Wake-Up Call: Robinson's path leads through 'The Muck'

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!

Here's what Robinson High School's football team (10-2) has gotten itself into for Friday night's Class 2A state semifinal game.

It's a meeting with Belle Glade Glades Central (12-0), a nationally ranked program that has won six state championships (tied for second all-time in Florida).

Glades Central is one of the state's legendary football hotbeds. Its alumni include Santonio Holmes (MVP of Super Bowl XLIII), Brad Banks (second in the 2002 Heisman Trophy voting), Fred Taylor and Reidel Anthony.

It's a trip to the southernmost tip of Lake Okeechobee - to an area known as the "Muck'' for its fertile soil and walls of sugarcane fields as far as the eye can see. It's a stop at Effie C. Grear Field, where crowds surpassing 10,000 (or 75 percent of the town's population) have been known to turn up.

"We've heard that maybe it's not the most inviting kind of place,'' Knights junior quarterback Blake Rice said.

He smiled.

Then he grew serious.

"Look, we're not scared ... of anything.''

That's the mindset of Robinson's leader. And that's what Rice has become, to the delight of his teammates, to the shock of some coaches.

He's a leader.

The Knights are one victory - OK, one quantum leap - from reaching the third state final in the program's 50-year history (along with 1963 and 1971). But Rice, a junior-varsity player last season, doesn't see it as a big deal.

"My face always has to be the same, no matter what's going on in the game, because everybody is going to be in that huddle, looking at my face,'' Rice said. "I have to be calm and make sure we're doing our job.''

So far, so good.

Rice has taken the Knights to intricately sound playoff defeats of Arcadia DeSoto County and Wauchula Hardee. Overall, Rice has completed 54.1 percent of his passes. He has thrown for 22 touchdowns and just eight interceptions.

And after spending his JV career as a self-proclaimed "knucklehead'' who was more interested in having a good time, Rice has matured into a focused, hard-working quarterback.

"He has everyone's trust now,'' Robinson coach Mike Depue said. "He never did anything really wrong, just a lot of little stuff, kid stuff. But the light came on in his head. I think he realizes by doing the wrong things, he has a lot to lose.

"It has been an amazing transformation. When the season started, he was tip-toeing around, throwing off his back foot. Now he's in charge. I love it.''

Knights offensive coordinator Rob Burns said Rice's best quality is understanding the job - and that means getting the ball into the hands of Robinson's playmakers, guys such as Frankie Williams, Ruben Gonzalez, J.J. Hubbard and Byron Pringle.

"I think we go as far as Blake takes us,'' Burns said. "At the same time, he knows he doesn't go anywhere without everyone's help. So he really is getting down the essential qualities of being a quarterback. Leadership isn't a choice. It's something you absolutely need to do.''

"Blake keeps our heads up when things aren't going right,'' Hubbard said. "He knows how to give us a spark. He's so valuable to us.''

Funny, though.

You never hear Rice's name when it's time to debate the top quarterbacks in Hillsborough County.

Always, it's Jefferson's Quentin Williams, Plant's Phillip Ely, Alonso's C.J. Bennett, Tampa Catholic's Christian Green, guys like that.

"Doesn't matter,'' Rice said. "I'd rather be under the radar. If we do well as a team, that's enough for me. Somebody has to throw the ball, right? I just want to get it to my guys, then we'll all get the glory.

"I'd much rather be in this situation, instead of having all the stats and probably sitting home. The coaches keep telling us 'two more scoops.' Like two more scoops of ice creams. That's what we're down to now. We're completely focused on Belle Glade.''

It can be a difficult opponent. It can be an intimidating place.

All Rice sees is a massive opportunity.

Beck's college career ends

University of North Alabama senior quarterback Harrison Beck (Countryside) had a rough ending to his college career on Sunday, when the Lions lost to Carson-Newman 24-21 in an NCAA Division II playoff quarterfinal.

Beck, who played earlier in his career at Nebraska and N.C. State, was 24 of 50 for 281 yards, but he threw three interceptions for Coach Terry Bowden's Lions (11-2).

Suber earns Sun Belt honor

Middle Tennessee State defensive back Alex Suber (Jefferson) was named Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week. Suber had eight tackles, a sack and an interception in the Blue Raiders' 38-19 victory against Louisiana-Monroe.

Suber's interception - his first this season and the fourth of his career - was returned 56 yards to set up a touchdown.

Also, Middle Tennessee running back D.D. Kyles (Armwood) had nine carries for 67 yards.

Sykes on the board

University of Illinois sophomore wide receiver Fred Sykes (Chamberlain) had three receptions for 32 yards - and his first two touchdowns this season - in the Illini's 49-36 loss to unbeaten Cincinnati on Friday. Sykes now has three career touchdown receptions, adding to his 50-yard score against Iowa last season as a freshman.

Birthday wishes

Happy birthday to Sarasota resident Monica Seles, recently inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Seles was champion of the 1990 Eckerd Open at the old Bardmoor Country Club, the last Women's Tennis Association event held in the Tampa Bay area. Wednesday, Seles turns 36.

The Answer Man

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

North Carolina State last won an ACC football conference championship in 1979, the longest drought among the league's current schools (not counting three added in the most recent expansion - Boston College, Miami and Virginia Tech).

Tuesday trivia

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

Before this season, the Robinson Knights last appeared in a state football playoff semifinal in 1977. The Knights lost at Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee 20-17. Who was Robinson's starting quarterback that night?

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