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Coaching Is The Easy Part For Castelamare These Days

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A Tribune staff report

Published: August 22, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - This has been a tough stretch for Wesley Chapel coach John Castelamare. Entering his ninth season as the Wildcats coach, he's in the process of overseeing a tremendous offensive transition from quarterback Greg Jenkins, a three-year starter, to two new faces behind center.

Once his days end on the practice field it becomes obvious that coaching is the easiest part of the day. When practice is done, Castelamare races across the county, picks up his mother and heads to Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point to be with his ailing father, John Castelamare Sr.

Castelamare Sr., 80, has been fighting through conditions derived from a weakened heart. It's caused an inadequate blood flow throughout the body, which has led to fluid build-up, the coach said.

Needless to say, off-the-field matters have been trying.

"It's tough to see Mom. I pick up Mom and get her up there," Castelamare said. "After practice you change your whole mood for your Pop.

"We're hoping for the best. It's kind of tough because my wife's River Ridge volleyball coach Heidi Castelamare father passed away a few weeks ago, so we're in a pretty solemn state right now."

As for football, he's hoping not to wear his players out. He predicts about seven of his top athletes will find themselves playing on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball when the season commences Sept. 5 at Wiregrass Ranch.

SPEAKING OF THE BULLS: Wiregrass coach Ricky Thomas has been impressed with the effort he has received from his players. Because of the level of competition, he has seen a battle at running back, wide receiver, the defensive secondary and offensive line positions.

"The competition is pretty heated. It's pretty intense," Thomas said. "That's how we like it and it's only going to make our kids better. We've got competition at just about every area. There's not much drop off."

TE/QB Zack Goldberg, RBs Josh Johnson and Solomon Muhammad, TE/DL Casey Hess and LB Brian Insua have given Thomas plenty to rave about.

LIFE LESSONS: When Pasco coach Tom McHugh challenges his players to run an extra 20 yards, add a few more pounds to a weightlifting exercise or be disciplined in their technique, he understands he's prepping his kids not just for a game, but for life.

"I really think as high school football coaches, and I've said it before, you don't do it for he money," McHugh said. "You really don't get paid, but you do it because you know you can make an impact on a kid to become a man.

"Some of the things you learn from sports, it carries all the way through life. So not only are you excited about the fact that they learn how to play football, but they can take that and they can apply that to life. I tell them don't quit because the first time you quit, it's hard. The second time, it's maybe not so hard and the third time you don't even know you're doing it."

RAIN, RAIN STAY AWAY: No one was happier that Tropical Storm Fay stayed away from the area than Sunlake coach Bill Browning. Heavy rains this summer left standing water on the football field, forcing the 7-on-7 competition to be moved and the grass couldn't be cut.

"If we had tried to get the tractor on the field to cut it, the tires probably would have sunk," Browning said.

Weeds were nearly a foot high earlier this week throughout the field. Although Fay didn't leave much rain in the area, the winds did dry the field enough that it could be cut. The Seahawks are scheduled to host Wildwood next Friday in a Kickoff Classic game.

UNDER LIGHTS: Gulf will hold its second night practice tonight at 7:15. Buccaneers coach Jay Fulmer likes to get his players used to playing at night.

Running back Adrian "Bubba" Golden continues to be the talk of practice. Golden, who was the backup running back to Byronell Arline last year at Ridgewood, moved into Gulf's district prior to the start of school and has been turning heads since his arrival.

"Leon Orr and Bubba are first-cousins," Fulmer said. "Leon calls me on a Sunday night and says, 'Bubba's coming.' And I said, 'Who's Bubba?' He tells me he was Byronell Arline's backup last year at Ridgewood. I said 'OK, good. Another body.' I could see he could run. He has good wheels.

"We put the pads on and he scored every time he touched the ball. He's got that drive to go to the end zone. He might be better than David Williams."

Williams, a Ridgewood transfer last year, rushed for 2,092 yards and scored 27 touchdowns.

Golden will get his first shot against someone wearing a color other than green next Friday when Gulf hosts Tarpon Springs in a Kickoff Classic game.

Fulmer is expecting WR/DB Kyle Scianna on the practice field tonight for the first time. Scianna had surgery this summer and was expecting his doctor to clear him to play Thursday. The only other injury Fulmer reported was a bruised knee to senior RB Devin Mason.

MORE THAN X'S AND O'S: Every day since practice started, Mitchell coach Scott Schmitz spent the first half-hour sitting at a big table in the middle of the varsity locker room collecting money and documentation from his players.

"It's a little overwhelming," Schmitz said.

Forms for the Florida High School Athletic Association, along with forms for the county and physical forms, have to be collected. Add in participation fees and locker assignments and it takes a large part of a coach's time.

Eddie Daniels, Rick Harmon

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