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Former Nole Is Thankful For Help

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By SCOTT CARTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 25, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Basketball season remains his favorite time of year. That's when former Florida State player Aubry Boyd perks up most, often cheering on the Noles from his motorized wheelchair at the Donald L. Tucker Center.

He attended FSU's loss last week to Duke and plans to show up for the North Carolina game next month.

"I still do things that I can to stay involved in basketball," Boyd said this week.

Boyd, 39, last played for FSU during the 1990-91 season, serving as the team's captain, point guard and top recruiter. He averaged a career-high 11.8 points on a Noles team that went 21-11 and included freshman Doug Edwards, the first major recruit the personable Boyd, himself an elite recruit three years earlier, helped land.

"Aubry was the first commitment we had in our first recruiting class," former FSU assistant coach David Zimroth said. "He had a nice career for us, he graduated on time, and he's probably the best recruiter we ever had on one of our teams. He hosted most the top players we were trying to recruit when they came for a visit. He became the consummate combo guard, and probably the best practice player I have ever been around. The guy was an absolute joy to coach from every aspect."

When Boyd's career at FSU ended, he spent time playing professionally in Portugal and Amsterdam and had a short stint in the CBA. But without the NBA prospects of former teammates Edwards and Charlie Ward or the skill of future Noles Sam Cassell and Bob Sura, Boyd eventually returned home to Macon, Ga., and became program director of a local Boys & Girls Club.

Life was good as Boyd started a new chapter in his life.

"The only thing that wasn't in the plans was what happened to him after college," Zimroth said.

On Oct. 29, 1995, Boyd was paralyzed from the neck down during a playground football game with some guys from his neighborhood. Zimroth, now a Tampa resident and vice president of recruiting for CNBS Financial Group, remembers leaving a meeting with former FSU coach Pat Kennedy to take a "devastating" phone call. Within 15 minutes of receiving the news, Zimroth and Kennedy were in a car driving to Macon to comfort one of their favorite ex-players.

"As time goes by - fans, boosters, media - people forget how big a recruit Aubry Boyd was," Zimroth said. "He was so graceful the way he played. You had to see the way this kid jumped rope; he looked like a prizefighter."

Boyd remained in Macon for a while after his life-altering injury, but he eventually moved permanently to Tallahassee through the support of Kennedy and many others in the FSU community. A charitable fund was established in his name to help cover his medical expenses and the lifelong physical assistance he requires.

When FSU coach Leonard Hamilton took over the program in 2002, he immediately reached out to Boyd, who he recruited as an assistant at Kentucky in the late 1980s along with Eric Manuel, a teammate of Boyd's at Macon Southwest High. To make sure Boyd has what he needs, Hamilton monitors the Aubry Boyd Fund, which FSU contributes to by donating all proceeds of exhibition games.

On Nov. 6, Boyd returned for an exhibition game against Valdosta State so he could thank the FSU community for its support at halftime.

"Aubry is a dedicated supporter of our program," Hamilton said. "He is an inspiration to our coaching staff as well as our players. We are overjoyed to be able to give back to a person who gives everything of himself to our program."

Boyd is equally thankful for Hamilton's and FSU's support.

"It's meant a great deal," he said.

Reporter Scott Carter can be reached at (850) 294-3088 or scarter@tampatrib.com.

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