The 100 Greatest Plays in Buccaneer History

Posted Feb 6, 2008 by Paul Stewart

Updated Feb 6, 2008 at 06:58 AM

Of all the countdowns we have done on BUCPOWER.COM, this is the most ambitious and time-consuming. And hopefully the most appreciated too.

We have done the best players in Buc history, the worst (eh Kenyatta!), the best and worst trades and even the Ugliest Bucs. Now comes a feature on the defining moments of the 32-year history of the franchise.

Like each countdown, the general order is very subjective. There is no way you can determine between a play at 73 in the order and the ones at 72 or 74. But what we can do is come up with a definitive Top 10 in a specific order.

For this, we approached the people who really know the history of the Buccaneers including the likes of Joey Johnston and Nick Pugliese of The Tampa Tribune,  From the combined selections, we have a Top 10 that we are happy with.

Selecting the actual 100 plays was interesting, as we wanted to incorporate every year from 1976. We also wanted a combination of memorable plays, historic victories, bloopers and trick plays. And not just ones that were good for the Buccaneers so the likes of the Ricky Proehl TD in the 1999 play-offs will qualify.

There are a couple of potential plays that I could not get hold of and therefore will not be included. Vinny Testaverde’s 48-yard TD run against the Vikings in 1990 was one of those, as was the alleged one decent Bruce Gradkowski pass of more than 20 yards.

So February 1st was when it started and the countdown will run daily from there. And there will be some background to each of the clips on the site that will remain there for posterity, as there will be many that you may not have seen before or heard of.

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Of Bulls, Bowls And Bolts

Posted Feb 6, 2008 by Tom McEwen

Updated Feb 6, 2008 at 12:17 AM

Over your chilled half-pink grapefruit, a specialty hereabouts, two soft-boiled eggs broken over a small pile of buttered yellow grits, three slices of lean bacon, brown bread toast buttered and strawberry jammed, glass of cold white milk, hot coffee and bite or two of mouth-cleansing chilled watermelon, these warm winter weather breakfast additives:

The Tribune’s well-researched story Tuesday, printed on Page 1 of the news section as a lead piece, said that USF would not allow coaches to teach athletes assigned courses. It also provided a breakdown of athletes recruited with lawful dispensations and said there would be a crackdown if anything illicit was discovered. The writers/researchers, Adam Emerson and Brett McMurphy, moving on the story because of the events at Florida State, did turn up apparent conflicts in class assignment to coach-taught classes and practices of admission that can raise eyebrows, but said the athletic department was clean.

Fine. Good.

I say it. And USF football coach Jim Leavitt says the same.

Leavitt has said repeatedly this is the place he wants to practice his craft despite the fact that he and the others in it are in a fishbowl. I love it overall, but mostly I love it here, in Tampa and at USF. If we are out of line on anything such has come up, we’ll fix it.

Leavitt chose not to be interviewed when the Alabama job came open.

He’s involved in that recruiting business right now. Done nothing wrong, then, or now. He is working hard on about five special kids. His work, I say, not him, may have eased a tad competitively with the Florida Gators looking more out of state this year, it appears, and Florida State’s class about set for today’s initial report.
 

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Doug a Super Bowl Celeb Again

We were all pleased, I bet, when those who now run the Super Bowl on Park Avenue decided to give Tampa’s Doug Williams a key supporting role in the great spectacle the past one in Phoenix was. More people saw him on television than ever as a player, with the Buccaneers or Washington.

The Fox folks’ presentation of Doug carrying the heavy Lombardi Trophy to the podium for presentation to the champion New York Giants, through the Giants’ line so they could rub the trophy, was special.

Doug did well, as he did in the Super Bowl when he threw all those pass completions and at the press conference a couple of days before it when Doug was asked:

“How long have you been a black quarterback?”

Don’t remember what Doug said.

How could you top the question?

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Lightning the Worst of All?

It is hard to admit the Tampa Lightning just may be the worst in the National Hockey League.

Not this team of Vinny Lecavalier, of Brad Richards, of Martin St. Louis.

Not this team that only yesterday was the Stanley Cup champions — the best of all.

This team that has taught us all about this sport, for which we all built this new home on the waterfront that has been such a success and always full, or near full, of supportive fans who have learned about power plays and high sticking, and to pronounce names like, well, Ley-cav-eh-yeah!

Going to play the almost-as-bad St. Louis Blues, the Lightning, so suitably named, had won only 21 games and lost 27, second worst. Los Angeles, where the situation is worse, had lost 30.

This can’t be the team we graduated from the auditorium at the state fairgrounds to these grand digs so many envy, and so many of us humped so hard to get built. It’s a beaut, as have been so many great Lightning games and other events over the years. But, jeez, guys.

The head coach, John Tortorella, said it right. He doesn’t want to talk about next year. Win now, for the owner of the moment. The fans are the ones.

Jeez.

Lightning, well, Tampa, fans are the most patient, of which I know.

Like Tortorella said, the season isn’t over.

Ask the Giants.

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Canterbury’s Smith Earns 100th Win

Posted Feb 5, 2008 by Rick Harmon

Updated Feb 5, 2008 at 11:40 PM

TAMPA—As soon as the final buzzer sounded, Canterbury fans screamed with joy. Not over the Crusaders 67-45 Class 1A-District 11 boys basketball semifinal win against Academy at the Lakes. And not because top-seeded Canterbury earned its first regional appearance since 2001.

The screams were for Crusaders coach Dave Smith, who earned his 100th victory at Canterbury. The fans met Smith on the Citrus Park Christian floor with balloons and signs to honor him.

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Rays awaiting Aybar word

Posted Feb 5, 2008 by Marc Lancaster

Updated Feb 5, 2008 at 11:03 PM

The Rays were still trying to piece together information today on the status of infielder Willy Aybar, who is jailed in the Dominican Republic after being accused of assaulting his wife.

The team hopes to get more concrete information on Aybar’s status tomorrow. Though a prosecutor told ESPN Deportes yesterday that Aybar faced the possibility of three months in prison if convicted, there is also a chance the charges might be dropped altogether. ESPN reported Aybar’s lawyers said they expected the player’s wife to drop the charges, but that had not yet occurred as of today.

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Pasco Softball Opens Season With A Bang

Posted Feb 5, 2008 by Eddie Daniels

Updated Feb 5, 2008 at 10:01 PM

By EDDIE DANIELS
The Tampa Tribune

LAND O’ LAKES – As Pasco coach Shamalene Broner left the softball field at Sunlake Tuesday night, she wasn’t in awe.

Her team blanked the Seahawks, 13-0 in a five-inning, mercy rule shortened game. In addition to that, starting pitcher Colena Lazar pitched a no-hitter.

When asked if she was impressed with the results, she replied: “No, not really.”

“We started out flat. It was the third inning when we actually started scoring an hitting,” Broner said. “They just have to make a better adjustment when it’s a slower pitcher. You’ve got to make the adjustments and it took us a few innings to do that.”

The Pirates scored their first run in the second inning when Courtney Brandt dropped a sacrifice bunt toward third base. The roller allowed Brianne Farmer, who reached on a walk, to score from third base.

The real action took place in the third inning. With the bases loaded, Farmer knocked in Colesa Lazar from third. Colena Lazar doubled, scoring three more runs, stretching the lead to 5-0. After Colena Lazar stole third base, a wild pitch brought her in.

The following inning, Lucy Schneider yanked a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence for a two-run homer and an 8-0 lead. In all, Pasco put up five runs in the third and fourth inning and tacked on two more in the fifth.

In the winning effort, Colena Lazar recorded 12 strikeouts and walked only two batters.

PASCO 13, SUNLAKE 0
Pasco    015 52-13 7 0
Sunlake  000 00-0 0 2
W-Colena Lazar (1-0). L-Pierantoni (0-1). 2B-Colena Lazar (P); HR-Schneider (P). Records-P 1-0, S 0-1.

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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Green can’t sign with USF; may look elsewhere

Posted Feb 5, 2008 by Brett McMurphy

Updated Feb 6, 2008 at 01:52 AM

At 9:30 this morning, Palm Beach Gardens offensive lineman Justin Green planned to sign with the University of South Florida in a ceremony at his high school.

However, Green said he was told Tuesday — less than 24 hours before today’s National Signing Day — that he could not sign with USF because he was not approved by the school’s newly formed academic committee.

“It was a surprise,” said Green, a first-team Palm Beach Post all-area selection. “I might now open it up a little bit. I might look around at some other schools.”

This is the first year of USF’s academic committee, which must grant USF’s coaches approval to sign a recruit. In the past, Green could have signed with USF on signing day and then tried to improve his academics to get eligible.

Green said USF assistant Dan McCarney called him Tuesday to tell him he couldn’t sign. “I could tell [McCarney] was frustrated,” Green said.

On Thursday, the committee summoned USF coach Jim Leavitt to discuss the status of some of his recruits and shared whether the committee would deny admission of some prospects or accept them with conditions.

USF Provost Ralph Wilcox said the committee does not have the power to prohibit a coach from signing a recruit. However, a coach would be “ill-advised to do so” if the committee had denied approval.

Leavitt declined comment Monday about the committee, while several other USF coaches in other sports said they are in favor of the committee because it proactively recognizes recruits that may have trouble academically at USF.

The 6-foot-4, 365-pound Green, meanwhile, said he will reconsider offers from South Carolina and Ole Miss along with North Carolina.

“Tuesday was the first I heard about the [USF’s academic] committee,” Green said.

Green said McCarney told him if he improves his academics, he would be approved by the committee.

In other USF news: USF assistant Dan Hipsher worked with new Texas Tech coach Pat Knight and shares his thoughts with the Tribune’s Joe Henderson.

* USF baseball coach Lelo Prado continues to pick up commitments from some of the state’s top juniors. Jefferson SS/P Chad Taylor and Jesuit infielder Nick Lockwood and outfielder Jimmy Falla verbally committed to USF, the Tribune’s Adam Adkins reports.  The latest commitments already gives the Bulls five juniors, who say they will play at USF.

 

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Jones Leaning Towards FSU?

Posted Feb 5, 2008 by Nick Williams

Updated Feb 6, 2008 at 10:47 AM

In less than 24 hours, Middleton running back Carlton Jones will announce whether he will sign with Toledo or Florida State. On Sunday night, the 5-foot-11, 220 back said he wanted to wait until National Signing Day to announce his decision. He has already committed to Toledo.

During an interview today with Channel 8 sports reporter Dan Lucas, however, Jones had this message for the FSU fans.

“They’re going to be pretty happy tomorrow,” Jones said.

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The view of the foggy arch and the gateway to the west

Posted Feb 5, 2008 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Feb 5, 2008 at 11:20 PM

So it’s Tampa Bay’s first trip to St. Louis in four years - yup, that’s right, four years. As we drove to the ScottTrade Center today - I think that’s at least the third different name for the building since the team was here last - and as we look off toward the Arch, it couldn’t fully be seen. The weather here has been wacky and dismal. It was 75 degrees when I took off last night at 6 p.m. but the low tonight will drop into the 20s. There is a major weather system moving through the area that is dumping all kinds of Tampa-like rain on the region and some areas to the northwest are getting hit with snow.

What does that all mean you ask? Well, as I looked toward the famous St. Louis Arch and the gateway to the west, there was a bunch of fog blocking the view. You could see the bottom parts of the the structure, but that was about it. The top was completely blocked by the fog. Guess it wouldn’t have been a good day to go to the top, eh?

“

Bit of a surprise today to see that Andre Roy will not be in the lineup. Apparently Roy and Tortorella got into a bit of a disagreement on the bench during the Florida game on Saturday that got a little heated at times, so Roy is being benched for disciplinary reasons. Lightning coach John Tortorella has praised Roy in recent days, and even praised him this morning, for giving the team good minutes. So I don’t think this is anything that will linger or carry over for an extended time and I would garner to bet that Roy will be back in the lineup before the road trip ends Saturday in Atlanta.

With Roy out, the line combos were a bit jumbled on the bottom six:
Brad Richards-Vinny Lecavalier-Marty St. Louis
Jan Hlavac-Vinny Prospal-Michel Ouellet
Craig MacDonald-Chris Gratton-Nick Tarnasky
Mathieu Darche-Andreas Karlsson-Jason Ward (back in after being a healthy scratch on Saturday)

Johan Holmqvist is in net for the Lightning after Karri Ramo started the past two.

Nothing new on the sale front today. Word is things are still going in a positive direction and a purchase agreement could be announced by the end of the week.

FIRST INTERMISSION

The score may be 1-1 right now, but the Blues are the much better team right now. I’m not keeping track of scoring chances, but I would have to venture that St. Louis has a hefty advantage in that category in the first period even though the shots are 13-7.

Tampa Bay is having a hard time getting the puck in deep and struggling through the neutral zone. And at times, St. Louis has really controlled the puck in the Lightning zone.

Paul Ranger finished off a broken play to give Tampa Bay the 1-0 lead 6:01 into the period, but it didn’t last long as Brad Boyes answered 21 seconds later as he was left unchecked on the left wing inside the circle.

Bottom line, the Lightning are going to have to play a lot better if they want to have a chance to actually get a win in St. Louis, with the franchise has not done since the inagural season in 1992-93. Yup, it’s been that long. I was still on college at that time, and yes, that was a long time agol

SECOND INTERMISSION

A bit of a better period. Tampa Bay didn’t look like deers caugth in the headlights in that period.

St. Louis scores his 20th on a deflection on the power play, the fifth consecutive season in which he has reached the 20-goal mark. He needs 10 more to reach 30 for five consecutive seasons.

The Blues answered with a power play goal of their one which I’m still trying to figure out. Goal was announced to Keith Tkachuk but NHL.com had the goal to Eric Brewer. Either way, Brewer’s shot hit something, popped into the air and landed inside the goal with 5:58 left in the second period.

The Blues have a 1:04 of power play remaining to start the third period. And the third has not been kind to Tampa Bay. Not an ominous feeling heading into the final 20 minutes as Tampa Bay tries to win its fifth consecutive road game.

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Tarver Nonbelievers

Posted Feb 5, 2008 by Eddie Daniels

Updated Feb 5, 2008 at 04:47 PM

There are at least two boxers who believe Antonio Tarver will walk away from his April 12 fight against Clinton Woods empty handed.

The obvious guy is Woods, while the second nonbeliever is Roy Jones Jr.

In an interview with Sportinglife.com, Jones said Clinton will win the fight, which is for Woods’ IBF light heavyweight belt and Tarver’s IBO light heavyweight belt, and then he’ll take on the Sheffield, England, fighter.

‘‘Clinton should win if he applies the pressure from early on,’’ Jones said. ‘‘Tarver is essentially weak-minded and he gets nervous. He is mentally not the strongest person in boxing and this will be to Woods’ advantage.

‘‘I think Clinton will win and then he can fight me.’‘

Jones beat Woods with a sixth-round knockout in 2002 at Portland’s Rose Garden for the undisputed light heavyweight crown. At the 1:29 mark of that round, Woods’ corner threw in the towel following a vicious right from Jones.

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Plant’s James Will Sign With BCC

Posted Feb 5, 2008 by Katherine Smith

Updated Feb 5, 2008 at 03:19 PM

Plant receiver Kevin James thought he was going to be a preferred walk-on at Division I-AA Bethune-Cookman College. The paperwork the school sent him said otherwise.

James received a full scholarship offer to play at Bethune-Cookman and will join the rest of his Panthers teammates at today’s National Signing Day ceremony.

James was Plant’s third-leading receiver last season with 36 receptions for 675 yards and seven touchdowns.

Also on Wednesday, Plant girls soccer standout Chelsea Hearn will sign a letter of intent with Gardner-Webb University.

 

 

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