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LOL Achieves Feats Despite Youth

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A Tribune staff report

Published: August 13, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - The jokes flew beneath the sweltering sun Monday afternoon at the Land O' Lakes practice field.

Defensive coordinator Al Claggett begged to be placed on the physically unable to perform PUP list, while head coach John Benedetto, entering his 32nd season as the Gators' coach, wondered aloud how much longer he could continue.
Associate head and line coach Tom Carter also was in midseason form, demanding perfection from his bunch.

When the laughter settled, Benedetto admitted, this was the first time his team could line up in three separate offensive groups and run the offense.

"We were able to do things Monday that we haven't been able to do in the past," Benedetto said, giving credit to the players' dedication to the offseason conditioning program. "Granted, it was against air, but we were still able to line up in the huddle, call a play and come out and execute the play. That was our first practice.

"Before Monday we were never able to line three teams up and have kids know what they're supposed to be doing."

According to Benedetto, this will be a young team without the typical heavy dose of senior leadership. Instead of the usual lot of 30 or more seniors, this group has a little more than a dozen. That said, he believes the talent level remains.

PACK OF BULLS: When practice began Monday at Wiregrass Ranch, there were about 105 players, varsity and junior varsity, on the practice. On top of that, about a dozen more were waiting to have paperwork completed.

Not bad for a school entering its second varsity season.

"We keep the JV players for about a week so they can get used to the routine," Wiregrass coach Ricky Thomas said. "I think it's very important because we want them to do the same routine we're doing on varsity, as far as warm ups, the hustling part of it. We want them to get used to how we do things, which is fast-paced all the time. You hustle everywhere you go and it's, 'Yes sir,' 'No sir.'"

DEFENSE A PRIORITY: With junior quarterback Madison Burr returning for his second year as a starter and FB-TE Will Burbridge in the backfield and offensive coordinator Brian Wright back on the practice field, Gulf's offense is in good shape.

So Gulf coach Jay Fulmer will spend a lot of time working with the defense during practice.

"We've got to improve on defense," Fulmer said. "We gave up way too many points. We gave up easy runs and easy passes, which led to easy first downs and easy touchdowns.

"We gave up way too many big plays last year. We have to be more consistent on defense."

The Bucs (4-6, 3-2 in Class 3A-8) gave up 295 points last season, including 40 or more points four times.

CAN'T STAY AWAY: Former Gulf kicker Courtney Cohn doesn't start college until after Labor Day so she's spending the rest of the summer hanging out with the football team.

Cohn, who made two field goals and 30 extra points last year, will attend Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, but until then is working with the Bucs' kickers.

IRONMEN: Wesley Chapel kicked off its inaugural day of organized football practice with its Wildcat Iron Man competition. Hunter Joyer, who injured a pectoral muscle, was dethroned as king of the Wildcats. The sophomore didn't compete, opening the door for Arron Duncan, an Armwood transfer. Keenan Reynolds' 172 points and Kamran Joyers' 145 points fell shy of Duncan's 195 points.

"Everybody did fine," Wesley Chapel coach John Castelamare said. We had a couple of people move up the ladder. A lot of the kids did pretty good. ... a lot of strength."

Also involved Monday was former Wildcats great Tyrone Tomlin. Tomlin, who will serve as a Wesley Chapel assistant, once held the Pasco County rushing record of 1,731 yards and 34 touchdowns, set in 2001. The yardage portion of the record was surpassed twice in 2007 by Ridgewood's Byronell Arline (2,188 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns) and Gulf's David Williams (2,092 yards).

For Castelamare to witness one of his former players in the coaching ranks, which has happened several times, continues to fire him up.

"I love it when they do that," Castelamare said. "They work hard and then they see how it is and they say, 'Boy, Coach, it's totally different on this side of the fence.'"

Tomlin, who spent two seasons at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College and two at West Alabama, is not finished with his degree, which he will complete, Castelamare said.

JUST THE BASICS: Mitchell coach Scott Schmitz welcomed 42 players when practice began Monday. With the state-required three days of non-contact, it was routine drills.

"It's mostly conditioning," Schmitz said. "We also are able to do some 7-on-7 offensive and defensive drills."

The Mustangs have to fill roster spots for 22 graduated players from last year's 5-5 (1-2 Class 5A-5), including quarterback Tate Humphrey and receivers Tyrone Hendrix, Yaz Grabowski and Jesse Dustin.

UP TO SPEED: Hudson is avoiding any potential running back controversy by naming two players, Dylan Luke and JoJo Cimino, starters at the position for this season. Coach Mark Nash has told Luke and Cimino that he considers both worthy of being called starters, but they likely won't play on the field at the same time on offense. Last year's leading ball-carrier, Sean Scott, graduated, and quarterback Zack Wynn also is expected to get more carries this year.

"JoJo has worked hard to improve his hands," Nash said. "Historically, he doesn't catch the ball well so we would use Dylan Luke in those situations. But with that said, JoJo has improved his hands dramatically so using Cimino in the passing game would be a thought.

"Dylan is probably a more powerful runner, by shear size. JoJo is probably the strongest kid, pound-for-pound, in the state, but he's still very small 5-foot-4, 145 pounds."

Luke was the Cobras' second-leading rusher last season (453 yards, five TDs) while Cimino ranked fourth on the team (275 yards, 3 TDs). Both averaged more than six yards per carry.

OTHER NOTES: Hudson's Wynn, Cimino, LB Vance Lizama and FB/TE/LB Hunter Newton are all back at 100 percent after not being allowed to practice with the team at full speed last spring due to injuries. ... The Cobras opened a new locker room in their field house this week, displacing their weight room, which is now located on the stage inside the nearby gym. ... Hudson plans to wear a red and gold "H" logo similar to that of the University of Hawaii, which is green and white, on their uniforms this season.

Eddie Daniels, Rick Harmon, Bart O'Connell

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