Wharton’s Vaughan commits to Jacksonville State

Posted Jan 13, 2011 by Jarrett Guthrie

Updated Jan 13, 2011 at 12:35 PM

Wharton senior midfielder Fallon Vaughan has verbally committed to a scholarship offer from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, AL according to Wildcats coach Denis Vukorep.

Vaughan had originally verbally committed to Div. I Florida Atlantic in March of last year, but opted to change to Jacksonville State’s Div. I program this week.

Vaughan has five goals and three assist for the Wildcats after missing much of the early season with and ankle injury. The resurgent Wharton (10-9) team started the season 4-9, but has won six-straight including winning the Premier Division Tournament of the Sarasota Holiday Tournament in December.

Vaughan plays club soccer for Hillsborough County United. Last season Vaughan had seven goals and nine assist for Wharton earning her National Division first team honors from the Western Conference and honorable mention on the Tampa Tribune’s All-Hillsborough County team.

The Gamecocks finished the 2010 season with a 3-14-1 record.

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Raburn inks two-year deal with Tigers

Posted Jan 13, 2011 by TBO.com

Updated Jan 13, 2011 at 12:06 PM

Former Durant High standout Ryan Raburn has re-signed with the Detroit Tigers on a two-year deal.

Terms of the deal for the super utility player were not disclosed.

Raburn had a career year in 2010, setting personal highs in runs, hits, doubles and RBIs while adding a .280 average and 15 home runs.

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Middleton’s Sutton, Parker receive official offers

Posted Jan 13, 2011 by Nick Williams

Updated Jan 13, 2011 at 10:44 AM

Middleton senior linebacker/running back Tevin Sutton has received an offer from Minot State, a Division II school, while two-way lineman Matt Parker got an offer from Edward Waters, an NAIA program, former Middleton coach Jason Stokes said.

Senior defensive end Demetree Taylor is Middleton’s lone commit. The 6-foot-4, 220 lineman is verbally committed to Eastern Illinois.

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Steinbrenner’s Antigha picks Presbyterian

Posted Jan 13, 2011 by Katherine Smith

Updated Jan 13, 2011 at 10:23 AM

Steinbrenner has its first football player to earn a college scholarship.

Warriors wide receiver Tobi Antigha verbally committed to Presbyterian College in South Carolina, Steinbrenner head coach Floyd Graham said. Antigha recently returned from a visit to the college campus and came away so impressed, he made his decision.

Antigha will sign his letter of intent on Feb. 2 during a ceremony at the school.

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Olson raises his profile

Posted Jan 13, 2011 by Ira Kaufman

Updated Jan 13, 2011 at 10:26 AM

By IRA KAUFMAN

TAMPA—Former Buccaneers offensive line coach Bill Muir was fond of the expression “a rising tide lifts all boats,’’ when describing how success in the NFL tends to raise everyone’s profile.

Consider the case of Greg Olson.

A year ago, Olson was coming off a 3-13 season as Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator. He had replaced Jeff Jagodzinski just before the 2009 season opener and there was no time to burn the playbook and implement his own plan.

Olson, who had previously been an offensive coordinator in Detroit and St. Louis, wondered what impact that 3-13 debacle would have on his reputation around the league. Those concerns have been erased because Olson displayed imagination and nerve as a play-caller last fall as the Bucs improved to 10-6 behind the dynamic play of quarterback Josh Freeman.

Olson recognized early that fourth-round pick Mike Williams had rare skills as a rookie receiver, so he nurtured a budding rapport between Freeman and Williams that resulted in 11 touchdowns. Under Olson’s direction, the Bucs dabbled with the Wildcat formation to capitalize on the skills of backup quarterback Josh Johnson.

Running back Earnest Graham threw a scoring pass and left tackle Donald Penn was on the receiving end of a touchdown flip as Olson’s playbook expanded each week. As it became apparent that Freeman was emerging as a franchise quarterback at the age of 22, Olson trusted him to handle more responsibilties.

The Bucs came up just short in their playoff quest, but Olson’s stock has surged among his peers. He has been swept up in that rising tide churning in Tampa Bay.

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Where do the Bucs stand amongst the NFL elite?

Posted Jan 13, 2011 by Paul Stewart

Updated Jan 13, 2011 at 06:37 AM

It was amusing the other day to look back to September to check out Pro Football Weekly’s Power Rankings before the 2010 season began. The Bucs were down in 30th (they ended in 12th), Dallas were 4th (21st) and Pittsburgh 17th (3rd). Just goes to show what most pundits really know.

But it did get me thinking about ranking the 32 NFL teams based on where they stand on a platform for going forward. And for this I would consider ownership, franchise quarterback and then overall talent as my three areas of measurement. Because although teams can have one good year here and there, those first two categories are crucial to the long-term success of a franchise in the modern era.

The elite - Atlanta, Baltimore, New England, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh.
I really don’t think you can argue with any of these five perhaps except the inclusion of the Ravens. But Steve Biscotti is the kind of sold stay-out-the-spotlight owner that every really good team needs and they have a great coach in John Harbaugh. Atlanta has the franchise QB, the Eagles have been good every year Andy Reid has been there and the Patriots and Steelers go in without comment.

The next level - Chicago, Dallas, Green Bay, Indianapolis, New Orleans, NY Giants, NY Jets, San Diego
Now this is where it starts to get interesting. Most of these teams have their franchise passer in place although the Bears are the possible discussion point here as to their inclusion. But they won their division again and were in the Super Bowl not so long ago with Interceptorsaurus Rex at QB so they must have enough other key parts in place to be deserving of such status.

The Colts are beginning their long-expected downturn but it’s been a good ride and with Peyton at the helm, will always be there or thereabouts. And if the Chargers ever get a real coach instead of Norv, then perhaps they too can finally reach the elite status that their talent level has expected the past few seasons.

Middle of the pack - Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Tennessee
The Texans perenially under-achieve, the Titans always over-achieve. Perhaps that is a snapshot of the head coaches involved. But there are enough question marks about all four to keep them in the middle of the rankings for now.

Just above the bottom - Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, Minnesota, Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle, St.Louis, Washington
The Rams have their franchise QB in place as do the Lions but they are a long way from truly proving themselves in the NFL. And there are enough issues surrounding the Dolphins and Vikings to make a case for them dropping down from even this position. And whilst Al Davis owns the Raiders, they will never truly be a long-term force in the NFL again. Sad to say but unfortunately too true.

The cellar dwellers - Arizona, Buffalo, Carolina, Cincinnati, Denver
A recent Super Bowl team in the basement? That’s what happen when you mortgage your future to Matt Leinhart. Right now the Cardinals will take any quarterback, let alone a franchise one. The Bengals have the worst owner in the NFL, Denver have two years of Josh McDaniels’ mess to clear up and the Bills and Panthers need more than just a franchise passer to even become respectable.

And now the $64,000 question - where do the Bucs rank?
Right in the middle with a view to moving up the second tier in 2011. The solid ownership is in place (and I know that some people will disagree but I have seen how things work behind the scenes and I have no doubts at all here), we might just have ourselves a franchise quarterback (anyone think Josh Freeman isn’t the real deal?) and there is more young talent on the Tampa roster than most other places in the league.

But I do remember 1998. Everyone expected the Bucs to be a major player after their breakout 1997 season and the weight of expectation as well as the disruption caused by the new stadium put them behind the eight-ball from the start.

Things are definitely looking up in Tampa. And along with the likes of Atlanta and Detroit, there is true realistic optimism about the future. Contrastly, Dolphins and Vikings fans must wonder if they have reached the bottom of the abyss yet based on the direction they were heading at the end of the 2010 season.

You’ve been great, enjoy the Goombay Dance Band.

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Armwood’s McQuay, Jesuit’s Johnson, named to U.S. Air Force Sophomore All-American Team

Posted Jan 13, 2011 by Bill Ward

Updated Jan 13, 2011 at 02:51 PM

Armwood strong safety Leon McQuay III, a first team all-Hillsborough County selection this season by the Tampa Tribune, has been named to the U.S. Air Force 2010 Sophomore All-American Team second team defense, presented by MaxPreps.

Making the squad’s second team offense was Jesuit sophomore receiver Travis Johnson, a tall (6-4), deep-threat receiver who hauled in 36 passes for more than 612 yards and 8 TDs.

McQuay led a stingy Hawks defense in interceptions with five and had three picks against Alabama-bound Phillip Ely of Plant this fall when the Hawks blanked the Panthers 17-0. McQuay is one of several underclassmen returning for a 2011 campaign where the Hawks will be expected by many to return to the Class 4A state title game.

McQuay is a multi-sport athlete for Armwood, including in track, where he is the defending county champion in the high jump. He will likely expand his track duties to include more running events this spring, including the open 200- and 400-meter dashes and relays.

The accolades McQuay has received since the end of the season include this award from the Air Force and, earlier this month, being named the National Underclassman of the Year by Schuman’s National Underclassmen Combine (NUC). The Schuman events are among the top football camps in the country that showcases the talents of prep players for college coaches and recruiters.

 

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Video: Lightning goaltender Dwayne Roloson after 3-0 shutout against Washington

Posted Jan 13, 2011 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Jan 13, 2011 at 01:03 AM

Dwayne Roloson gave a lot of credit to his teammates in front of him tonight, and for good reason, the Lightning did a tremendous job of keeping the Capitals to the outside for most of the night, not allowing Washington to penetrate the slot area of the ice, which included on rebound chances. Just a very solid team effort, could have picked any number of guys who could have been stars of this game as all 19 guys who played had an impact of some sort in this one tonight:

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TC’s Martinez named to U.S. Air Force Freshman All-American Team

Posted Jan 13, 2011 by Bill Ward

Updated Jan 13, 2011 at 02:41 PM

Tampa Catholic freshman offensive lineman Cory Martinez, who started the season for the Crusaders at tackle, was named this week to the U.S. Air Force 2010 Freshman All-American Team first team offense, presented by MaxPreps.

The powerful 6-foot-3, 280-pound Martinez came in and made an immediate impact for TC, which lost all starters from the offensive line from the 2009 squad. Once he and that young line came together, Martinez was a big reason why the Crusaders went on a five-game win streak to earn a district runners-up spot in Class 2B play.

In making the Air Force’s Freshman All-American Team, the selectors said of Martinez “During the summer, Martinez made a name for himself on the combine trail and backed it up by earning the left tackle job at Tampa Catholic.” He is one of just three Floridians named to the squad.

Martinez is expected to play an even larger role for TC in the 2011 season as the Crusaders return rising sophomore quarterback Chivarsky Corbett and rising junior running backs Jordan Rich-Rogers and Trevor Register.

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TBT’s Maxwell sets school record for Central Arkansas

Posted Jan 12, 2011 by Bill Ward

Updated Jan 12, 2011 at 11:36 PM

It’s only the indoor season, but Tampa Bay Tech product Tanesha Maxwell is already making an impact for the University of Central Arkansas women’s track team.

Maxwell, just a freshman for the Sugar Bears, started her career off by breaking the school record in the 55-meter dash with a time of 7.31 seconds at the Arkansas State University Kickoff Classic in Jonesboro, Ark. That effort gave Maxwell ninth place in the finals of the event.

Maxwell’s performance was one of four school records eclipsed by the Central Arkansas women’s team at the meet.

A first team all-Hillsborough County selection in 2010 by the Tampa Tribune, the meet in Arkansas shows Maxwell has fully recovered from the serious hamstring injury she suffered at last season’s qualifying round of the 100-meter dash at them Class 4A-District 7 championships.

Until last spring, Maxwell had been a state finalist in the 100 since her freshman season. 

Maxwell and her Central Arkansas teammates return to action Jan. 22, when they will compete at the ASU Invitational.

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