Former FSU football player David Palmer enjoys return trip to Tallahassee for get-together

Former FSU football players, staff and others gather for a recent get-together with former defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews (center, holding football).

Even while David Palmer had returned home days earlier from an African safari, he did not want to miss another neat trip.

This journey only crossed state lines, Georgia to Florida, but was one that rekindled fond memories that spanned decades.

"What a great time," said Palmer, a former Florida High and Florida State football player (1984-87). "I had not seen some of those folks in many years. I am so glad I was able to attend; it's important to make some time to do that."

Palmer, an orthopedic surgeon in Savannah, Georgia, was among more than 30 former FSU football players, staff members and others who recently gathered for a get-together with former defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews.

The late afternoon cookout was at the home of Jim Watson, a longtime certified trainer at the Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic who is a familiar face along the sidelines of high school and college athletics.

Watson, a student trainer/graduate assistant (1981-85) at FSU under Don Fauls, described the gathering's vibe as "a family reunion." Many in the group were part of FSU football teams in the late 1980s that ignited the Dynasty Era under coach Bobby Bowden.

'We all spent five year of our lives together, and we've stayed together," Watson said. "It was a bunch of people who enjoyed each other's company."

Four-year letterman David Palmer played offense, defense at FSU

Former FSU football player David Palmer, left, an orthopedic surgeon in Savannah, Georgia, with former FSU defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews and Tallahassee orthopedic surgeons Tom Haney and Floyd Jaggears.

Palmer was a star athlete at Florida High, where he was the first player to win the Tallahassee Quarterback Club's Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards in 1983.

Palmer played fullback and linebacker for the Seminoles, finishing with a career-high nine tackles against Miami as a senior on the 1987 team that finished 11-1.

Palmer credited Andrews for teaching him the importance of preparation and discipline, saying the lessons carried into his life personally and professionally.

"Probably for most young athletes, if you played at a pretty high level in high school you could go out in practice and in the game and do pretty well," said Palmer, whose brother Dean Palmer played Major League Baseball for 14 years and parents, George and Sybil, still reside in Tallahassee.

"It's much different in college," Palmer added. "I think the preparation for the game and the discipline needed. ... Coach Andrews was big on preparation, physically and mentally. Any edge you can get on an opponent, and even the small (details) matter.

"You learn that everybody has a role to make that play happen."

Former FSU defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews enjoys get-together

Odell Haggins, San Shiver, Mickey Andrews, Bill Ragans and Corey Fuller at a recent cookout.

Palmer enjoyed reconnecting with former FSU teammates, including roommate Stan Shiver, a hard-hitting strong safety (1984-88).

Shiver and Palmer were also youth baseball teammates in Tallahassee prior to Shiver's family move to Tifton, Georgia. Shiver's younger brother, Clay, was a four-year starter at center (1992-95) and part of FSU's first national championship team in 1993.

Andrews also enjoyed seeing familiar faces from past Seminole teams.

Some such as Odell Haggins (associate head coach), Corey Fuller (director of football operations), Jerry Latimer (executive associate director of sports medicine) and Jason Baisden (assistant athletics director for equipment operations), among others, connected the past to the present.

"When you go through a period of time with each other - there are some hard, tough times and good times, whatever - you always tend to look after each other," said Andrews, who was with the Seminoles for 26 seasons and was known for his fiery brand of motivation on the field and compassion off it.

"Where does time go? It was fun, just seeing and talking with everyone,."

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Orthopedic surgeon, former FSU football player David Palmer embraces bonds

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