Colleges

Spartans, missing coaching icon, march on

By DAVID NORRIE
Published September 6, 2005

Just three seasons removed from an NCAA Division II soccer championship, the University of Tampa shoulders the weight of returning the program to dominance.

Plus, the Spartans bear the emotional scars left behind by the untimely death of legendary coach Tom Fitzgerald , who was killed in a motorcycle accident in December.

Emotions ran high in the opener against West Florida on Aug.26, as the team took the Pepin Stadium field wearing its home jerseys.

Fitzgerald, who led Tampa to three appearances in the NCAA semifinals and 1994 national championship, wasn't far from memory. Stitched into the sleeve of each uniform was a patch that read: "Fitz."

The Spartans' roster, heavy with underclassmen, still has Fitzgerald's imprint. He spent his brief second stint with UT heavily recruiting the Tampa area, trying to rebuild the talent base.

While the younger players did not have as great an opportunity to get to know Fitz, those who worked with him daily - such as assistant coach Maurice Loregnard - found it tough to get through the moment of silence that preceded the game.

"There aren't too many words which can describe the feeling inside of most of us," Loregnard said. "He would have been right here standing on this field, I thought to myself."

Loregnard, a graduate assistant during the 2001 national title season, has been there all along, experiencing the ups and downs of the past four years.

Now serving under his fourth coach (Adrian Bush ) in as many seasons, Loregnard thinks the program's instability will be a thing of the past and that it will use Fitzgerald's spirit to serve as inspiration.

"It's going to be an emotional year," Loregnard said. "Throughout the preseason, he was in the backs of our minds. But as you start to play games, it harps on you. I think his memory will be a driving force."

Bush, a two-time All-American who was a pivotal part of Fitzgerald's 1994 national championship team at Tampa, referred to his former coach as a "father figure."

UT, picked to finish sixth in the Sunshine State Conference, is focused on rebuilding, and on winning more games than last season, when the Spartans were 6-9-1.

And like the plan his mentor set in motion last season, Bush is intent on cultivating the abundance of area high school talent.

Tampa's returnees figure to benefit from the experience they gained a year ago. Bush also has the ability to go deeper on his bench thanks to the addition of Ryan Vetzel (Alonso), Bobby Durham (Alonso), Justin Versaggi (Jesuit), Hank Malouf (Gaither) and goalkeeper Colby West , who transferred from South Florida.

The Spartans (0-1-1) play Christian Brothers in Boca Raton on Friday.

VOLLEYBALL: The Spartans wrapped up a trip to Denver on Saturday with a 3-1 victory over Lock Haven University in the Premier Challenge Tournament.

After winning twice and losing twice, UT is 6-2.

Senior Ericka Womack recorded double-digit kills in three of four matches, including 22 in a loss to Concordia College (St.Paul, Minn.) earlier Saturday. She was named to the all-tournament team.

The Spartans resume their home schedule against Northwest Missouri State on Saturday, then entertain rival Florida Southern on Sept.14 in the conference opener.

[Last modified September 6, 2005, 03:15:21]