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Young Bucs Getting A Year Older

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By RICK HARMON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 9, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Jay Fulmer admitted last season's Gulf Buccaneers were a work in progress. They had a sophomore quarterback and seven sophomores on defense.

Come May 30 during the Green-White spring game, Coach Fulmer will get a good look at how much those juniors-to-be have matured.

Being so young can be an advantage. The Bucs (4-6, 3-2 Class 3A-8) only lost seven starters, one a kicker.

"Last year was a rebuilding year and that's unfortunate for the seniors," said Fulmer, who begins his fourth year at Gulf. "They don't want to hear that. Seniors aren't happy about playing on a rebuilding team. When you start seven sophomores on defense, there's no other way to say it."

Not this year. Fulmer greeted about 40 players when spring practice began.

"You kind of expect your numbers to grow as you go along," he said. "Being a 3A school, you have to keep your expectations reasonable. The way I look at it, we have 40 out of 800. I don't know what percentage that is but I would think it is pretty typical. We probably could get 30-40 more rah-rah kids but we don't want rah-rah kids, we want players."

Fulmer has to replace first-team all-Pasco tailback David Williams, who battled Ridgewood's Byronell Arline for the scoring and rushing titles.

"I feel good about our offense," Fulmer said. "We return Madison Burr, our quarterback; Will Burbridge, a fullback-tight end-type player; Kevin Gamble, who I think has a bright future at tailback and Alphonso Blanch, who played most of last year on JV."

Burbridge has drawn high praise from Fulmer.

"Will Burbridge is probably the best junior-to-be football player I've ever coached," Fulmer said. "His potential is unlimited. He's still a year away from being recruited, but if he doesn't have offers by the end of his junior year, I'll be shocked. I think he'll be one of the best tight end recruits in this part of the country. He's going to play fullback-tight end-linebacker and he's such a specimen as far as big and strong and fast. He's just a man-child. I think he has as much potential to play in the National Football League as anyone I've ever coached."

A sophomore quarterback usually struggles and Burr is no different.

"He took his lumps like all sophomore quarterbacks," Fulmer said. "They get drilled in practice. They get drilled in games. They take all the blame when things go wrong."

But, according to Fulmer, nothing gets to Burr.

"Madison is such a level-headed kid. I really don't think there's a way to make him mad," Fulmer said. "You can't rattle him. Unflappable. He smiles all the time. He's calm under pressure and is not easily excited."

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