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Dickens, Pride Are Strong On Loyalty

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By SCOTT PURKS

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 4, 2008

TAMPA - All across Hillsborough County, players are transferring from one school to the next, leaving loyalty, it seems, to drift far, far down the river.

It's enough to make Blake linemen Gerald Dickens and Montrey Pride sick.

"I'm a Blake Yellow Jacket and nothing will ever change that," Pride said. "I'm here for my school and my coach Sean Washington 'til the end."

Dickens said, "I believe that if teams would just stick together like we have the past year then you can build something special. I truly believe that's what we're doing."

Case in point was the first week of this year's practices, a week in which Washington, with the help of team leaders like Pride and Dickens, held a Blake "camp."

Throughout the week the team slept in the gymnasium, awaking each morning to a prepared breakfast. The rest of the day involved two relatively short practices sandwiched around lunch and dinner.

Overall, Pride and Dickens said things couldn't have gone much better, particularly on the bonding side of things.

Washington said Pride and Dickens, both captains, couldn't have been much more helpful, leading by example and with strong words.

"I'm not afraid to raise my voice," Pride said. "I'll help get the team up, but I'll also speak my mind when somebody isn't doing something right. Coach has taught us how to act and I just carry that through."

Pride, though relatively thin for a 6-foot-2 defensive end at 205 pounds, is getting some serious looks from Division I schools, the thought being he has the frame to put on a lot of muscle.

Washington said besides being a bit light at the moment, Pride has all the other things necessary to be a great defensive lineman or linebacker.

"He's fast and quick, strong and loves to rush the quarterback," Washington said. "I mean he really loves it, especially when he gets a good hit on one of them."

Dickens, who goes both ways as a defensive tackle and offensive lineman, said it's always a pleasure playing next to his good friend.

"I'd say we both help each other play a little better with our all-out effort," Dickens said. "One of the things we take a lot of pride in is never, ever taking a play off. No matter what happens, we are never going to stop giving it everything we have."

Which says a lot about Dickens, considering he goes both ways 100 percent of the time. Pride is expected to get his share of offensive plays, most likely at tight end, but unlike his buddy, it won't be every minute of every game.

"I actually like going both ways like that," said Dickens, who is hoping to raise his profile to colleges this season. "I think that's the way I can help this team the most, so that's what I want to do."

Then Pride wanted to add one more thing: "Gerald and I and everybody are dedicating this season to put Blake on the map. We are together like never before."

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