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Cougar athletics program wins award

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By DAREK SHARP

dsharp@tampatrib.com

Published: June 17, 2009

PLANT CITY - Durant, a high school that takes both its sports and its sportsmanship seriously, recently got its just rewards.

The Cougar athletic program was one of 23 in the state to be honored with the Fred E. Rozelle Sportsmanship Award. Durant was chosen as the winner of Class 6A, Section 2.

Durant's credentials were pretty hard to ignore, but before any type of request to be honored was made, the Cougars had one requirement. There could be no ejections, whether of players or coaches, from any sporting event during the year.

"That's a pretty big thing to lay your hat on," Durant athletic director Todd Long said.

After that not-so-minor accomplishment was taken care of, Durant sent the Florida High School Athletics Association a description of the school's approach to taking care of sportsmanship issues.

At Durant, it's pretty cut and dried, but something that not all schools endeavor to do. All Durant students, regardless of whether they play sports, undergo peer mediation twice a year.

"Basically we go over how to solve confrontations in a civilized manner," Long said. "Without loud arguments, or especially punches thrown or anything like that. We get people into a room and settle it - if it comes to that. But before that, we teach the kids to walk away from any type of threat."

Specific to the athletics program at Durant is a contract that students and their parents must sign. It describes the repercussions that come about when someone gets ejected (first a fine, and possible suspension) and also lays down more of the approach Cougars are expected to take.

"It's something that Ron Frost was very big on," Long said, referring to the school's first principal. "As big of a competitor as Ron was, he wanted students to pursue their dreams and athletes to be competitive ... but he wanted them to do it the right way. This contract, it's kind of a buy-in. It's just not representing yourself, but Durant High School, the student body, etc."

No other Hillsborough County school was among the 23 honorees, though nearby Land O' Lakes, East Lake and Sunlake were on the list.

Each of the six overall classifications had various sectional winners and then an overall winner, which in 6A was Dr. Phillips out of Orlando.

For the entire list of Rozelle Sportsmanship Award winners, go to fhsaa.org. According to the Web site, the sportsmanship program was named for athletics association Commissioner Emeritus Fred E. Rozelle.

Sections winners such as Durant receive $500 and a commemorative plaque.

Long noted the teams at Durant could boast more than being good sports.

"We had pretty good seasons, too, with teams going to the playoffs. It's not like we were this meek and mild bunch," he said.

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