Old Spartans relive the glory of yesteryear

Posted Feb 16, 2010 by Tom McEwen

Updated Feb 16, 2010 at 06:27 PM

A couple of the warriors of the good old University of Tampa Spartan football days stopped by Riviera Drive for a noon visit and to share crab cakes and Cuban sandwiches they’d had made minutes before in North Tampa. Freddie Solomon and Vin Hoover, fine Spartan players of not so long ago, were the visitors. They wanted to talk about their days they cherish at UT. Believe me, don’t know many who do not react with fondness on those days in the early Seventies.

“Wouldn’t have wanted to go anywhere else or play anywhere else,” says world-class running back Solomon, who played for the Spartans, then the Miami Dolphins, then the San Francisco 49ers and could have played for anyone. Most of us testify that no one was ever quicker or change directions faster than Fred Solomon when he was at UT and playing at Tampa Stadium.

I once heard a would-be Miami Hurricane say, “I don’t worry, he’ll be back this way. I’ll get another chance.” Solomon was that way. Not even the great Leon McQuay was shiftier than him. And his buddy, Hoover, was just as difficult to contain in his playing days as a UT tight end. Solomon, at Tampa, played quarterback, running back at about 178 pounds, while Hoover was a moose at 220. No one ever before or after Freddie could match his elusiveness, his quick starts and his direction changes.

“I wasn’t that quick, they just all fell down,” says Fred. They fell down because they were duped by as good a runner that ever played in Tampa Stadium, old or new, to this day.

Those Spartans of the early Seventies toiled under Coach Fran Curci and his successors, Earle Bruce - an obstinate man - and Dennis Fryzell - a wild man - and Bill Fulcher, who moved on to Georgia Tech. Bruce went on to coach successfully at Ohio State, taking Fryzell with him. Bruce once forced a penalty to be called on Florida A&M for a halftime show which, he said, went too long. Fryzell was once penalized for having 12 men on the field at kickoff while demanding of the officials, “Who was it?” He got no answer and got the penalty.

Solomon, Hoover and any of the others at that time never tire of speaking of those days . They more often talk of Fryzell’s quick, crazy decisions, of Curci’s ability to bring in on the Midnight Express secret players such as John Matuzak, as well as Bruce’s anger trips, and Fulcher’s serenity.

“I never have regretted coming to the University of Tampa,” said Solomon. “I had shots to go about anywhere but Tampa was the right decision for me. Wife, Delilah, and I love it here in Plant City.”

No one had a crowd standing more than did Freddie, and he loved every minute of it and now appreciates his permanent situation with Hillsborough County and the DeBartolo Corporation, and both he and Hoover are both solid citizens. Hoover has a construction business in North Tampa and does well. They both support their old school and believe in it.

Sadly, UT was unable to compete in a football matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Then-President B. D. Owens had long wanted to rid the school of its football program, judging it too costly. His Board of Directors went along with him. And apparently they were right, as the school is progressing in enrollment and curricula thriving under President Vaughn. Its growth seems unlimited without football.

Instead, David Laxer and his colleagues are about to begin a major soccer program that will lead to a stadium near old Plant Field where football began. Times have changed, and times will change more. Seems to us like all is moving in the right direction and the University of Tampa and its athletes have an unlimited future without football.

Go Freddie, go Vin, go Spartans!