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Freedom High Removes Blackwell From Coaching Post

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TBO.com

Published: January 12, 2009

TAMPA - Freedom High School football coach Marquel Blackwell has been removed from the position by Principal Chris Farkas.

Although the announcement by the school was made Monday, Blackwell was told of the decision Friday.

"We are going to be going in a different direction with our football program," Farkas said.

The Patriots were 5-15 in two seasons under Blackwell, a former quarterback at the University of South Florida who was hired in January 2007.

Freedom finished 1-9 in 2007 and 4-6 this past season.

Blackwell, an in-school suspensions teacher, was arrested and charged with DUI on Jan. 5. At 3:12 a.m., Tampa police pulled over a 2007 Dodge Charger driven by Blackwell, a St. Petersburg resident, at a red light at Columbus Drive and Dale Mabry Highway. A computer check showed the registered owner had a suspended license, a police report says. Blackwell fit the description of the owner.

"When the light turned green, the Dodge drifted within the lane and touched the lane line," according to the report. "It appeared the driver may have been impaired. A traffic stop was conducted. When asked for his driver license, he held out a blue Visa card."

Blackwell smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and glassy, bloodshot eyes, and he showed signs of impairment during field sobriety tests, according to the report.

Blackwell declined to take a breath test and was later released on a $500 bail.

In 2007, Blackwell was investigated by the district Office of Professional Standards for a verbal confrontation he had with another teacher in the presence of students. As a result, a letter of reprimand was placed on his record. In the same year, the Freedom and Tampa Bay Tech football teams were involved in a on-field brawl that resulted in numerous players being suspended and both schools being fined. Freedom was fined $1,700 and placed on probation.

Blackwell is a temporary employee within the Hillsborough County School District. Farkas said whether his contract will be renewed at the end of the school year has yet to be determined.

Farkas plans to hire a new coach in February.

Calls and text messages left for Blackwell have yet to be returned.

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