Happy belated 100th win, Bill Browning (we think)

Posted Sep 24, 2010 by Bart O'Connell

Updated Sep 24, 2010 at 03:35 PM

Sunlake’s Bill Browning has been receiving well-wishes from colleagues all week leading up to tonight’s game against Gulf, where he believes he has the opportunity to win his 100th game as a high school football coach.

Problem is, according to Tampa Tribune records, Browning already has reached that milestone.

Hernando Today Sports Editor Tony Castro, known around these parts for his meticulous record-keeping of coaching wins, has Browning for 93 victories with two Hernando County teams: Springstead (49 wins) and Hernando (44 wins) spanning 17 years (1987-2003). Since arriving at Sunlake, Browning has won seven games (one in 2008, four in 2009 and two this season). Therefore, Friday night’s 45-0 win at Hudson was, according to the Tribune, his 100th win.

“It’s not what I’m focused on,” said Browning on Thursday of the 100-win chatter. “The focus is on this week’s game.”

The discrepancy seems to lie in his years at Springstead, where some have his record at 48-44 and not 49-43, as the Tribune has it. The 93 Hernando County wins, by the way, are the most by any coach in that county’s prep football history.

Browning is currently in his 21st season as a coach.