TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Following In Their Fathers' Footsteps

ADVERTISEMENT

By KATHERINE SMITH

ksmith@tampatrib.com

Published: December 19, 2008

TAMPA - Quarterback Phillip Ely has heard countless stories about his father Bruce's playing days at Plant, but one stands out.

"His first day of practice, he went up against this big guy and knocked all his front teeth out," Ely said. "He had been moved up to varsity as a sophomore, and they started him at corner.

"He told me a lot of stories, but that one's the funniest."

Ely is one of five players whose father preceded him on the football field at Plant. Linebackers Mike Mirabella and Beau Hume are also following in their fathers' footsteps. Two of the players, safety Hunter Baldwin and wide receiver Mark Gruetzmacher, are third-generation Panthers players.

These players are set to play in Plant's second state championship game in three years, and it caused those who played before them to reflect.

Walter Baldwin, Hunter's grandfather, watched him practice at Dad's Stadium on Wednesday night. It is the same field his Plant teams used to practice on. The Panthers then played their games at Phillips Field. He played in the Turkey Day games against Hillsborough, which pitted the two oldest public high schools in Hillsborough County against each other.

Baldwin, a member of the class of 1948, played quarterback and linebacker during his three years at Plant.

"I played 13 games whistle to whistle, which is dumb, really," Walter Baldwin said. "The coach wasn't real smart, because in the fourth quarter we were worn out."

His son, John Baldwin (class of '79) played on the 1978 team that advanced to the semifinals but lost to Pine Forest, 14-7.

"Just seeing my son out there on the field brings back a lot of strong, emotional memories," John Baldwin said. "It's a lot quicker out there now. And now Plant passes so much more than we did. We ran the dive a lot. We really ran the ball up the middle a lot."

Like Ely, Hunter Baldwin grew up listening to his dad's stories about the glory days.

"My dad loves telling the story about how he busted his lip and got stitched up and came back in the game, like he was real tough and trying to impress me," Baldwin said.

Baldwin actually has seen footage of his dad in action and agrees about how much the speed of the game has changed.

"I watched some of my dad's film and, not to hate on him, but there were some slow dudes back then," he said. "It was a lot slower."

Plant coach Robert Weiner has tried to bridge the generation gaps by resurrecting the Panthers football hall of fame in hopes of honoring the traditions and players who came before.

"I always think about it every day I walk on here," Ely said. "My dad's always told me he left a mark here, and now he's proud of me being on the field he played on."

Reporter Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 259-7860.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT