DePue expects fairer shake in return trip to The Muck

Posted Dec 4, 2009 by Adam Adkins

Updated Dec 4, 2009 at 04:52 PM

Robinson coach Mike DePue expects the Knights to have to deal with a hostile crowd in tonight’s Class 2A state semifinal at Belle Glade Glades Central.

What he’s hoping is that the hostile crowd doesn’t have the same impact he believes it did when Robinson made its last trip to The Muck.

Robinson played at Glades Central in a 1997 regional final. Those Knights, led by eventual Florida Mr. Football Award recipient Zain Gilmore, jumped out to an early lead and were walking into the locker room at halftime ahead 16-14. But DePue believes things began to turn against the Knights well before the team made it back onto the field for the second half.

“We had a situation where we were winning going in at halftime, and (then Knights head) coach (Bud) Hodgens and I walked in behind the officials and the crowd was very, very intimidating to them, making overt threats. We didn’t get a call in the second half,” said DePue, then a Robinson assistant. “I tell you what, I looked at a couple of the officials in the second half, and they had true fear in their eyes.”

The Knights ultimately lost that game, 35-16.

Robinson is making its first trip back to Belle Glade since that game tonight, and DePue doesn’t think the Knights will get the same treatment – well, at least not from the officials.

“I think it’s 10 years difference,” DePue said. “I think the officials are going to be professional enough that they are not going to be intimidated by that crowd, and I think that’s not going to be a factor this time out and that the officials are going to call a fair game.”