Pasco: News and Notes

By Times staff
Published August 30, 2007

Set your DVR ...

Don't miss this game

Sunlake at Wesley Chapel, boys golf, 3:30 p.m.

How will the Wildcats look after losing 2006 Pasco boys golfer of the year Andrew Horn to a family move? How will the Seahawks look in their first year of existence? Find out this afternoon.

Read on the blog

Here's what you had to say about what we had to say on blogs.tampabay.com/preps.

"Do not sleep on Gulf. ... With their explosive weapon, David Williams, they can go far in Pasco County. I suggest they use Williams as a slash QB and RB. He is the best player on the field; he should have the ball in his hands at all times."

Posted by: All around football expert, Aug. 29

Help wanted

Ridgewood is looking for a boys track coach, while Bishop McLaughlin is searching for head coaches in boys and girls basketball.

Today on tampabay.com

There are several big football matchups in the Tampa Bay area on Friday. Times staff writer Joey Knight thinks these games are falling a little too early on the schedule. Check out highschool.tampabay.com for these and a few other sporting events that come too early in the season.

- Listen in as our team of experts gives you the inside info on the week's most crucial matchups in our Friday Night Preview podcast.

The Scoop: news and notes

Gulf coordinator hospitalized

Not only does Gulf have to prepare for a season-opening showdown with Mitchell this week, the Bucs have had to do so without the man in charge of their defense. Coordinator Brian Wright was hospitalized Monday after suffering from dizzy spells in school. Gulf coach Jay Fulmer said he visited Wright on Monday, but there is no word on the official diagnosis. Fulmer sounded optimistic about Wright returning to the sideline in time for Friday night. "It's been a rough week," Fulmer said.

Ty's the guy

Zephyrhills sophomore Tyler Guy, above, has endured a quarterback competition for the ages, fending off an early charge from Pasco transfer D.J. Clower and a late push from junior Lance Hayes. But Bulldogs coach Tom Fisher told the Times that Guy is, well, the guy at quarterback. Hayes, meanwhile, should start at wide receiver and defensive back.

Coaches' corner

For the first time, the weekly Pasco High coaches' show will be broadcast on the Internet. The first show debuted last night. Check in every Wednesday at 7 p.m. at PascoPiratesRadio.com.

My hero

In every athlete's mind is an image of a person who has already reached the goal for which he or she strives. Periodically, we'll sit down and discuss what, exactly, makes a hero. Today, we caught up with Land O'Lakes distance runner Felix Soto.

School: Land O'Lakes

Next race: Central Invitational, Sept. 11

Class: Senior

Hero: My dad, Felix Soto Jr.

"He was actually the one that got me to start running at the age of 8.

"He got me out there and started pushing me and pushing me. He's the one that made me start running. He told me a couple of stories when he used to live in Mexico and how he would have to run a lot. It wasn't competitive because in Mexico you don't have enough money for shoes or sports. But he loved running. He always ran to work.

"My grandpa used to make him work and he would run to get there. He used to like it. He gives me everything I want, he's there for me, he supports me. If I do something wrong he doesn't get mad, he tells me how to do it right the next time."

Compiled by Times staff writers Izzy Gould and David Murphy.

Izzy Gould can be reached at izzygould@gmail.com or 727 580-5315. David Murphy can be reached at dmurphy@sptimes.com or (352) 848-1407.

[Last modified August 30, 2007, 01:20:40]