Carlos Reveiz’s journey from South America to Division I football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (BVM) — As a young boy growing up in Bogotá, Colombia, Carlos Reveiz “dreamed of one day becoming a United States citizen.” He and his brothers would hear about cars and toys in America, and it was such a treat to experience Del Monte peaches. His mother worked for the American Embassy while the boys attended an American Jesuit school to learn English. When Reveiz was 7 years old, it came time for his parents to move them to a primarily Hispanic community, Hialeah, Fla., in Miami-Dade County.
After playing soccer in the streets of Colombia, it was a big change to be introduced to the game of American football. There were no kickers on Reveiz’s little league team, and this was a problem for the coaches until he spoke up and said, “I can kick.” Reveiz would go on to play many positions but decided his senior year at Killian High School to focus on kicking.
Reveiz and his brothers practiced playing football in the streets of Miami, and Reveiz had big dreams.
“I remember as a kid,” Reveiz said, “watching ABC sports and a guy by the name of Keith Jackson, a famous announcer…and I used to tell myself, ‘You know what? One day that guy is going to say my name.’”
The journey to the University of Tennessee began with Reveiz’s older brother Fuad, another kicker. Since his sophomore year of high school, Fuad was being recruited by Florida State University, until the night before signing day when they called with a change of plans. The Reveiz family was packing their bags to visit a different college with Fuad in Bakersfield, Calif., when he received a call from UT head coach Johnny Majors. This phone call would change the trajectory of Fuad and Carlos’ lives and Fuad moved to Knoxville to play for the Volunteers.
When it was time for Carlos to play in college, he started at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, then a Division II school, as the backup kicker. He was not satisfied, as he aspired to play at the Division I level. One day, Carlos walked across the street to the mailbox at the student center with three applications for the University of Florida, Auburn University, and the University of Tennessee. He decided then that whichever school accepted him as a student first, that was where he would go. Tennessee was the first school to accept him and he walked on the team to become the backup kicker behind Fuad.
Many people told Carlos he was not his brother and should give up on his plans to play at a large school. Carlos has advice for his own children and other athletes in this position.
“You need to believe in yourself, and don’t listen to the naysayers,” he said.
Coach Majors approached the younger Reveiz at practice one day, and after assurance from Carlos that he could be the Vols next kicker, offered him a scholarship.
Carlos credits some of his success as a player to Scotty Kessler, a kicking coach who served at Tennessee. Kessler taught Carlos a method called ‘visualization.’ He told them to put themselves in the situation, and imagine themselves getting off the bus, walking into the stadium, hearing the crowd, smelling the popcorn, etc. Carlos began practicing this mental strategy while walking to class and at all hours of the day. This level of concentration came in handy, not only during games, but also during his interactions with coach Majors who had a powerful presence.
Then came the 1985 season, the most eventful season of Carlos’ life. His first game as a starter was against UCLA, a nationally televised game. Carlos’ first UT field goal was a successful 49-yard kick from the right hash. During the game, Keith Jackson said his name and another dream came true.
That proved to be a great season for Carlos, who made 24 of 28 field goal attempts, as he was named All-SEC, second team All-American, and SEC Rookie of the Year. The following week, Carlos went to the courthouse in Knoxville, and made another dream come true when he became a United States citizen.
Many fans remember that season for the Volunteers’ win at the Sugar Bowl as the underdog against the University of Miami. Carlos said he had never seen anything like New Orleans covered in orange. Fans cheered outside their hotel and on the streets.
“Every athlete should have the opportunity to go through that,” Carlos said.
The Reveiz parents’ dedication to their boys did not end after they left home. The couple would drive to Knoxville to see Carlos play, then immediately drive over to Carson-Newman College to see his little brother Luis kick, and then make it home in time to see Fuad play with the Miami Dolphins. They could not have imagined when they brought their boys to America that their dreams would take them this far.
For any young athlete pursuing their dreams, however big, Carlos had the following advice:
“When you reach your dreams, that’s when you need to work even harder.”
