The lineman signs a scholarship with an NAIA school four years after arriving at Gulf as a football novice.
By STEVE LEE
Published June 29, 2004
NEW PORT RICHEY - What began as a lark has landed a scholarship for Hakija Halilic.
Gulf's two-way lineman from Bosnia has signed a partial athletic scholarship worth about $14,000 of the $18,000 cost to attend Belhaven College, an NAIA school in Jackson, Miss.
"I want to be somebody," Halilic said. "I came to America and I have this great opportunity."
Halilic, who also competed on the weightlifting team and graduated with a 3.74 grade-point average, arrived in New Port Richey with his family from Bosnia in 1997. He began playing football as a Gulf freshman and struggled through the season as a junior varsity cornerback.
"I was bad," Halilic recollected with a laugh. "I had no idea what I was doing."
Halilic, who plans to major in criminology, spent a lot of time in the weight room the summer before his sophomore season, bulked up and would up starting on the defensive line.
"I was really determined," he said, adding that he worked out even harder after a broken ankle limited him to three games as a junior.
An All-Sunshine Athletic Conference player and Times All-County first-teamer as a senior, Halilic will compete for a spot on the defensive line at the Christian liberal arts school. The Blazers are coming off a 4-7 season.
"He's an honest, sincere kid," Belhaven assistant Ray Caldwell said. "He wants that opportunity to play football."
Gulf went 5-5 last season, its best record in a decade, and the 5-foot-11, 195-pound lineman rarely came out of games. Halilic had 21 tackles, six for a loss, and 22 assists. He also had two sacks, forced three fumbles and recovered one.
And on special teams, his block of a punt for a safety helped Gulf beat River Ridge, 14-10.
"I'm going to remember that hard work," Halilic said.
"Hakija's like the mentor of the football team," Gulf coach Keith Newton said. "A lot of kids look up to him because of how hard he works. He'll put it all on the line for you."
Halilic also made All-SAC in weightlifting as a senior. He was a conference runner-up and qualified for the state tournament.
Following last season, Newton nominated Halilic for the Red Zone Player of the Year. Though he wasn't chosen, Halilic thanked his coach for the nomination.
"I was honored," Halilic said, "but I don't feel I'm special. I'm just a regular guy who does what he's supposed to."
