part because of his closest companions.
"[Wide receiver] Jeremy Battier and [point guard] Chris Duhon are probably my two best friends," Love said, smiling. "I enjoy going to practice and playing with these guys. It's a bond."
Love acknowledged that if his two passions began to interfere with one another, he would be forced to give up basketball. However, he relishes the chance to remain a two-sport star for all four of his years at Duke.
"If it comes down to it, I probably see myself being a football player down the road," he said. "If basketball starts to slow my progression on the football field, maybe I'll [stop]. But if I can keep it up, and my body allows me to do it, then I don't see any reason why I would not."
One possible reason would be the example of cross-town rival Ronald Curry, whom last year Love competed against in both sports. When he arrived at North Carolina four years ago, Curry carried with him the acclaim of being the top high school athlete in the nation.
Higher rated at quarterback than Michael Vick--the first overall selection in last spring's NFL draft--and more heralded than Tracy McGrady--an NBA All-Star and one of the league's most explosive players--Curry faced huge expectations upon his decision to attend UNC.
Despite being the Tar Heels' starting quarterback and point guard, Curry has not been able to compete at the level anticipated. The strain of playing two sports appears to have taken its toll. Vick and McGrady recently signed professional contracts upwards of $60 million; Curry will be fortunate to make a professional roster.
Unlike his North Carolina counterpart, Love does not face such huge expectations. He does however, share Curry's NFL aspirations. One can only hope that basketball will not limit his future potential in football.
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