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Murray Relates To Ely's Situation

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 21, 2008

NEWS AND NOTES

Murray Relates To Ely's Situation

TAMPA - If anyone knows what Phillip Ely is going through, it's Aaron Murray.

Murray spent most of his first year as Plant's starting quarterback answering questions about how he would follow in Robert Marve's footsteps. Now Ely is dealing with similar inquiries about how he'll replace Murray, who is out for the rest of the season with a broken leg that will require surgery, scheduled for Friday.

"Phillip's had the same tremendous opportunity that Aaron had and that's that he's learned from probably the best guy in the nation," Plant coach Robert Weiner said. "And Aaron learned from the best guy in the nation, at that time, Robert Marve."

Ely's ascension to a starting role is much faster than originally planned, but the sophomore is going to have a lot of support in getting ready. Immediately after Thursday's victory against Hillsborough, when Murray was injured in the second quarter and Ely took over, Terriers coach Earl Garcia sought him out.

"It's your team now. Take those guys and lead them," said Garcia, who played football at Plant with Ely's father.

Murray plans to help him do just that by working with him at practice.

"He's going to continue to get better and more comfortable with the offense. He's going to do fine," Murray said. "He's a great quarterback that's going to continue to get better. I look forward to working with him now that I can't play and make sure that as an offense there's no downfall now that he's in there."

SUSPENSIONS: Chamberlain and Alonso will decide the district championship Friday night without two key players.
Chamberlain senior RB Kenny Allen has been suspended from interscholastic competition by the FHSAA for seven days as a result of his ejection during the second quarter against Jefferson on Friday, spokeswoman Cristina Alvarez said.

Allen, the county's third-leading rusher with 831 yards and eight touchdowns, was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Alonso senior DL/LB Tyler Gimbert also will miss the game. Ravens coach Mike Heldt said Gimbert was ejected from Alonso's game against Gaither for cursing and per FHSAA rules must sit one game.

"It was language that wasn't directed at anybody," Heldt said. "We spoke to him about it. We'll be OK."

The winner of Friday's game will determine the Class 5A-District 6 champion. Chamberlain won last year's meeting, 41-0.

COMMITMENTS: Newsome senior swimmer Jason Taylor has verbally committed to the University of Florida. ... Academy of the Holy Names senior guard Katie Davis has committed to the University of Pennsylvania, athletic director Pete Young announced.

Katherine Smith, Nick Williams

NEWS AND NOTES

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