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Wake-Up Call: Versatile Wilder getting first taste of Plant-Armwood

Staff photo by BILL WARD

James Wilder Jr. should see plenty of action for Plant tonight against Armwood.

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 2, 2009

Updated: 10/02/2009 06:49 am

The Wake-Up Call greets you each weekday with news, views and a few Tampa Bay area sports offerings to anticipate for the day and night. We encourage suggestions and contributions.

Good morning!

James Wilder Jr., was born in 1992, after his father had retired from the National Football League. But he has seen the films of an orange-clad No. 32, a powerful back who thrived on contact, who kept his legs churning, who carried his team.

His father remains the all-time leading rusher and receiver in Bucs' history - a dynamic back who rushed for 5,957 career yards, caught 430 passes and accounted for 46 touchdowns. That's quite a legacy.

"That's who I want to be, too," said Wilder, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound junior at Plant High School. "Hopefully, I can live up to the name."

Actually, in his first season with the Panthers, Wilder already has made a name for himself.

As a running back, he's averaging 6.3 yards per carry with four touchdowns (in three games). As a hybrid defensive end/linebacker - the position is identified as "Panther" - he's averaging 12.5 tackles per game and has four sacks.

"James is only scratching the surface of what he's going to become," Plant coach Robert Weiner said. "One day, he's going to wake up and realize just how good he can be. And that will be scary. He's a big-time player."

And tonight is a big-time game, which makes Wilder very happy.

If you play football at Plant, the Armwood Hawks don't need an introduction. Plant-Armwood is the most fierce prep football rivalry in Hillsborough County and the latest chapter is tonight at Armwood's Lyle Flagg Stadium.

It's all new to Wilder, a transfer from Chamberlain. He has never played against Armwood, but this week has been a crash-course in Panther-Hawk education.

The schools have met in the playoffs in three consecutive seasons and although that won't happen in 2009 (Plant has moved to Class 5A, while Armwood remained in Class 4A), the game's significance hasn't lost any luster.

"It won't take James long to get into what this rivalry is all about," said Plant senior wide receiver/defensive back Eric Dungy, who has a famous father of his own, Tony Dungy, former coach of the Bucs and Indianapolis Colts. "James is like our energy creator. On the days when you don't want to practice, James is the one yelling and getting us fired up.

"He's our sparkplug. To tell you the truth, he has been a leader here since Day One."

Wilder wasn't sure what to expect when he left Chamberlain - as part of the player exodus following the retirement of legendary Coach Billy Turner - and wound up at Plant. He thought it would take longer to fit in. Instead, he was quickly welcomed and indoctrinated into the Plant football culture.

When Plant faced Chamberlain that spring in a girls' flag-football game, Wilder attended and headed to the Chamberlain stands to catch up with old friends.

"I wanted to say what-up to some of the kids; the kids were cool, but some of the parents booed me," Wilder said with a laugh.

Last season, Turner spoke with reverence about Wilder, saying he could become one of the best players Hillsborough County has seen.

Now more people have noticed. The Orlando Sentinel already has named Wilder as Florida's No. 1 college-football prospect for the class of 2011. He has received dozens of scholarship offers - and that paperwork has been carefully placed in decorative patterns around his closet, a daily reminder of what's ahead.

His three favorites: Florida and USC (both want him as a defensive player), along with Miami (the Hurricanes like him as a running back).

The list goes on and on: USF, Florida State, UCF, Tennessee, Michigan, Michigan State, West Virginia, Illinois and Missouri (his father's alma mater), among others.

Weiner said Wilder could become Plant's most highly recruited player ever - and that's saying something when considering Orson Charles, the former Panther who's now a freshman tight end at Georgia, who had Florida, FSU, USC and Tennessee on his final list.

"I've seen some of that stuff (recruiting publicity), but I'm the type of person who stays humble," Wilder said. "I'm not going to start thinking I'm a perfect player and start playing lazily.

"I'm the type of person who, if they say I'm the best in the state, I want to be the best in the nation. If they say I'm the best in the nation, I want to be the best in the world. I'm a competitor. Every day, I want to get better."

Weiner said that's the attitude he has noticed.

"Although he's a guy who can take over a game by himself, he's very much a team guy," Weiner said. "What has struck me is you sometimes see the guy who is great already and he's not improving. He's great, he stays great and he never transcends to the next level. James gets better every single day."

So who is James Wilder, Jr?

Dominant runner?

Dominant pass-rusher?

For now, the answer is - both!

"He will run over you and if you go for the ankles, he will jump over you," Eric Dungy said. "On defense, he flies off the edge and makes his living getting to the quarterback. Whatever he wants to do, that's what he does best. He has that kind of talent."

It's the kind of talent that deserves a big stage.

And that's what Wilder has in Plant-Armwood.

"Can't wait," Wilder said. "Let's go play."

Introducing a new quarterback

Josh Johnson is scheduled to become the 33rd starting quarterback in Bucs' franchise history on Sunday when Tampa Bay visits the Washington Redskins.

Here are some memorable quarterback debuts for the Bucs:

1985: Steve Young, acquired in the United States Football League reallocation draft, passed for 167 yards and rushed for 60 more in a 19-16 overtime victory against the Detroit Lions.

1987: Rookie Vinny Testaverde, No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, completed 22 of 47 passes for 369 yards in a 44-34 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Testaverde broke the NFL record for single-game passing yards by a rookie (365 by Steve Grogan, Patriots).

1999: Rookie Shaun King, forced into the start after a season-ending injury to Trent Dilfer, faced the Minnesota Vikings and won 24-17 on "Monday Night Football." King became the first rookie to win his debut on "Monday Night Football" since 1972, when Tampa's John Reaves led the Philadelphia Eagles past the Dallas Cowboys.

Then there was the other side.

There was Terry Hanratty.

In 1976, when the 26-point underdog expansion Bucs faced a trip to Pittsburgh, Coach John McKay named Hanratty as the starter against the Steelers, the veteran quarterback's old team.

At the media announcement, McKay said he hadn't yet told Hanratty.

"When he reads about it," McKay said, "maybe he'll leave town."

Close enough.

In frigid temperatures, Hanratty completed one pass (for a 1-yard loss) against the Steel Curtain before getting benched (for Steve Spurrier).

At one point, Hanratty recoiled his arm into a passing motion and the ball fell backward, rolling away. Hanratty went for the recovery, only to look back and spot Steelers defensive lineman Dwight White in hot pursuit.

Hanratty picked up his stride, then kicked the ball out-of-bounds.

He would never again play for the Bucs - or anyone else.

Boise State, Florida all the way?

There are 17 unbeaten teams remaining in Division I-A. Dave Curtis of The Sporting News Today ranks them, top to bottom, in order of likliehood of remaining unbeaten:

1. Boise State (4-0).

2. Florida (4-0).

3. Cincinnati (4-0).

4. Alabama (4-0).

5. Houston (3-0).

6. Texas (4-0).

7. Iowa (4-0).

8. Texas Christian (3-0).

9. Lousiana State (4-0).

10. Michigan (4-0).

11. Missouri (4-0).

12. South Florida (4-0).

13. Wisconsin (4-0).

14. Auburn (4-0).

15. Kansas (4-0).

16. UCLA (3-0).

17. Texas A&M (3-0).

On Florida, Curtis writes, "Gators have three backs, none named Tebow, averaging better than 60 rushing yards per game."

On USF, Curtis writes, "Despite great start, will Bulls win five league games? History says maybe not."

Interestingly, Curtis ranks Cincinnati as the third most-likely team to finish unbeaten. USF is 12th.

Cincinnati visits USF on Oct. 15, a Thursday night, at Raymond James Stadium.

Keeping tabs on Haynesworth

The Bucs made an offseason push for defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, the prize of the 2009 free-agent class, who wound up with the Washington Redskins, Sunday's opponent.

How can you gauge Haynesworth's impact?

Former Bucs and Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, now an analyst with NBC Sports, sums it up in one word.

Consistency.

"We played against him twice a year for seven years and he didn't always play like that (with consistency)," Dungy said. "Last year, he was playing for a big contract and he got it.

"If he plays at the same level, they (Washington's defense) will be a real factor. But he's got to play that way for 16 games, even though he already has the big contract."

Arroyo, Duncan in war of words

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Bronson Arroyo (Hernando) won his 15th game, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 on Wednesday night and matching his career-high victory mark. But afterward, Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan accused Arroyo of cheating.

Duncan told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he complained about unrubbed baseballs to the umpires, but said he felt Arroyo had pine tar on his cap, which helped with the grip and created more movement on his pitches.

Cardinals starter John Smoltz walked five batters (after walking three in 34 previous innings with St. Louis) and also complained about the baseballs, leading to Duncan's accusation.

Arroyo offered this retort to the Cincinnati Enquirer: "I guarantee when I pitch against the Cardinals next year, I'll call over and tell Dave Duncan I'm wearing a brand new hat."

Arroyo showed his hat, which was stained on the bill, to an Enquirer reporter.

"That's what happens," Arroyo said. "It's from playing in every other park where there's so much mud on the balls that the black stuff comes off on your fingers every time. I guess he said I went to my hat every time. Yeah, I grab my (crotch) and do 8,000 other twitches. What do you want me to do about it? That's how I pitch.

"The funny thing is, I normally switch out hats. But I didn't switch hats because it wasn't hot enough and it wasn't soaking wet."

Arroyo finished 15-13 with a 3.84 ERA, but his finish was stunning.

In each of his last 12 starts, Arroyo pitched at least seven innings and allowed no more than three runs. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only three other pitchers in the last 20 years have done that in one season.

• Randy Johnson (14 straight for the Diamondbacks in 1999).

• Greg Maddux (12 straight for the Cubs in 1992).

• Curt Schilling (12 straight for the Diamondbacks in 2002).

"Sometimes it goes your way," Arroyo said. "I'm happy with my season. Team-wise, we haven't had the year we wanted. To pitch 220 innings and get 15 wins on a club that's under .500 is nice."

Birthday wishes

Happy birthday to former Rays first-base coach Billy Hatcher, who now serves in the same role with the Cincinnati Reds. In 1990, Hatcher batted .750 in the World Series, breaking the 62-year-old four-game record held by Babe Ruth. He set another record with seven consecutive hits in the series. Sunday, Hatcher turns 49.

The Answer Man

Here's the answer to Thursday's trivia question:

Former Hillsborough High School cornerback Kevin Abrams is the only Tampa Bay area player from Syracuse University to be selected first-team All-Big East Conference. Abrams was a first-team pick in 1995 and 1996. In the latter year, he was a unanimous selection.

Friday trivia

Here's our daily sports trivia question, featuring a Tampa Bay/Florida spin. Try your luck by commenting below.

Former Bucs running back James Wilder still holds the franchise's single-game rushing record (219 yards on Nov. 6, 1983). Who was the opponent?

The Wake-Up Call will not appear on Monday.

Check for the answer in Tuesday's Wake-Up Call.

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