Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Linemen have plans after season ends
Woods, Fernandez plan medical careers
BOCA RATON — When Florida Atlantic center Antonyo Woods would visit his grandmother as a kid, they always had the same routine.
At night, they would grab a seat on the sofa and watch episodes of the television series “House” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” Woods grew so enamored with the hospital-themed shows it led to his pursuit of becoming a doctor. After Tuesday’s game against Akron in the Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl, he and fellow offensive lineman Roman Fernandez will embark on their careers in the medical field.
“I used to be so into those TV shows,” Woods said. “I would research what they were doing on the show. I didn’t know what I was looking at but it just seemed so crazy and also interesting.”
Woods and Fernandez have played key roles in the success of the Owls’ running game. They cleared holes all season for running back Devin Singletary, who broke every school single-season rushing record and led the nation with 30 total touchdowns.
Now, they will go from protecting quarterbacks to helping save lives.
“It just lets you know how intelligent those guys are,” Singletary said. “I always know if anything happens to me, I have somebody to go to and take care of me.”
A redshirt senior, Woods plans to be an orthopedic surgeon. He chose that field because of his favorite character on “Grey’s Anatomy,” Dr. Callie Torres.
“I remember watching the show with my grandmother and she said, ‘You’re going to be a doctor,’ ” said Woods, who is studying for the MCAT. “And now it’s going to happen. I have my mind set. I will be a doctor.”
Fernandez has aspirations of becoming a pediatrician. His interest began during his visits to the doctor as a child. Although the heavy workload has limited his college experience, he said it has been well worth it.
It also fought against the stereotype of football players, especially linemen, coasting through school.
“Most of the times, they say football players just take easy majors,” Fernandez said. “Trying to study and balance it is tough. We’re in football practice for essentially half the day and we’re in class for basically a quarter of the day. It’s kind of hard to maintain a social life.”
After countless hours of latenight study sessions, the two have dreams of perhaps working together. Both are hoping to remain at FAU for medical school but won’t decide until the start of the spring semester.
“We trade notes,” Woods said. “We study together. It’s been helpful. We’re on the same path. He’s been like a brother to me. We want to have the same practice.”
“That’d be awesome, Fernandez said. “We’ve know each other for a long time. That’s my brother.”
The thought of potentially being business partners has lessened the sting of their playing days winding down. Fernandez entered as a walk-on but will finish as a member of the school’s first Conference USA championship team. Woods was one of three Owls offensive linemen selected first-team All-Conference, marking the first time that happened in league history.
“I woke up and I was like, ‘this is my last Tuesday college practice,’ ” Woods said. “It’s pretty crazy. From where I started to where I’m at now. It’s almost like a flashback to high school. … Day by day, I’ll probably get a little more emotional. I might shed a couple tears on game day.”