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For Lacoochee's Semipro Indians, It's A Beginning

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By GEOFF FOX

gfox@tampatrib.com

Published: March 21, 2009

LACOOCHEE - They call him "Psycho."

At 20, Michael Andrews, a former Pasco High School football player, still has the desire to smash his helmet and shoulder pads into other humans - and leave them motionless in the dirt, if possible.

"I have a lot of fury in me," Andrews said as he waited for football practice to begin at Stanley Park in Lacoochee. "This is the best anger management you can get."

Andrews is one of about 40 members of the Lacoochee Indians, a semiprofessional football team about to complete its inaugural season.

Comprising experienced and inexperienced players, the Indians were assembled this year by Vernon Floyd, 49, who long has sought to bring positive influences to the blighted area.

To hear Floyd tell it, players such as Andrews are the rough-hewn type it will take to succeed in the National Independent Football League, which has 22 teams in Florida and Georgia. At the end of the season, the best team from Florida plays Georgia's top team for the NIFL championship.

"It's very physical out there," said Floyd, a former three-sport athlete and band member at Pasco High. "We play guys who have been in the pros or played arena ball or major college football. These guys are dangerous, man. They're mean.

"They're not out there to lose."

Robert Schneider, 28, of Dade City, who had never played organized football, learned that firsthand in a recent game when he was knocked horizontal by a blindside block.

"That's football for you," Schneider said with a grin. "You take some; you give some. It's the real deal - legal assault."

The Indians, which Floyd named after Lacoochee Elementary School's original mascot, play their final regular-season game against the Lauderdale Lions today in Fort Lauderdale. According to the NIFL's Web site, the Indians have won two of five games this season and qualified for the playoffs, which begin April 4.

Floyd, who works at San Antonio Boys Village and long has been involved with local Police Athletic League programs, paid for much of the team's uniforms and equipment, making him the de facto owner. With the help of local farmer, rancher and developer Wilton Simpson and Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, Floyd also saw that lights were installed at Stanley Park.

The team is coached by Ruben Pickett and Harold Clower, but many players were attracted by John Greene, who dedicated more than 30 years of his life to local Police Athletic League programs. Unfortunately, Greene died before the Indians' first game, and the season has been dedicated to his memory.

Even if the Indians had not made the playoffs, Floyd would have considered the season a success. Home games are attended by a faithful crowd that fills the park's bleachers and buys hamburgers, french fries, hot dogs, fried chicken and soft drinks from vendors.

He hopes the team will help put Lacoochee, once a thriving mill town, back on the map and encourage players to live productively.

"Some of these guys just got out of jail, but we don't hold that against them," Floyd said. "We want to give them an opportunity to do something positive."

The Indians started practicing in November, and the regular season started in January. Floyd wants the team to start practicing earlier for the coming season. Before a recent weekday practice, he was encouraging players to work out in the offseason.

Regardless of how far the Indians go in the postseason, Floyd is inspired. He wants to promote the team with Indians seat cushions, miniature footballs and team posters.

He looked around Stanley Park, which he said has seen too little use for too long.

"Now I want to do softball, baseball and basketball," he said with a smile.

Reporter Geoff Fox can be reached at (813) 779-4613. Keyword: Lacoochee Indians, for an audio slideshow about the team. For more photos, go to Keyword: Semi Pro.

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