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Blake's McFarland stays focused on school, athletics

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By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 7, 2009

Updated: 07/08/2009 04:08 am

TAMPA - Michael McFarland is at peace on the football field.

Life on the gridiron distracts Blake High's towering tight end from mourning his mother who died from cancer last year, worrying about his ailing father who's in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, or thinking about where he's going to sleep at night.

"On the field, I have something to play for," he said.

From afar, McFarland appears to be a student-athlete with the world at his finger tips. In March, McFarland verbally committed to the University of Florida, choosing the Gators over some of the top college programs in the country. With a 1200 score on his most recent SAT, he's also one of the brightest students at Blake.

However, this 17-year-old's life has been anything but simple.

As a youth, McFarland bounced from one home to another. McFarland said his father, a former football star for the Navy who introduced him to football at an early age, was sentenced to prison when he was in the sixth grade for outstanding warrants on driving with a suspended license and battery, forcing him to live with various family members and friends. McFarland said his mother was using drugs.

At times, he worried about being put into foster care.

"I was always scared that would happen," he said.

Fortunately, there are those who cared for his well being.

"I always made sure I gave him what he needed," said George Ellis, McFarland's godfather who took him in for a short period. "He's a great kid. He doesn't walk around with his pants hanging down and he always wanted to do well in school. I'm extremely proud of him."

McFarland currently lives with Blake girls varsity basketball coach Calvin Barrs, who became his legal guardian at the beginning of his junior year.

Barrs, a school social worker in Hillsborough County the last 15 years, met McFarland and his father three years ago when they showed up at Blake for freshman enrollment. Barrs said McFarland's father asked him to look after his son, which he promised he'd do.

"He's stayed with me off and on since the ninth grade," said Barrs, who is married and has an 8-year-old son. "When I first got Michael, there were some kinks to work out. I don't see that in Michael anymore."

Barrs said he and his wife treat McFarland as if he were their own.

"We're pretty hard on him," he said. "The people around him have been positive. He could have gone the route of trouble, but he didn't. I think now he sees the light at the end of the tunnel. He could have easily, easily, been distracted."

First-year Blake head football coach Harry Hubbard reached out to McFarland when he took over the position in the spring. He helped him cope with his mother's death. Hubbard commended McFarland for staying positive despite a rough childhood.

"It's good to know players are still down to earth and work hard and want to be good," Hubbard said. "He's blessed with size, ability and heart."

Last season, McFarland, a 6-foot-6, 240 pound athlete, had 12 receptions for 135 yards and two touchdowns as a tight end, completed 16 of 55 passes for 153 yards, two touchdowns as quarterback, and on defense, had 15 tackles and one sack.

Although Blake's football team has won just six games in the last three seasons, McFarland is regarded as one of the top players in Hillsborough County as well as the state of Florida. McFarland has also played varsity basketball the last two years and is a member of the school's track and field team.

McFarland said he's grateful for the support he's received, and is equally proud of his own efforts to care for himself.

"I'm just living day to day," he said. "Sometimes I amaze myself, like 'how am I doing this?'"

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 259-7851.

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