Michael Murillo

After playoff exit, Sunlake looks again toward future

December 4, 2014 By Michael Murillo

Sunlake head coach Bill Browning knows that to win a playoff game against a quality opponent, a team needs to play four good quarters of football.

On Nov. 21, he only got three.

Sunlake’s Bruce James Cooley, 66, can only watch as the Zephyrhills Bulldogs score a touchdown in the final game of the season, while quarterback Dayton Feiden, 11, and running back Naejaun Jackson, 1, look on. Sunlake finished the season as district champs before being knocked out in the second round of the playoffs. (Fred Bellet/Photo)

“We won the second, third and fourth quarters,” he said. “Unfortunately, we lost the first quarter, but we lost the first quarter bad.”

Bad enough to put the Seahawks in a 17-0 deficit they couldn’t overcome against Gainesville, and they fell 27-19. It was the second year in a row that the Hurricanes eliminated Sunlake from the playoffs.

While on paper it looks like just another successful season for Sunlake with another playoff appearance, there’s more to it than that. They achieved a goal that Browning and Sunlake have pursued since the program started back in 2007.

“It was Sunlake’s first district title, and the school’s only eight years old,” Browning said. “There are schools that are still struggling for a district title in football that have been around a lot longer than us.”

Holding opponents under 100 points for the season — something they’ve done each year since 2012 — and presenting a balanced offensive attack were other highlights for the longtime football coach, now with 25 years on high school sidelines.

And while he’s proud of the district crown, Browning also is proud of the team that accomplished it. Many players had to overcome injuries, academic and personal issues to not only take the field, but perform at the level required to reach the postseason as a district champion.

As a result, Browning believes his players gained a lot more than points, yards and wins on the gridiron.

“The football field is an extension of the classroom, and there are some things in the classroom that aren’t taught,” Browning said. “I think all these kids learned valuable life lessons.”

While several players answered the call this past season, next year has many question marks.

Quarterback Dayton Feiden. Running back Nathan Johnson. Running back and linebacker Logan Wolfe. Linebacker Austin Yeloushan. All of those players were important cogs in Sunlake’s wheel, and all of them have played their last down for the Seahawks.

But while the team will look to replace more than half its starters next season, important pieces remain in place. Aside from center, the entire offensive line will return next year, which Browning said will be key to letting a running back settle into his new role.

He also has confidence in young quarterback Justin Hall, who impressed the coach with his mental preparations, even in a backup role. Talented receiver Nick Valdes also is returning, and Browning believes other players will emerge in the off-season based on their workout regimen and desire to step into a more prominent role on the team.

While he’s proud of the team’s accomplishments, he knows the team will have to focus on next year sooner or later. As for Browning, it’s definitely sooner: He plans to take just a few days off before getting back to work and starting preparations for next season.

And when it’s time to return, the players will find out that losing key players isn’t going to be an excuse to come up short of team goals. After going 0-10 their inaugural campaign, Browning has built a program with five straight winning seasons — and no more than three losses in any of them — a new district championship, and high expectations.

And lowering those expectations isn’t in his vocabulary. Neither is the word “satisfied.”

“I don’t think as a coach you’re ever satisfied,” Browning said. “Proud of what we accomplished? Absolutely. Satisfied? The day you’re satisfied is the day you better get out of coaching.”

Published December 3, 2014

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First Class: Support the Troops remembers those serving overseas

November 26, 2014 By Michael Murillo

Mark Van Trees received the Champion of Service Award presented by Gov. Rick Scott on Nov. 12 for his work with Support the Troops. And it would be a good story — except Van Trees doesn’t like talking about it.

“It’s certainly not deserved,” the Wesley Chapel organization’s director said.

Mark Van Trees, left, Steve Dieulio and teacher Colleen McCormick load up more than 320 pounds of candy donated by Academy at the Lakes. The school donates leftover sweets to Support the Troops each year. (Michael Murillo/Staff photo)

Instead, Van Trees prefers to talk about the dozens of volunteers who stock, store and pack the steady stream of care packages that get shipped to military personnel overseas. He believes they’re the ones who deserve to be honored.

He also likes talking about Bob Williams, the founder of Support the Troops, who worked tirelessly growing the organization until an accident in 2012 left him unable to continue the project.

Williams deserves the credit, Van Trees insists, as indicated by the hundreds of certificates of appreciation addressed to him that decorate Van Trees’ office and the walls of the facility, located at 29807 State Road 54, that ships the packages. Williams now resides at Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home in Land O’ Lakes, and Van Trees is now the person who works six days a week, raising money for the seemingly endless postage expenses associated with shipping thousands of care packages overseas every year.

The recipients live on military bases that don’t have the facilities for personnel to get the basic comfort items we take for granted in the United States, he said.

And while receiving the award was a proud moment, Van Trees keeps a more personal kind of recognition in a box by his desk.

“Thank you so much for the gifts. They are greatly appreciated,” reads one card from a member of the military.

“Thank you very much for your recent donation,” starts another from a group hosting a charity golf event.

“We would like to offer our sincerest gratitude and appreciation,” continues another card.

They arrive daily from different groups and individuals from the Tampa Bay area and throughout the world. The thank you cards are small but meaningful tokens of gratitude from those who have been touched by Support the Troops and its mission, and each one means a lot to its director.

“We read every one and then we post them out there (in the work areas) and we let all the volunteers know,” Van Trees said. “They’re not for me. They’re for the volunteers.”

The packages themselves mean a lot to the recipients and the entire unit that shares in the bounty. Coffee, toothpaste, razors and socks are minor comforts, but coveted items for military members stationed far from home.

Once Support the Troops gets requests from the soldiers or their families, volunteers assemble a 50-pound care package and dispatch it to bases in Africa, Afghanistan and other locales.

They also take donations, whether it’s pallets of surplus Girl Scout Cookies or a single five-pack of razors. They accept private donations and whatever few dollars local residents can spare. The donations go to military-related causes, whether the items get shipped in care packages, or provide comfort to local homeless veterans, or are donated to other organizations with similar goals.

They also ship a lot of candy, and those supplies are often replenished by donations as well. Last week, more than 320 pounds of Halloween leftovers made their way to Support the Troops courtesy of Academy at the Lakes, a private preparatory school in Land O’ Lakes.

The school’s National Junior Honor Society collects candy for Support the Troops every year, and the amount they donate grows annually as well. Colleen McCormick, a teacher at the school who delivered the candy, said the school was enthusiastic about seeing it all go to a worthy cause.

“Our families are so great and so involved,” McCormick said. “It’s rewarding for (students) to see it all come together and then being given away.”

Even though donations keep the shelves stocked and the boxes full — and the volunteer staff keeps things moving — postage costs can be daunting. At nearly $50 per package, it adds up quickly. Support the Troops spent more than $160,000 last year, Van Trees said, just to ship the packages.

But if that’s the cost to fulfill every request and keep the post office busy (each recipient receives packages every couple of weeks while stationed overseas), Van Trees will keep finding a way to pay the tab. The important thing, he said, is that the ones sacrificing overseas, and missing holidays, birthdays and other life events with their family, never feel forgotten.

Even if the media moves on to other topics, or spends more time on celebrities than soldiers, Van Trees wants people to remember there are still thousands serving in remote locations whose days are brightened by receiving a box shipped from Wesley Chapel.

“It’s like Christmas,” he said of their reaction when receiving a package. “The thing we battle every day is to let people (here) know they’re still over there.”

To make donations to Support the Troops, or request care packages for a member of the military, call (813) 991-4256, visit OurTroopsOnline.com, or e-mail Van Trees at .

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PHSC gets creative with writing classes

November 26, 2014 By Michael Murillo

Suzanne Baginskie knows what it’s like to sign up for a writing class at a local college and be disappointed.

Suzanne Baginskie had trouble finding the appropriate classes when she wanted to begin a writing career. Now an accomplished author, she teaches them for Pasco-Hernando State College’s Encore Academy program. (Courtesy of Suzanne Baginskie)

“Whenever they would put a course like that up, nobody would take it, and I’d get my money back,” she said.

Baginskie eventually found a course that stayed open. And now, years later, she’s involved with more of them.

But she’s not taking them this time. She’s teaching them.

Baginskie leads creative writing classes for Pasco-Hernando State College’s Encore Academy, a program that provides education opportunities for people 50 and older.

The Introduction to Creative Writing class wrapped up Nov. 24, a Write Your Life Story class is in progress, and a Writing Children’s Stories class begins Dec. 1. All classes are held at the college’s Spring Hill campus, 450 Beverly Court.

Baginskie, 68, has become the right kind of person to lead writing classes. After nearly 30 years as a law office manager and paralegal, she turned her attention to something she loved for years, but never had enough time to pursue seriously.

And she’s made up for lost time. Baginskie sold her first story in 1999, and since then has sold more than 40 short stories to publishers. Her work has appeared more than two dozen times in the Chicken Soup for the Soul books, which feature inspirational and motivational stories.

She’s also written horror, non-fiction and mystery stories, and her current projects include a legal thriller novel.

Of course, another ongoing project is teaching creative writing at PHSC. Baginskie didn’t want a lack of classroom opportunities to discourage writers from pursuing their passion.

“That was my goal,” she said. “When I finally got to where I could teach it, and I was multi-published, I did a proposal and PHSC accepted me. That’s why I continue to do this.”

She helps others by getting them started on a project and guiding them through the creative process. That might include writing exercises, providing informative handouts, or offering encouragement for someone trying his or her hand at writing later in life.

Many people decide to give writing a try after they retire, or their children are grown or they’ve lost a spouse, Baginskie said. Their family and friends might be out of state, and the classes allow them to connect with a creative streak and complete projects they couldn’t even start previously.

While it might sound like an over-50 student is late to the game, Baginskie said it’s actually a good time to start writing. A person has attained wisdom and life experience to bring to the craft, and people often don’t realize how valuable their seasoned perspectives are to a creative endeavor.

Part of her job is to help students recognize the value of their years, and show them how it enhances their writing.

By teaching the classes as she’s done for the past eight years, Baginskie has found it’s enhanced her own writing as well.

“You want to keep yourself inspired, and this is the perfect way to help these beginning writers,” she said. “I learn so much.”

While Encore Academy is designed for older students, there’s no age restriction to take the creative writing classes. There’s also no obligation to attend every session, although Baginskie said there are benefits to building on previous lessons.

The Write Your Life Story class continues Dec. 1 and Dec. 8 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Writing Children’s Stories class begins Dec. 1 and ends Dec. 8, running from 10 a.m. until noon.

The cost is $12 for each two-hour session.

For more information about the classes or Encore Academy, call program manager Debra Duncan at (727) 816-3439, or visit PHSC.edu/encore.

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It’s crunch time for annual holiday toy drive

November 26, 2014 By Michael Murillo

Bob Loring isn’t Santa Claus. Yet he has some 250 elves at his disposal, and he seems pretty jolly about his job.

“I’m the head elf,” Loring said. “It’s a thrill. Personally it’s so rewarding. I get to work with and be around the neatest people in Pasco County.”

Bob Loring will do whatever it takes to get the word out for his annual local Toys For Tots campaign. (Michael Murillo/Staff photo)

The retired Marine doesn’t look like Kris Kringle, either, but he does share a common goal with the Christmas character. With the help of elves (volunteers), he distributes toys to boys and girls during the holiday season.

The difference is that Loring does it in real life.

Loring heads up the local Toys For Tots chapter, part of a national program that distributes toys to needy children run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve for more than 65 years. He took the helm back in 1999, and in his first year, the group distributed toys for nearly 400 children in the Dade City area.

But he knew it wasn’t enough.

To expand, Toys For Tots would have to increase the number of communities it serves. Most people who donate want the recipients to live in their area, Loring said. As a result, they’ve broadened their efforts to provide a happy holiday to children in Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel, as well.

The donations have gone up, too. Loring expects to distribute toys to around 4,000 children this year. And the method of distributing them is almost as important as the donations themselves.

Toys For Tots relies on school counselors to identify needy children and families. Then, instead of simply distributing bags of gifts based on age and gender, a parent or guardian will go to a local center where one of the elves helps them choose from the available toys for each child in the family.

Every recipient receives a couple of bigger gifts as well as some stocking stuffers to make sure they have a few things to open. Someone who knows them handpicks them all.

This method ensures the right gift goes to the right recipient, Loring said, because the parent or guardian has a good idea what each child would like. Some children might be more or less advanced for their age, and finding suitable gifts requires more than guesswork based on how old they are.

Letting a parent or guardian choose the gifts themselves provides another benefit: dignity.

“I want the parent, first of all, to be treated with kindness, to be brought into the Christmas spirit,” Loring said. “We’re not here to make people feel uncomfortable that they’re asking us to help them.”

By playing a role in deciding what their children receive, the experience is more in line with traditional gift giving.

While the organization has provided toys for decades, Toys For Tots had to adjust with the times. They still have collection boxes at various locations and businesses where people can donate new, unwrapped toys. And they still have their annual toy drive with the National Association of Letter Carriers, where residents leave toys by their mailboxes and the letter carriers pick them up on their postal routes.

The problem is that fewer people know about it.

The U.S. Postal Service previously allowed Toys For Tots distribute free mailers to each resident, letting them know when the drive would take place. But a few years ago they stopped providing that benefit due to costs, Loring said, so his organization has had to get more creative in getting the word out on when to leave toys for their letter carriers.

He admits that current donations would be even higher if not for the mailer setback, because many residents don’t know exactly when it occurs.

Still, with some assistance from the national Toys For Tots organization and mostly local donations, the chapter provides presents for thousands of local children each year. And with some help from other groups, Loring has built a network of add-ons to accompany the holiday presents.

For example, faith-based organizations and Rotary Club sponsor Food For Tots and Skivvies For Tots, offering food and clothing for those in need. And down the road, Loring would like to add Shoes For Tots as well.

But for now, Loring will settle for another successful toy drive for needy area families. And in doing so, it also will translate into a happier holiday for those volunteers who find it can be better to give than to receive.

“My elves get more out of this than the families we help. That is true,” Loring said. “They come away with the Christmas spirit and they take it home. It’s magnificent.”

The Letter Carriers’ toy drive is set for Dec. 6.

For more information about local Toys For Tots efforts, contact Loring at (352) 588-4230, or at .

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Bulldogs look past playoff loss to promising future

November 26, 2014 By Michael Murillo

The Zephyrhills Bulldogs played approximately 540 minutes of football this season — but it was the final two minutes that were the most disappointing.

Zephyrhills Bulldog junior linebacker Kevin Lee swats down a pass from Sunlake quarterback Dayton Feiden during the final game of the season that Zephyrhills won 22-7. The Bulldogs would lose a heartbreaking first-round playoff game, while the Seahawks would move to the next round after beating Ocala’s Vanguard High School. (Fred Bellet/Photo)

The team came up short on a fourth-and-one that would have sealed a victory in their first playoff game in eight seasons. Instead, their opponent — Suwannee High School from Live Oak — drove down the field quickly and scored a touchdown.

Suwannee then recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff for another score. And just like that, Zephyrhills’ season was gone.

But not forgotten.

“We’re a little disappointed about the loss, not getting the win up in Live Oak, especially being ahead most of the game,” Bulldogs head coach Reggie Roberts said. “But we played good football to get there, and we played good football when we got there. But we just have to finish at that level.”

As the sting of not finishing a winnable playoff loss subsides — the team led 24-9 at the half — it will be replaced by memories of the good football that brought them to that point in the first place. Their 8-3 final record is the best of Roberts’ tenure, which began in 2010.

It was their fourth straight year with a winning record, and the playoff appearance snapped an eight-year drought without postseason play. The Bulldogs took the field for that game ready to play their brand of football, not like a team that was just happy to be there or wanted to play conservatively.

For his part, Roberts has no regrets about going for it on that critical fourth down at the end of the game. Converting that yard would have meant a victory, he said, and the circumstances at that time and the field position dictated it was the best move for the team.

But that decision was made and the playoff game is over. And Roberts, like all successful coaches, doesn’t like to dwell in the past. He’s already looking ahead to 2015, and he likes what he sees.

While he admits that replacing offensive cogs like quarterback Ty Tanner, receiver Tyler Kirby and running back Jaylen Pickett won’t be easy, Roberts believes the team’s depth will step up and fill the gaps.

“Our seniors will be missed, but by the same token, we have a lot of young players that know how to play football,” he said.

The Bulldogs will welcome back known talent like receiver Jackie Tucker and running back Antwione Sims, who distinguished himself this season and in the playoff game. They also have a number of junior varsity players who are ready to graduate to varsity and contribute immediately.

If there’s an early area of concern, it’s the kicking game. Somebody will need to fill punter and kicker Zach Gleaton’s spot, but there’s time to find a replacement. But from offensive line to other skill positions, the coach feels good about the talent he’ll carry into 2015.

“I like what we have coming back,” Roberts said.

He also likes the renewed community interest in Zephyrhills football, and the fact that coaches are now coming to him asking for advice on how to build and maintain a successful program.

The returning players will bring a renewed desire to win and a lot of pride in what they’re building, but they’ll also carry some bitterness about the way the season ended. After the playoff loss, he found the younger players hurting after the game, even if they didn’t get on the field much.

They were upset at the way things ended for the team, and the coach wants them to use that frustration as fuel for next season.

“They’re going to remember that pain,” Roberts said. “They’re going to remember this experience. They’re going to remember it takes blood, and hopefully that’s going to just energize them and motivate them to get back there (to the playoffs) every year.”

If Roberts is looking for indications that the team will learn from this year’s lessons, he’s already seen some positive signs as the long off-season gets underway.

The players aren’t interested in taking extended breaks, even when offered by the coach at the end of a hard-fought playoff game and a successful 2014 campaign.

“I gave the kids two weeks off, and the kids were in the weight room” four days after the playoff game, he said. “If that doesn’t tell you anything, it tells me a lot.”

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Beef O’Brady’s puts comedy on the menu

November 20, 2014 By Michael Murillo

There’s going to be some extra laughter in Land O’ Lakes.

Beef O’Brady’s, 7040 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., is hosting another comedy night on Nov. 21. The now-regular event, which features a different professional headliner each month, is part of a continuing series after a couple successful trial runs in September and October.

Mike Rivera, named America’s Most Hilarious Teacher on ABC’s ‘The View,’ is the headliner for the November comedy show at Beef O’ Brady’s. (Courtesy of Mike Rivera)

The restaurant already offers trivia nights and music acts, but restaurant general manager Mike Connor wanted to offer an additional unique entertainment option to his patrons.

“There’s nobody else who has a comedy show in the area,” he said. “We just thought this was something different.”

After being contacted by a comedy club that also books local shows, the Beef O’Brady’s started featuring the comedy nights in their outside patio area, which seats around 60. Good initial reactions from customers at the first two shows — featuring comedians Pete Dearaujo and Pat Duax — have led to continuing the event on a regular basis.

The show begins at 9 p.m., and a later start means the topics can be more adult-oriented. But Connor is making sure it won’t be dirty — the comedians are told to avoid the most offensive words, and not curse just for shock value.

“Dropping an f-bomb every other word is not funny,” he said.

His own preferences lean toward the style of Jerry Seinfeld or Robin Williams, and thinks the audience will appreciate adult humor that isn’t vulgar.

Mike Rivera, November’s headliner, fits that mold. A teacher in Pinellas County with more than 25 years of stand-up comedy experience, Rivera was recognized in 2013 by ABC’s “The View” as the winner of its America’s Most Hilarious Teacher contest. His energetic style and comfortable stage presence impressed the show’s hosts, and he beat competitors from around the country to claim the title.

Previously, he was a regional winner of Showtime’s Funniest Person in America contest.

Rivera travels most weekends to different comedy clubs, and regularly tells jokes in front of large groups of people. But he enjoys performing for local crowds, and is happy to headline a smaller venue close to home.

“I find local shows to have audiences that are really appreciative. They don’t have to drive as far to the big locations and spend a ton of money,” Rivera said. “I find myself making good friends at local venues and wanting to come back.”

Connor had considered having a comedy night in the past, but only recently decided to give it a shot. Now he hopes the crowd keeps coming back and makes comedy night a successful staple for the restaurant, and he wants the casual format to be part of the appeal.

Whatever way the crowd wants to enjoy the atmosphere, there’s a seat at the table and jokes on the stage.

“There are people who bought dinner, and there are people who just sat and listened to comedy and had a couple of beers,” Connor said about the previous comedy nights. ”That’s what it’s about. It’s a relaxing evening.”

Tickets are $10. For more information, call (813) 388-6893.

Published November 19, 2014

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Dunn deal: Home sweet home surprises Dade City resident

November 13, 2014 By Michael Murillo

Mary Maldonado stepped into a driveway in Dade City on Nov. 7 expecting to take a few photos in front of a home she was preparing to buy.

She got a lot more than she bargained for.

Warrick Dunn greeted Mary Maldonado and her son, Leonni, at the driveway of the house she was preparing to buy. He surprised her with a fully furnished home, a fully stocked kitchen, and $5,000 of mortgage assistance. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Maldonado arrived with her infant son, Leonni, and was greeted by Warrick Dunn, former NFL player and philanthropist. His charity, Homes for the Holidays, helps single parents realize their dreams of owning a home.

Partnering with Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco County, who helped Maldonado through the home-buying process and set her up with an advantageous loan, Dunn welcomed her into a fully furnished home with a well-stocked kitchen. From living room furniture to a bedroom set for Leonni, the home was move-in ready.

She signed the ownership paperwork, received her keys, and accepted a ceremonial check for $5,000, which went toward her mortgage, courtesy of Homes for the Holidays.

Not bad for a Friday morning.

“Seeing the house and everything, it definitely paid off,” Maldonado said. “It’s very exciting.”

It also was Maldonado’s hard work that paid off to get to this point. As part of Habitat for Humanity’s homebuyer program, she had to put in 400 hours of volunteer work, which she scheduled around her full-time job. She also attended special classes on home maintenance and safety to prepare for ownership and help her navigate through unfamiliar challenges.

The volunteer hours and classes are worth it when their customers finally see themselves as homeowners, according to Gloria Sadler, director of family services for Habitat for Humanity.

“They’re humble. They can’t believe it,” she said. “They can’t believe that I got them to this point.”

Sadler teaches the homeowner classes and walks the homebuyer through each step in the process, explaining forms and helping them get their paperwork together.

While Habitat for Humanity provides a no-down payment, interest-free loan, applicants need to meet certain criteria to be eligible. They must have a need for affordable housing and have been at their current employer for at least one year.

And while they don’t need perfect credit or a specific credit score, applicants must demonstrate that they have a history of taking responsibility for their debts.

“Not everyone qualifies,” explained Stephanie Black, director of development and public relations at Habitat for Humanity. “We’re not doing them any favors by putting them into a home that they can’t afford.”

As a result of the screening process, volunteer work and classes, default rates are very low.

This was the 140th event for Homes for the Holidays, and Dunn — a former Tampa Bay Buccaneer — has been to almost all of them in the charity’s 17 years. For Maldonado’s celebration, he had to drive in from Atlanta. But he believes it’s important to attend each one while he can.

“For me, it’s the experience,” Dunn said. “Getting those expressions and how they react.”

Sometimes the reactions come later, after the presentation and when the new homeowner can sit in their house and realize it really belongs to them.

While he often has to travel to attend the events — Homes for the Holidays has helped families in a dozen cities and plans to keep growing — Dunn pays for all his travel expenses out of his own pocket.

Dunn’s charity honors his mother, Betty Smothers, who died before realizing her own dream of home ownership. Now his charity helps single families realize that dream, and Dunn said he witnessed the true importance of charity’s work after he saw the first event covered on television.

“When I went home and I watched the news, then it really hit me, the impact that I had that day,” he said. “Now I really understand the impact on the community.”

Habitat for Humanity’s impact is seen in new homeowners like Maldonado and those who are going through the process of buying a home. And completing that process results in a great deal of satisfaction for both the homeowner, and Habitat for Humanity’s employees as well.

“I love it,” Sadler said. “To see the smile on the family’s faces, to get to know the kids and the family, it’s an honor and a privilege to work for Habitat for Humanity.”

Published November 12, 2014

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Playoff foe awaits district champ Sunlake

November 13, 2014 By Michael Murillo

Each year, high school football teams enter the season with specific goals. Some achieve them, and others fall short.

For Sunlake High School, the goal since the school’s inception has been to claim a district title. And every year they’ve fallen short of that goal.

Until this year.

Sunlake High School junior Nick Valdes, left, and the rest of the Seahawks hope to make the most of their first playoff berth as district champions. (Fred Bellet/Photo)

The Seahawks survived a three-way tiebreaker on Nov. 3 that had teams playing one quarter of football against each other to determine a winner. As a result, they’ll enter the playoffs with the title of district champion of Class 6A-District 6, an accomplishment that’s not lost on head coach Bill Browning.

“It’s very gratifying. The kids worked very hard for it,” said Browning, who has been with the school since it opened in 2007.

Back then, the team was essentially a junior varsity squad, he said, and were out-matched at every turn. But over the years, Browning and his staff have built a successful program, finally claiming that elusive district title this season.

As a result, Browning let himself enjoy the moment. For a few hours, anyway.

By the next morning, it was on to game preparations, and getting his team prepared for the games in front of them.

“You meet one challenge and then you go on to the next challenge,” he said. “That’s the competitive nature.”

The challenge in the playoffs will be a home tilt against Vanguard High School on Nov. 14. Located in Ocala, the Knights don’t seem too formidable on paper. They’re just 4-5 on the season, and claimed a playoff spot as runner-up in District 5 with a 2-2 record. They were 1-4 on the road, and gave up an average of nearly 47 points in their five losses.

But Browning and the Seahawks won’t make any assumptions with regard to Vanguard. They’ve faced them in the playoffs before, winning a close contest, and know that any team that makes the postseason has talent.

To be successful, Sunlake will rely on the players like Naejaun Jackson, a running back and receiver who has given the offense a spark in the second half of the season. Browning described Jackson as the “lightning” to running back Nathan Johnson’s “thunder.”

While the experience of entering the playoffs as a district champion is a new experience for Sunlake, it’s nothing new for Browning. A high school coach for 25 years, he also earned district titles for Springstead High School and Hernando High School before taking the job to start the Seahawks’ program from scratch.

But this one is special, in part because his biggest fan isn’t here to watch the games anymore. His father, Maurice, passed away this past summer at age 95.

During his son’s tenure the older Browning attended every Sunlake football game. In the last contest he saw, the spring classic game, Browning’s father saw the team that would eventually earn the school its first district title.

And his assessment of his son’s team at the time?

“After the classic, his words to me were, ‘You’ve got your work cut out for you,’” Browning recalled.

After a lot of hard work, Sunlake is not only a district champion for the first time, but a playoff host as well. Browning hopes those advantages will help the team go farther this year than during previous campaigns.

“The farthest we’ve gotten is the second round in the playoffs,” Browning said. ‘That’s our goal now, to go farther than any Sunlake team has.”

While Sunlake has been able to console themselves with playoff runs while they sought a district title, it was a different story for Zephyrhills High School. But they snapped an eight-year playoff drought with their own tie-breaker game, and will head to the playoffs as the Class 5A-District 7 runner-up.

While the Bulldogs can be proud of accomplishing a major goal for 2014, there’s just one problem: The actual playoffs haven’t even started yet.

So now what?

“You feel really good for a short time, but you know you’ve got to get back to work and start over,” Zephyrhills coach Reggie Roberts said. “Our objective is not just to get there. It’s to perform once we get to the playoffs.”

Soon after he was drenched in a celebratory bath from the water cooler, Roberts already was thinking of the Bulldogs’ playoff strategy.

And Zephyrhills isn’t expecting a warm welcome in their return to the postseason. Their first match-up will be Nov. 14 at Live Oak to face Suwannee High School, a team that didn’t need any tiebreakers to qualify for the playoffs. With a perfect 9-0 overall record headed into their final regular season game, Suwannee dominated District 5 with a 6-0 mark. The Bulldogs finished at 9-1 after a 42-14 loss to Columbia High School from Lake City.

The team — also nicknamed the Bulldogs — has held opponents to seven points or less four separate times, while being held under 30 themselves just once.

The key to the Zephyrhills’ success, according to Roberts, will be not changing things just because it’s the playoffs. From coaching to practice to execution, he wants his team to utilize the same strengths that helped them reach the postseason.

“We have to go with what got us there, and we have to do what we’ve done all year long,” he said. “We have to play consistent football on both sides of the ball.”

Roberts knows first-hand the importance of ending the season strong. As an all-state linebacker for Zephyrhills, he made the playoffs in his senior season back in 1989. His defensive coordinator, Booker Pickett, also was on that team. But they lost their playoff game, a match-up Roberts still remembers well and thinks they could have won.

He doesn’t want his team ending their year with a feeling that they could have done more in the postseason, and his focus is on getting them as prepared as possible to be successful.

But Roberts also wants them to enjoy the moment the way he did when he played in the postseason, and appreciate the special atmosphere.

“The crowd, it was so packed there was no room to sit,” Roberts recalled. “It was tremendous. It was like a college atmosphere. It was great small-town football.

“That’s why you want to get there. To create those memories.”

Nov. 14
Vanguard at Sunlake, 7:30 p.m.
Zephyrhills at Suwanee, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $8
If Sunlake (8-2) wins, Seahawks take on winner of Mitchell (6-4) at Gainesville (5-5).
If Zephyrhills (8-2) wins, Bulldogs take on winner of North Marion (8-2) at South Sumter (10-0).

Published November 12, 2014

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Steinbrenner’s band needs big bucks for bowl trip

November 6, 2014 By Michael Murillo

The Steinbrenner High School Band is planning a trip to perform at a college bowl game later this year. To get there, they’ll need hard work and determination.

They’ll also need more than $70,000.

When the Steinbrenner High School band isn’t performing, they’re practicing. And when they’re not practicing, they’re raising money for their trip to the Liberty Bowl later this year. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

That’s the cost to accommodate more than 90 people traveling to Memphis, Tennessee, for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, on Dec. 29.

“It is a lot of money,” admitted band director Nicole Conte. “We’ve done some smaller trips that have cost about half that, but this is a pretty big one.”

It’s so big that the band is getting creative about raising funds. They’ll host a casino night on Nov. 8 at Cheval Golf and Country Club, 4312 Cheval Blvd., in Lutz, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. On Nov. 16, they’ll have a mattress sale at the school’s gymnasium from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Current fundraising and early payments have helped the band get close to half of their goal, leaving plenty more money that needs to be raised. But from personal experience, Conte feels it’s worth it.

“We did several things like that when I was in high school band, too, and those are memories that I’ve carried with me all my life, and some of the most exciting things I’ve ever done,” she said.

When Conte was going to school in Naples, her high school band performed at a Miami Dolphins game. She was excited to play in front of such a large group, and wants her band to share that kind of experience.

That doesn’t mean the entire trip will simply be a vacation for the band. There are competitive elements to the event as well. In addition to participating in the halftime show with other bands from different states, they’ll also be part of a field competition before the event. The winning band gets to perform solo as part of the pre-game ceremony.

Conte wants to win that competition, and continue the tradition of success she’s established at Steinbrenner. She’s been with the school since it opened in 2009, and has 17 years of experience leading bands. They consistently earn a rating of “superior” in their assessments, and they won their division at the Lion’s Pride band competition this year at King High School in Temple Terrace.

Three years ago, Steinbrenner also was named grand champion of that event.

To stay focused for their upcoming performance and prepare to face some tough competition, Conte is putting the band through their paces in practices and going over segments of their musical routines repeatedly to ensure their playing is sharp and their timing is right.

In her experience, that’s the only way to achieve the kind of success she wants.

“It’s practice and hard work. I think talent really has little to do with success,” she said. “It really boils down to determination and willingness to work hard to get the job done.”

Band members have displayed a willingness to work hard because of Conte’s leadership. Sam Goldstein, who plays tuba among other instruments, said the band has seen Conte’s experience in action, and knows that her decisions lead to good outcomes.

“She’s done it for 17 years, and she doesn’t have to think about anything that she does,” he said of Conte. “She tells us what to do and somehow everything works out. I look up to her as a third parent, almost.”

As a result, band members believe Conte when she says the practices and the fundraising will be worth the effort once they set foot in Tennessee for the school’s first band trip to a college bowl game.

“This is our first one,” Conte said. “I’ve never done one before, either. I’m very excited, and the kids are very excited.”

For more information about the Steinbrenner High School Band and its fundraising efforts, call Steinbrenner at (813) 792-5131, or visit SteinbrennerBand.com.

Published November 5, 2014

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It’s Bug season in Pasco County this weekend

November 6, 2014 By Michael Murillo

When you think of words that go great together, “bug” and “jam” aren’t at the top of the list.

What is Bug Jam, anyway? Something you eat on a dare? A crazy collection of insects?

Fortunately, it’s neither of those. But it is one of the more popular annual events in Pasco County.

At Bug Jam you’ll see plenty of VW Bugs, of course. But there are plenty of other Volkswagen vehicles on display, too. (File Photo)

Now in its 26th year, the Pasco Bug Jam is a tribute/competition/celebration of all things related to the Volkswagen Beetle, affectionately known as the Bug. It also includes entries for the VW Thing and the VW Type 2, also known as a VW camper or bus.

But really, the star of this show is the Bug. And there are a lot of them. The Bug Jam has 66 separate vehicle classes for judging, and around 18 — more than any other — are devoted to the Bug.

Proud owners will show off their cars, convertibles and campers in a family-friendly setting on Nov. 9 at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City.

But wait a minute: You’re not a VW Bug fanatic, you say? Why should you care about Bug Jam? Well, you don’t have to be obsessed with Bugs or cars of any kind to enjoy this event.

If you were obsessed, you’d probably be competing in one of the categories yourself. But thousands come every year to see the beautiful antique cars, lovingly restored and maintained by their owners. Some of these vehicles are more than 50 years old, and get more attention and care than we do.

Just checking out all the entries is a fun trip down memory lane.

But there’s a lot more to do than look at cars. There will be games, activities for children, and contests for visitors of all ages. A disc jockey will play music all day long. And you’ll also see a performance by a Blues Brothers tribute band.

By the way, they aren’t just guys who throw on suits and ties and pretend to be the Blues Brothers, the iconic characters made famous by “Saturday Night Live” stars Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. The Jake and Elwood Blues Revue has opened up for many mainstream music acts, played with the original Blues Brothers band, and were even part of the “Blues Brothers” 25th anniversary DVD.

They know all the songs, all the moves, and throw in a lot of audience participation. If you like the Blues Brothers, it’s worth going for this show alone.

And if you do like the VW Bug, you should have had this circled on your calendar for the past year. Besides all the different makes and models, there will be more than 100 vendor booths, where you can get new and used parts, collectibles, toys and who-knows-what other Volkswagen-inspired merchandise. Add in giveaways, trivia and other car-themed events, and you have a full day of fun.

And if all that’s not enough, they also do something called Stuff the Bug, where they try to squeeze as many people as they can into a Beetle. Would you believe they once got 21 people into one? They’re trying to break that record this year, too. Do you really want to miss that?

So it sounds like a really good time. But how much does it cost? Well, since you’re reading it in our On the Cheap column, you know it isn’t much.

Admission is just $5 per person, and it’s $5 to park. So stuff some friends and family into your car (don’t try to break their record, OK?) and spend the day listening to music, playing games, and enjoying the cars on display. And keep most of your money in your pocket while you’re doing it.

Gates open at 9 a.m., with opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. It runs until 5 p.m.

For more information about Pasco Bug Jam, visit FloridaBugJam.com.

Published November 5, 2014

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