Presenting: the preseason. Bishop McLaughlin.

By IZZY GOULD, Times Staff Writer
Published August 26, 2007

Every day leading up to football season, we'll drop by each school in Hernando and Pasco counties to take a look at a team's preparations for the fall. Log on to the Times' high school sports blog at blogs.tampabay.com/preps for updates on North Suncoast sports.

The setting: The main football field on campus surrounded by a track, a fence, some metal bleachers and newly installed lights for varsity night games. This facility, where they will host home football games on Friday nights, is a work in progress.

The date: Thursday

The time: 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The weather: Does the weather ever change? It was hot. Really hot. The type of hot that chokes you before you can start your car.

The atmosphere: The day before a game is always one of anticipation. The Hurricanes were in full walkthrough, intently listening to first-year coach Marty Williams. The loss of 11 seniors from last year's team seems to have taken little from these guys in terms of hope. The 20-plus kids take a knee around Williams, and you can see they believe.

The routine: This walkthrough had everything from warmup sprints, to position drills, to walkthroughs of the offensive script. The Hurricanes were preparing for Sunlake (a preseason game it lost 20-0), a first-year program that dipped into Land O'Lakes to alleviate overcrowding. Bishop McLaughlin has not such problem with barely enough players to hold a scrimmage.

Preseason star: One of four seniors, lineman Paul Padillia, is the clear leader of the team, due to his noticeable size difference - he's bigger than the others - and the way he talks. He's polite and confident, and his New York accent is so thick that when you talk to him, you start to wonder if there's an authentic NYC pizza joint in the mess hall. All kidding aside, Padillia should dictate the swagger of the Hurricanes with his tackling ability and blocking skills.

Preseason surprise: Junior quarterback Jeff Pope has been moved from the backfield and placed behind center to help run the Wishbone. Williams' take so far: "He's been simply outstanding."

Dreaded drill: Gassers. The Hurricanes sprint from sideline to sideline at full speed, timed the entire way. And when they're through, they're spent. Who wouldn't be after running full speed in 90-plus degree heat?

Three things we thought

1. Williams should be a good fit. The first-year coach has been with the Hurricanes as an assistant under former coach Jim Ceccarelli. He knows the players, he knows the school, and he looks and sounds the part of a promising football coach.

2. The lights are pretty sweet. They're up, but they have yet to be used. Flags still stand, planted in the grass, so installers can position the lights to beam on the field and not the track. They'll light them up for real Sept. 7 for a home game against Lakeland Santa Fe.

3. Bishop McLaughlin needs a 10th game. Williams said Thursday that adding Academy at the Lakes to the schedule after losing a game with Tampa Baptist is a decision left to the Hurricanes' four seniors. Williams basically said he'd do whatever the boys want to do. They're expected to make a decision and present it to Williams on Monday. 

[Last modified August 25, 2007, 23:28:46]