by Greg MacDonald
Editorial Assistant
When Cal State Long Beach cancelled its football program in 1992, senior Liron Wilson was left without a university to attend.
But rather than drop out of college, Wilson used his motto, “Don’t ever let anyone run you over” and regrouped back at his home in Fresno.
The football and track and field star attended Fresno City College for two years, before he decided to come to the University of La Verne.
“I was tired of being up north, so I decided to go to ULV,” Wilson said. “I got a lot of offers from schools up north, but I was tired of being up there.”
Wilson immediately had an impact on the athletics at ULV.
“[Senior] Jason Neal and [alumnus] Robert Northrup were going down to the University of La Verne,” he said, “so I figured if I go there with them, we will definitely win a national championship in track. And that is just what we did.”
Wilson has been a two-time All-American for the track and field team and ran the anchor leg in the national champion 4×100 meter team in 1996. That team also holds the ULV record with a time of 40.76.
Also in 1996, he was on the record-setting 4×400 meter team in 3:15.55. Wilson is No. 1 all-time in the 200 meter sprint with a time of 21.55 and No. 2 in the 100 meter run with a time of 10.85.
Last year, Wilson was ranked seventh in all divisions in California and No. 5 in Division III for his achievements in the 200 meter event.
“He is probably the best male sprinter we have ever had at La Verne,” said track and field coach Pat Widolff. “It is too bad his eligibility is up. We are going to miss him.”
Wilson trains in the off-season by running football routes and jogging. He also eats right and works out.
He has also played football for two years here. Last year, Wilson was named to the Honorable Mention All-Conference team as a wide receiver.
“He is a great person. It has been a pleasure having him play for me the last couple of years,” football coach Don Morel said. “I think it’s great when you can be a dual sport athlete, who also works for KULV, in the dining hall and has time for everything else he does.”
Being on a number of athletic teams at ULV, Wilson has been involved with many of the coaches on campus and has had many experiences with athletics.
“We had a down year in football, but besides that, [my experiences] have been great,” Wilson said. “The atmosphere is cool, and it is kind of laid back because [the coaches] don’t clog all your time with sports.”
Wilson has enjoyed all of his teammates and coaches, but one sticks out above the rest.
“All of the coaches are cool, but Don Morel is my favorite,” Wilson said. “He is down to earth and is a cool guy. He is a part of us, and as far as I am concerned, he is a part of Floor Two Crew.”
Floor Two Crew is a club that was established by Wilson and his friends, which has expanded past the boundaries of the University.
“It has evolved into something that is a lot larger than La Verne,” said Wilson. “That is why we are not concerned with being a club, because we are a lot bigger than the University of La Verne, with other members at Grambling, Cal State Northridge, Cal State Los Angeles and University of California San Diego.”
Wilson, a radio broadcasting major, has his sights set on becoming a radio disc jockey for a local radio station.
“I’ll probably be a DJ. It is fun, that’s the difference between radio and [television],” Wilson, the promotions director of KULV, said. “TV really didn’t turn me on. Radio is more my style. Hopefully, I’ll get a break in football, but if that doesn’t happen, I can always go to radio.”
When Wilson is not on the air or on the playing field, he is usually relaxing in front of the television watching his other favorite sport, wrestling.
He is a big wrestling fan and says that he prefers “WCW over WWF,” but he did say that he watches the WWF “because of Stone Cold Steve Austin.” Wilson has even driven hundreds of miles to watch a wrestling event.
“My buddies and I took a trip to Las Vegas [in October] to watch Hulk Hogan,” he said.
As for now, Wilson said he is going to think about his senior project and graduation.
Wilson has been a success both on and off the field, and it is clear that he will continue to set records, whether it be in sports or in the music industry, and will never let anyone run him over.
Greg MacDonald
