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Suspensions suspend me-first mindset of multiple Eagles

By KELLIE DIXON
Published January 18, 2007

SPRING HILL -Simply put, it was a wake-up call.

A few attitudes needed adjusting so Springstead boys coach Craig Swartout started suspending players about six games ago. It had nothing to do with their grades, and there wasn't a brawl. Little things were adding up and Swartout was tired of it.

"It was a wake-up call to the way we were acting," Swartout said. "Some of the things we were doing weren't acceptable. We're going to be a team or we're going to be nothing."

A flared temper, a quick retort to the ref or a technical foul were among the unacceptable actions. The bottom line was Swartout wanted to see his players care about the team. He didn't enjoy suspending the players, but he knew if he took away something precious - playing time - they might learn some things from the sideline.

They did. Not a single Eagle was suspended from Tuesday's 48-43 win over Pasco. And the Eagles will have a full crew at Central tonight.

The growing-up time was rough, though. A couple of players - Swartout won't say who - missed multiple games. Springstead, which went 11-1 to start the season, couldn't find a rhythm.

"After we lost one or two players, it threw the whole team out of synch," senior forward Tim Hennigan said.

The Eagles, 11-0 in Class 4A, District 8, went 4-2 during the stretch of suspensions with losses to non-district foes Lecanto and Citrus and two close wins by four points or fewer. For perspective, Springstead defeated Lecanto by 25 and Citrus (by 13) in mid December.

"All the games we lost, we just lost our emotions," Hennigan said. "We let little things get the best of us."

It took six games, but on Tuesday the Eagles had all their players back for the first time.

Sophomore guard Dante Valentine said the team had a meeting without the coaches last week. The team, which has eight seniors, talked about Springstead's goals and how the group wouldn't achieve a thing if the whole squad couldn't play together.

"(The suspensions) brought us together as a team," Valentine said. "Before we were a lot of individuals. Now we are all on one page."

The Eagles (15-3) can again rely on their depth. Swartout, who expects that to be the case for the remainder of the season, is optimistic his team has matured past the attitude problems.

"It's a lot more fun coaching when I've got everybody," Swartout said. "When we've got 10 people, we're a good basketball team."

Kellie Dixon can be reached at kdixon@sptimes.com or (352) 544-9480.

[Last modified January 17, 2007, 21:58:27]