John Timmons has never made promises or had some grand plan when taking over a football program. He knows that making lofty goals are always setting yourself and the team up for a letdown.
They head into next week's first round of the 5A state playoffs as the overwhelming favorites repeat as state champion for the third year in a row, and stand to bring home yet another national championship.
No matter where you look in South Florida, there are offensive game changers. Players who can lift their respective teams and take them a long way.
For decades, Jackson has been searching for the glory of the 1950s, '60s and into the '70s on the football field. A time where the Generals had the talent to go toe-to-toe with anyone in the state.
He has been one of the most impressive quarterbacks in south Florida this year, guiding his Blanche Ely Tigers to a 7-0 start with more than 1,600 yards passing and 18 touchdown passes. He stands 6-2 and weighs more than 200 pounds and does well in school. Why are colleges not falling over themselves offering Michael German?
Three years ago, Allen Held guided his South Broward football team to an 8-2 record, and because the Bulldogs lost twice in the district, they had to sit home and watch other programs they had beaten advance to the playoffs.
When Greg Dentino took over South Dade's football program this spring, he made no predictions, didn't come in with a laundry list of things that he promised the boosters and administration the Buccaneers would do to turn this program back into power.
Last December, after losing to Northwestern in the south region final, Miramar quarterback Eugene Smith offered some advice for those who were going to compete against his Patriots in the 2009 season.
When Michael Virden last left Iowa Falls, Iowa, and Ellsworth Community College 22 years ago, he was capping off a brilliant 20-1 season and a national championship as the starting quarterback. When he returned last season, the one time Des Moines Dowling High star had come full circle.
Take nothing away from standout running back Jakhari Gore or quarterback Garrett Calao, but if the Columbus Explorers are going to get past teams such as Northwestern and Central, the Explorers will do it with a defense that has proven it can rise to any occasion.
Wherever he goes cameras follow, pens and pads write down his every move and recorders get the words that flow from his mouth.
Welcome to the world of Devon Wright -- the senior running back from Taravella, who just happens to be the two-time defending Broward County large school rushing champion.
As the offensive team waits to load the bus, coaches and players talk about school, the future and what ever social life most will have after spending over an hour just getting to and from practice every day.
Two years ago, while jumping from school to school in the Orlando area and watching his mother battle cancer, there was no way that Patrick Williams could ever have imagined that he would end up in Davie, attending a prestigious school and being considered as one of the best football players in the nation.
In the history of Miami's Westminster Christian School, there have been hundreds of baseball scouts who have roamed the campus to get a look at future stars such as Alex Rodriguez and Doug Mientkiewicz, who starred for the Warriors back in 1992-93. But when it comes to football, it hasn't been a place where recruiters have flocked to -- until now.
In the history of Miami's Westminster Christian School, there have been hundreds of baseball scouts who have roamed the campus to get a look at future stars such as Alex Rodriguez and Doug Mientkiewicz, who starred for the Warriors back in 1992-93. But when it comes to football, it hasn't been a place where recruiters have flocked to -- until now.
As far back as most can remember, South Florida has long been a hotbed when producing athletes who had the ability to play at a high level in college in the defensive secondary, and make it to the National Football League as well.
When colleges and universities think of the South Florida area for recruiting, it's the all about the speed positions such as running back, defensive back and receiver. While linebackers and defensive linemen are also impressive, it the offensive linemen who rarely were the target for coaches when searching out talent.
As he stood on the field prior to last Saturday's first game of the annual University of South Florida Sling & Shoot 7-on-7 tournament in Tampa, Coral Reef coach Chevas Clements had nothing but positives to say to his team.
While some coaches will tell you that what happens during the summer will go a long way in the end result in December, many do not practice what they preach.
Talk about the demise of Booker T. Washington's football program and standout senior running back Eduardo Clements rolls his eyes and gives that smile of disbelief. Head coach Earl Tillman won't even dignify the question with a response.
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