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Past Pirates Believe This Group Is Special

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By EDDIE DANIELS

edaniels@tampatrib.com

Published: December 11, 2008

DADE CITY - Kaivon Madani had a phone conversation with his old football coach recently.

It was he and former Pasco coach Perry Brown, and the obvious topic of conversation was the Pasco Pirates football team. Not just the 2008 version, as it prepares for Friday night's Class 3A state semifinal game against Tallahassee Godby at W.F. Edwards Stadium.

This group has reached a point in the playoffs it hadn't since 1992. That also came up during the exchange.

See, Brown coached that '92 squad, while Madani was a lineman for Pasco County's lone state champion football team.

The revelation isn't in the fact the two talked about the 2008 team; instead, it's they believe several on this team could start for that state champion squad.

"It's hard to compare teams, and I actually talked to Coach Brown about this a couple weeks ago, about how you compare teams and I guess you kind of have to look at who on this team this year could have played or contributed to the '92 team," Madani said. "And I think you have at least six to eight players who would have been starters on the '92 team. They certainly have a lot of talent."

When presented with that assessment, current Pasco coach Tom McHugh fell a bit silent. It was a moment he took pride in, but at the same time, it's a compliment he doesn't want his group using to inflate egos.

"I would never presume to say that - and I'm sure, hopefully, my kids would never out loud presume to say - 'I could play on the '92 state championship team,'" McHugh said, "That's not what I've been trying to infuse in them. I think a quiet, humble pride ... if Kaivon Madani says I can play on that team, well, I'd be awful proud of that, but I would never espouse or start saying I could play on that team."

It's obvious that 1992 team has its place at the pinnacle, and McHugh won't let his team disrespect that history.

It also keys in to McHugh's unrelenting need for discipline.

Former longtime assistant Dave Gaffney has witnessed a transformation in the program from a free-wheeling, back-talking lot, to a very regimented team. It's the same thing he saw as the defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach for that Class 3A state championship team in '92.

"Coach McHugh has done a great job," Gaffney said. "He came in and he instilled the discipline back, which was badly needed. The old saying is, you do it his way or the highway. That's basically the way it was with us. You may lose one or two good ones along the line, but it takes a good one. You do away with the bad one because they don't work."
Madani agrees.

"I think discipline is a huge factor and I know that's something Coach McHugh started preaching to his players from Day One," Madani said. "About taking care of things off the field as well as on the field."

That discipline has showed itself throughout the season. The Pirates lost linemen Mylon Brown and Jim Peterson early in the season and neither has played since. In the process, McHugh needed players who would step up and play both sides of the ball. And finding those guys was easy.

"This school has had a reputation for being all for me and none for you," McHugh said. "What I really tried to do when I first came here was start talking to them about not being selfish.

"The selflessness is amazing and when you can be selfless, your team benefits."

Both Peterson and Brown began to practice with the team Monday. Peterson likely will play, while Brown is a game time decision.

The possibility of the pair returning to the team lights McHugh up.

"I think it's a morale boost," he said.

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214.

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