Background checks pull Pasco PAL coaches

Frankly, Charles Harrison would prefer the past stays there - in the past. But a recent decision by the Pasco Police Athletic League has made his wish next to impossible.

Although background checks have long been a part of the PPAL's requirement for coaches and volunteers, stringent enforcement apparently hasn't.

The PPAL, which is under the jurisdiction of the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, has denied the coaching applications of about 10 individuals in its nine-team league. Harrison, the son of longtime Pasco sheriff's Capt. Charles "Bo" Harrison, who was killed June 1, 2003, was one of them.

Four coaches from the Dade City Pirates program have been denied.

The revoking of Harrison's coaching privileges stems from a 2001 arrest for marijuana possession, where he was charged with possessing more than 20 grams of marijuana, a felony, and possessing marijuana with intent to sell.

Because of that felony charge, Harrison cannot coach in the PPAL's Dade City Pirates program.

"I have a felony background," said a frustrated Harrison. "I don't know why it's coming up now all of a sudden. I've been doing this for six years. I don't want to cause a big fuss about it or make a big deal about it."

Harrison thought he had distanced himself from that time in his life, and by all accounts from parents and fellow coaches at Stanley Park, he had.

"Recently the PAL decided to become standardized with schools and other organizations that work with kids in adhering to who's allowed to work with kids - and that includes volunteers - and that caused several coaches, who had been coaching PAL to no longer be able to coach," said Kevin Doll, spokesman for the sheriff's office. "Sheriff White has made it clear the safety of the kids is a priority, and we can't make exceptions."

Harrison and current Dade City league director Britt Dorsett met with White on Monday to appeal the ruling. Ultimately, it was a failed attempt.

Those involved with the Dade City Pirates were shocked by the announcement. Former director of the Dade City program, Londa Wigfall, was one of those taken aback by the news.

Each season Wigfall's son played in the league, Harrison, 35, had been his coach, beginning with the junior flyweight level.

According to Wigfall, Harrison's influence crept well beyond the playing field with many of the players involved with the Pirates.

"He is extremely helpful," Wigfall said. "Very, very, very helpful. He gets this field ready, he does a whole lot with these kids. He even checks their progress reports and their report cards.

"He continues to tell them every day (education is important). He makes sure he tells them that every day."

One of those coaches with the Dade City Pirates, Sammy Womack, also was denied the ability to coach in the PPAL. This was the third season the 29-year-old served as an assistant and according to Womack, the removal of the coaches had a definite affect on the players.

"It kind of pulled the courage away from them," Womack said. "They didn't really want to play football any more. (Harrison) is really a role model. Kind of like a father to them. He's been with those kids for at least five years. ... Kids who hit or ran fast, they kind of lost all of their momentum. They lost their spirit and everything."

Although no longer there in an official capacity, Harrison, , who was a sophomore quarterback for the 1992 Pasco High School Pirates, the county's lone state championship football team, continues to show up. He watches his son play and practice.

That level of dedication has impressed Dorsett.

"That's why he's here. He's going to show these boys that you don't run," Dorsett said. "That you stand by what you said and you do what you're supposed to do. That's what we're going to show these boys."