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Looking To The Future

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By KATHERINE SMITH, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 3, 2008

TAMPA - Last year at this time, Jefferson High celebrated one of the greatest days in school history.

On National Signing Day, nine Dragons players signed letters-of-intent to play at various colleges around the country. It was the most of any high school in Hillsborough County.

That was one of the few good days the Jefferson football program experienced last year. Just before the start of spring practice, star linebacker C.J. Mills was murdered in his front yard. The team coped as best it could with the loss of Mills, both on and off the field, throughout the season.

"We had a lot of distractions, no doubt about it," Jefferson coach Mike Fenton said. "We're tightening the reins a little bit. We weathered the storm and we're moving forward."

As proof that things are getting back to normal at Jefferson, Fenton pointed out that nearly 100 players are participating in the offseason weight program. The school is also in the early stages of planning for a new fieldhouse. Senior linebacker Troy Wolfe's father, Brian, a local architect, has drawn up plans for an approximately 3,200-square-foot structure that will house a training room, film study classroom, laundry facility and weight room.

"I really like what's going on," Fenton said. "It's very refreshing."

There were several times last season when Fenton contemplated walking away. Health problems got him thinking about resigning. Then, personal attacks from some parents caused him to pause and rethink his future in football.

Soon after the Dragons (5-7) season ended with a 40-14 loss to Plant in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs, Fenton was forced to defend himself and his program. First, a former player accused an assistant coach of assaulting him. Then, a group of parents met with the coach and school administrators with a detailed list of allegations against Fenton that included verbal abuse.

In each incident, Fenton was exonerated. A police investigation into the assault claim determined the player was not telling the truth. School administrators investigated each of the allegations made by the parents and determined none of them had occurred.

"It was a rough year," Jefferson athletic director Bob Morgan said. "There was a lot of sadness and a lot of distractions. Hopefully we've put all that past us."

Since that December meeting, a couple of players have transferred from Jefferson, including juniors Anthony Williams, Edward Williams and Rico Valdez, who have all enrolled at Chamberlain.

Fenton has lost players before. He said that during his first year as an assistant at Jefferson in 2001, the Dragons lost a bunch of players to Hillsborough and had only 17 dressed for the spring jamboree.

"We got off the bus and they were laughing at us, asking 'where's your other bus?'" Fenton said. "I don't remember the score, but we put it on them pretty good and won. The rest kind of just fell into place, and that year we went to the state semifinals."

Still, Fenton said it hurts to lose kids.

"You learn that sometimes you do have to change," he said. "That's why we're tightening the reins a little bit. We felt discipline kind of slipped a little last year with a few cases."

Fenton and his coaches produced a packet, a contract of sorts that was presented to each of the players. The packet included a list of rules that players are expected to abide by. It's one of the ways Fenton is retaking control of the program.

He also already has named the starting quarterback for next season and it's a Williams. Not Doug Williams Jr., the son of former Bucs and Redskins quarterback Doug Williams. He was one of those who transferred.

The Dragons' starting quarterback next season will be Quentin Williams, who started on the junior varsity team as a freshman last year.

"He may be a Stephen Garcia, maybe better," Fenton said, referring to the all-state Jefferson quarterback who is now at the University of South Carolina. "His arm strength is further along now than Stephen's was. He's a student of the game and a great kid, and I just really, really like what I see."

On Wednesday, National Signing Day, Jefferson again will be a flurry of activity. There could be as many as eight players signing letters. It will be a joyous occasion, but one with a somber undertone.

Mills would have been one of the players preparing to play at the next level. Even after his death, Fenton received letters from college coaches interested in him. The one-year anniversary of his death on April 25 is approaching and the school is making plans for commemorating that day.

But Wednesday will be about looking forward.

"It's a good way to start the new year," Fenton said. "It says a lot about the kids. They worked really hard to get this. It will be a fun day."

Reporter Katherine Smith can

be reached at (813) 259-7860

or ksmith@tampatrib.com.

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