Hangin' with...Mike Morrison

<p><b>THE BASICS...</b></p><p>Mike Morrison, a junior, is a high and long jumper for the 10th-ranked Florida men's track and field team, which hosts the Pepsi Invitational Sunday in the O'Connell Center. The 21-year-old Morrison is a native of Willingboro, N.J., just outside of Philadelphia.</p><p></p><p><b>ACCOMPLISHMENTS...</b></p><p>Morrison is a 10-time All-American, four-time Southeastern Conference champion and one-time NCAA champion. He is currently ranked second in the nation in the long jump and third in the high jump. Morrison became a recognizable face on UF's campus when he competed in the slam dunk contest at Florida's Midnight Madness in 2004 and again in '05.</p><p><b>MORRISON ON...</b></p><p><li><b>What accomplishment he's most proud of:</b> "Probably just the amount of All-American honors I have attained. I think it shows my versatility. I'm just really a team player. I like to do what the coaches ask me to do."</p><p><li><b>Participating in the slam dunk contest during Midnight Madness: </b>"It was real fun. I just like getting away from the track and showcasing my talents in other arenas. Just being out there with other athletes and all those fans, it was just a real great experience for me."</p><p><li><b>Which is harder: dunking or the high jump:</b> "I'd say competing in the high jump even though I had some troubles in this past dunk contest (at UF's Midnight Madness). Probably the high jump because that's more technical. When I dunk I just go out there to have fun and it's easy. I have to put so much more together when I compete on the track."</p><p><li><b>The comparisons of the Midnight Madness crowd and a typical track & field crowd: </b>"Most normal track meets we don't get big crowds. In the big national meets we get a lot of big crowds but a lot of times all the attention is not focused on just one person. So it was kind of an adrenaline rush just having thousands of fans there cheering me on."</p><p></p><p><li><b>His favorite Florida basketball player:</b> "I like Corey Brewer talent-wise. He's big, long, agile. He can shoot the 3, dunk, whatever you need. He's a complete player. Tell him not to let that go to his head, though."</p><p><li><b>His favorite part about being on UF's track team:</b> "Just the camaraderie and having someone depend on me to do my part while I'm also depending on them to do their part. It's really like a brotherhood. We spend so much time together. I just love being around the guys."</p><p><li><b>His least favorite part: </b>"Probably traveling. I hate being in the airport and layovers and all that stuff. When you get up at 3 a.m. for a flight, that's not fun at all."</p><p><li><b>Going to the same high school as Carl Lewis:</b> "I met him a couple times. I'm just really proud to just carry on the tradition of Willingboro (High in New Jersey). A couple of the other guys also went to the Olympics and did well. It's not like I'm just one guy who's stepping out and the first one to do it. I'm just one in a long line of guys who do that."</p><p><li><b>The track tradition at Willingboro High School:</b> "The whole Willingboro track thing has been huge since I was about 12 years old. I knew going in that Carl was the one who really set the standard. People always put pressure on me asking me if I wanted to be like him. I just wanted to get my own accomplishments and carry on the name of our school."</p><p></p>