The next installment of "Survivor" will include a Ball State University graduate and former tennis player, who men's coach Bill Richards described as a fiery competitor with a temper.
Advertising executive Edgardo Rivera will be one of 19 contestants in "Survivor: Fiji," the fourteenth season of the CBS reality television show that premieres Feb. 8.
His friends and family said that although Rivera will be able to compete physically, competing socially might be tougher for him because of his temper. Rivera's friend Alberto Carrero said Rivera can control his temper, but Richards is not sure.
"I don't think he's going to be able to control it completely," Richards said. "He was never able to control it completely when he played tennis. I doubt he'll be able to control it completely as a contestant on there either. That should make things pretty interesting."
Rivera, a native of Puerto Rico, transferred to Ball State from Tennessee Tech University after his sophomore season. He spent two seasons on the Ball State tennis team after red-shirting his first year, and he graduated in 2001 with an advertising degree.
In those two years, Rivera had a successful tennis career with the team, Richards said. Ball State won the Mid-American Conference championship in both of Rivera's seasons, 2000 and 2001. In 2000, Rivera won the point that clinched the tournament for the Cardinals.
Rivera had his low points at Ball State as well. He came into his first match with Ball State with earrings, a tongue ring and a bad attitude, Richards said. Richards does not allow earrings on the team and he was angry with Rivera's attitude and behavior, he said.
Richards videotaped the match and confronted Rivera after it about how he acted. Richards said he would send the video to Rivera's father with a note telling him how Rivera acted and how he wasted Richard's time and his father's money, unless he removed his tongue ring.
"He ripped that tongue ring out and threw it in the trash can and I put the tape in the trash can and we started all over," Richards said.
Carrero said Rivera's experience as a college athlete will make him a tough competitor.
"He knows what it is like to be in a pressure situation, competing under tough conditions," Carrero said. "So that's an advantage he's going to have over other people at least athletically and also mentally in challenges and the competition of being able to survive."
Carrero, who played tennis at Rice University, said he met Rivera 10 years ago at a tennis tournament in Puerto Rico. They competed in tennis tournaments together in the United States and both live in the Miami, Fla. area now. Carrero helped create the video that Rivera submitted with his application to "Survivor."
"It's just a video that we made in about an hour," Carrero said. "It was just Edgardo sort of interviewing himself with different looks. One with glasses, looking a little bit different, and then the real Edgardo answering the questions. It was silly questions and things like that. We showed a clip of him playing tennis and some volleyball."
In a statement from CBS, casting director Lynne Spillman said that Rivera was chosen for "Survivor" because he was charming, funny, outgoing, athletic and attractive. Rivera was also unique in the show's casting process because he was a young, partying type from South Beach.
Rivera's father said he told his son it would be a great experience to compete and have fun.
"I was surprised he was willing to go through 'Survivor,'" the father said. "From what I've seen, it's a tough competition."
Though no plans have been set, Carrero said Rivera may have a party in Puerto Rico with his friends and family to watch the premiere.
"Me and my friends are definitely going to have a fun time watching that," Carrero said.
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