April 10, 2006 - Boyd fund makes a difference for former FSU player

Aubry Boyd's decision to sign with the Florida State men's basketball team nearly 20 years ago delighted Pat Kennedy.

In his first season at Oklahoma State, Leonard Hamilton wasn't so thrilled.  ''I thought he made a good decision,'' said Hamilton, who recently completed his fourth season at FSU. ''I try not to make him feel bad even though I was disappointed.''

Boyd was impressed by Hamilton's recruitment.

''He was genuine,'' Boyd said of Hamilton. ''But at the time, I was close to (FSU). Coach (David Zimroth) and coach Kennedy were on the recruitment from the start. And at the time, Michael Hunt was a grad assistant here, and he's from my hometown.''

It was back in Macon, Ga., where Boyd fractured his fourth vertebrae during a pickup football game in 1995. The former guard who helped the Seminoles make three appearances in the NCAA tournament was paralyzed from the neck down. He regained movement in parts of his upper body following surgery but remains bound to his wheelchair.

Soon after the accident, Kennedy established the Aubry Boyd Fund to help the first player he signed with the Seminoles. A portion of the proceeds from the Tallahassee Democrat's Newspaper in Education Golden Apple Golf Tournament on April 17 will go toward the fund.

Hamilton pledged additional support.

''We are planning a really big fund-raiser for Aubry to assist him with his challenges,'' Hamilton said. ''However, I am pleased that a portion of the proceeds for this event will go to assist Aubrey with his situation.''

Boyd, who lives at the GIBB Mabry Village assisted-living complex, said the fund helps with expenses that aren't covered by Medicare and Medicaid.

''My goals change daily,'' Boyd said. ''I might wake up in the morning and feel like I want a job. And then you get out there and they don't have an ample facility or I can't get to it because I don't have a driver. My days consist of getting up and making the best of that day.''

Boyd was highly rated out of powerful Southwest High School. He picked FSU over Georgia and Iowa in the end. He started his final two seasons at FSU and helped the Seminoles win a pair of regular-season titles in the Metro Conference and exit the league with the tournament title in 1991.

Boyd has remained close to the program. He can be spotted near the FSU bench at the Civic Center.

''As long as we keep improving, we're going to get there,'' Boyd said.

Boyd made three trips to the NCAA tournament and then watched as Sam Cassell, Doug Edwards, Charlie Ward and Bob Sura brought FSU to the brink of the Final Four in 1993. Boyd said he believes the Seminoles, who finished 20-10 this past season but had to settle for the NIT, could be poised for another special run in 2006-07 provided they avoid attrition to the NBA. Alexander Johnson and Al Thornton have yet to announce their plans.

''I wish everybody would quit talking about the league,'' Boyd said. ''The league is going to be the league. I think all of them should come back. It can only help you. Look what it did for Charlie, Sam and Doug.''

Boyd will be behind them again next season.

''I'm doing great. I can't complain,'' Boyd said. ''I'm in a good area close to campus. I'm usually at all the football and basketball home games. I just like being around the program.''