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Freedom High football coach and former USF quarterback Marquel Blackwell was charged and arrested this morning by Tampa Police for driving under the influence, according to a Tampa Police report.
Blackwell was released on a $500 bond.
A temporary employee within the Hillsborough County School District, Blackwell recently completed his second season as head football coach. The Patriots went 4-6 this past season and 1-9 in 2007.
In 2007, Blackwell, an in-school suspensions teacher, was under investigation by the county school board for a verbal confrontation he had with another teacher. As a result, a letter of reprimand was placed on his record. In the same year, the Freedom and Tampa Bay Tech football teams were involved in a on-field brawl which resulted in numerous players being suspended and both schools being fined. Freedom was fined $1,700 and placed on probation.
According to Hillsborough County School’s spokesperson Linda Cobbe, the school district’s office of Professional Standards “will not enforce any discipline”, but Blackwell is no longer allowed to transport students.
Cobbe said Blackwell is under contract until the end of the school year and the school’s principal can decide to keep him as an employee or not renew his contract.
Football coaches at Freedom have had troubles in the past.
During Week 4 of the 2006 season, then Freedom head coach Adam Stegeman was removed from the position for inappropriate actions after a victory against Wesley Chapel. The incident that led to his removal involved Stegeman’s wife, Pegah. According to records from Hillsborough County Public Schools, when Mrs. Stegeman and her friend arrived at Wesley Chapel for the game, they argued with personnel at the entrance about not wanting to pay to gain admission. Personnel at the gate told Wesley Chapel administrators the two women were intoxicated. Though it states both women paid the ticket price, they continued to use profanity, prompting personnel to ask them to leave. Police officers at the game, along with administrators from Freedom and Wesley Chapel, then escorted the women to the entrance.
After the game, according to the records, when notified his wife was asked to leave, Stegeman used profane language directed at a Freedom administrator.
Assistant coach Leon Brockmeier replaced Stegeman for the remainder of the season, but lost the head coaching position to Blackwell, the quarterbacks coach, who was hired as the new head coach in January of 2007.
Messages left for Blackwell and Freedom High administration have yet to be returned.
Posted by Douchie smith, tamp on 01/06 at 09:03 PM
We should teach Freedom parents how to spell!!! Also, whatever coach was drinking, please give me a double, too much nonsence going on with these schools.
I am not allowed to coach in Hillsborough because I have been arrested for exposing myself twice-just does not seem fair.
Posted by Steve, Tampa on 01/06 at 08:37 AM
Freedom Parent: I am certainly not calling the kids trashy as you are correct they can not help who the administration hires. You have to admit that the school has had some issues concerning hiring practices. There has been numerious incidents involving arrests, moral terpitude, and conduct unbecoming of a Coach or Teacher. I would love for my son to play for a community school. Support the team and kids he has played youth football with. But with the coaches that Freedom has hired over the years, No way, I will continue to pay for my sons education and high school sports. I wish you luck Freedom Parent, I hope the Administration hires someone that will give the school some pride and is a great person first and a great coach second.
Posted by Mark Washington Worker Of ESPN, Tampa on 01/06 at 01:57 AM
I feel that it’s time for a change for freedom high football.They have the talent but what they need is a better coach not saying that Blackwell isn’t a good coach he’s just not coaching material thay just need a coach that can get them to the big show which i know they can do!
Posted by Freedom football parent, Tampa Palms on 01/05 at 04:38 PM
Bye bye Blackwell..let’s hope! And they can take the rest of those incompetent bozos he hired with him (with the exception of a very limited few). These guys already sucked as role models for the kids BEFORE his arrest. BTW your article left out the AP convicted of wife beating and the drunken husband of the exgirls bball coach. Yeah, all first class hires. NOT! Come on Principal Farkas now you’ve got more than justifiable reasons to oust this bum so we can make Freedom a top rated school in the county instead of an embarassament.
Posted by Freedom Parent, Tampa Palms on 01/05 at 04:23 PM
Steve- Please do not discount the whole school for the actions of some. My sone plays football there. The students can’t pick the coach. If they could then there would be another choice. Please don’t blame the entire school for bad hiring practices.
Posted by Steve, Tampa on 01/05 at 02:01 PM
Freedom is it truely that hard to hire a coach that is reputable, that has high moral standards, and no arrest record. It seems that every other High School in Hillsborough County can do it. I am glad that my son plays football for a private school. We are zoned for Freedom and I am glad we made the decision to stay away from that trashy school. Good Luck. If you need any help screening for the next Head Coach for Freedom Football give me a call. Steve
Posted by Craig Conklin, Sheboygan, WI on 01/05 at 01:24 PM
I am looking for information on Brandon High School’s wrestling team that will be attending the Cheesehead tournament this Friday and Saturday in Wisconsin. Can you forward this to the coach or other wrestling knowledgable person. We were wondering what the records of the wrestlers are in the heavier weights are so far this year? (i.e. 171,189,215, and HWY)
Posted by Joseph Dunn, Sarasota on 01/05 at 12:48 PM
Mr Blackwell has a little too much drama happening here it seems…..stay tuned
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Posted by cy, on 01/09 at 08:47 PM
i think freedom is in a position to grow from what has happened. really the only place is up. it’s not about the coaches or the admin. someone needs to help these kids!!! these kids seem to have been thru alot the last four years. if your a parent of a kid at freedom you guys need to come together and TALK to the school board about correcting the problem.
good luck!