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Sickles: Proving They Belong

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By KATHERINE SMITH, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 16, 2007

TAMPA - Sickles High held alumni night earlier in the football season and nobody attended.

Now Sickles coach Pat O'Brien can't keep alumni off his telephone.

There's football playoff excitement at Sickles for the first time in school history. A team that went winless last year and won only two games the previous season is in uncharted territory.

With the program's first winning record (7-3) and first postseason appearance, there's plenty of reasons for the Gryphons to be proud even if it ends tonight against Gaither in the first round of the playoffs. But Sickles doesn't want the ride to end.

"Every day, we ask the kids if they are satisfied. Are you done? Are you done with what you want to do?" O'Brien said. "We want the kids to feel good about themselves, but they have to ask themselves if they really want to end it here or do they keep going and that's what they've got to keep working for.

"Win or lose Friday night, yes it's been a great season. But these kids are keeping up the attitude of working hard because they don't want it to end."

That work became a little more challenging this week when their preparation for first-round opponent Gaither was altered slightly.

The football team got kicked off its game field during Tuesday night's practice because of a soccer game. Players made do on a makeshift practice field behind the stadium with propped-up lights.

In years past, the Gryphons didn't have to worry about finding adequate practice space this time of year. However, it was a nice problem to have for the first time.

"We want to keep this stuff as normal as possible," O'Brien said. "We had every kid here Saturday lifting weights and we got back into the workouts. We're just moving right through it with a regular practice schedule.

"We had to get off our game field, but we have lights, so we made do."

Unlike Sickles, Brandon has been in the playoffs before. On the legs of running backs Samir Baker and Marquel Gilmore and a stifling defense, the Eagles clinched the Class 5A-District 7 title and marked the first time in school history one coach, John Lima, had led Brandon to consecutive appearances in the postseason.

Their reward? A date with six-time state champion Lakeland, winner of the last three 5A titles.

Given Lakeland's 5A dominance, many doubt the Eagles will advance past the first round. Doubt, however, is a great motivating factor. During Plant's perfect record run to a state title last year, there were some surprised by its ascent to the top. Plant coach Robert Weiner remembered how the players and coaches used that as motivation.

"I think we'll always have a chip on our shoulder and have something to prove," Weiner said. "I know the exact spot that Sickles has been and the teams that haven't been in the playoffs in a while and it's an exciting time, but I'm sure they know that just getting there isn't enough."

After Jefferson High lost its regular-season opener to Hillsborough, Coach Mike Fenton gathered his team and told the players from that point on they were playing with a chip on their shoulders.

The chip grew bigger when the Dragons, 4A playoff mainstays with a championship game appearance in 2002, became the only Hillsborough County team in the postseason with a losing record (4-6). If not for a 40-0 victory against Blake, Jefferson would have been shut out of the playoffs.

"We won the games that we're supposed to win and by looking at that, yes we should be there," Fenton said. "In my opinion, we've had probably the toughest schedule in Hillsborough County. I don't really think we have anything to prove. We've been to the playoffs for several years. This is obviously the worst record we've had since I've been here, but we are still in the playoffs and anything can happen."

Anything, including earning a little respect.

"Every Friday night, you have something to prove," O'Brien said. "You have to take it as that challenge. Where we're coming from, people aren't just going to lay down and give us respect. You want to go earn it from them."

Reporter Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 259-7860 or ksmith@tampatrib.com.

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