Sports

20 questions in Pasco

By JOHN C. COTEY
Published August 31, 2007

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In 1998, 20 questions debuted in the Pasco County football special section. It was an original and later copied by thousands of newspapers across the country, newspapers that would put their own twist on our list by merely altering the numbers 5 Questions with Mr. So-and-So, 10 Burning Questions, blah, blah, blah. We have nothing to back that previous statement up, only to say this: We're the original and that's that. Now, we know what you're saying: Are you freaking crazy, dude? People have been doing this for years! But we're ignoring you, because to answer you would make this 19 questions, and that's not as cool.

So really, seriously, honestly, Ridgewood. It's all we're hearing, and we have to know: all that?

John C. Cotey: I'm going to go out on a limb here and say ... yes. By all that, I'm talking about a playoff team, a strong possibility for a district championship and the best team in Pasco County. Too much returns from a team that was pretty darned good last year. I'll stop short of predicting a state championship.

Then they should cruise, right?

I'm not saying that. Central and Land O'Lakes will give them some trouble in the district. But the Bears barely hung on last year when they had DuJuan Harris, and loaded Land O'Lakes picked off five passes and only beat Ridgewood 13-7.

The Gators are the Gators though, right? Even with the injury to John Weatherford?

Ummm ... no. The Gators will be all right, and I wouldn't even rule them out of the playoff chase. But someone has to step up. Someone we've never heard of. We'll know right out of the gate, though, considering they open with Pasco, Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills, teams with something to prove.

Pasco is on the way back though. Good things coming out of Dade City seems to be the word, right?

Right. But let's use this analogy: Instead of standing at the foot of the mountain, thumping their chests while other teams laugh and walk on by and climb the darned thing, the Pirates finally have enough rope to actually start pulling themselves back up to the top.

That's not a good analogy.

True. How about this: The Pirates will win at least one more game than the three they won last year.

A ringing endorsement for the new guy. What about the other new guys? How do you see the first-year varsity teams doing?

Academy at the Lakes will have it the worst. Jumping from six-man football to the real thing in a year? Ouch. The good news is, for every win it gets, the Times' Izzy Gould promises to get its logo tattooed on his ankle after he has the dolphins that are there now lasered off. From there, Sunlake will have it second-bad, if that's a word. It will have a few juniors to help that young crew, but I can't see them winning a game (Sunlake bulletin board, meet article. Article, meet bulletin board).

You do know they play River Ridge, which was 0-10 last year, and St. Cloud, which was outscored 140-14 its last two games, and first-year Wiregrass Ranch?

I do now. And my mind is made up. River Ridge's losing streak ends in Week 1. As for Wiregrass Ranch, it wins once, beating Sunlake.

Sheesh. You have something against Sunlake?

Nope, not at all. Just something against teal. Makes my tummy hurt.

What about green? You like green? As in Buccaneer green?

Well, if you're wondering if I think Gulf will go to the playoffs a second straight year, I'd have to say ... yes.

What??!! Are you crazy?

Well, I was really feeling Hudson, but then I talked to Jay Fulmer, who talks a much meaner game than Mark Nash. I can be persuaded to change my mind, and Fulmer convinced me that I will once I see Madison Burr step in at QB and RB David Williams carry the rock. Fulmer says about 3,500 yards passing and 35 TDs for Burr, and 1,800 and 20 for Williams.

What? That's unbelievable.

It sure is. I made it up. Via a complicated formula, I merely translated the positive words into cold, hard numbers.

Interesting. You use that with any other coaches?

Absolutely. After talking to Tom Fisher, we're convinced Zephyrhills will pass for 27 yards and rush for 38 all season ... if it can even field 11 players, that is.

Is that your yearly obligatory poke at Fisher's calm, cool demeanor? And that's funny?

Um, yeah. Sorry.

So, cheap jokes aside, the Bulldogs going to surprise again?

I'm going to guess that the loss of D.J. Clower to Pasco will hurt, though Tyler Guy (6-6, 220) might be the biggest quarterback in Pasco County history. But I will say this about Fisher - if they were to take a poll of the county's other coaches, I think he'd come out as No. 1.

Aww, how sweet. You do have a heart. Anyway, looking at the schedules, how many of these games would you skip happy hour for?

Well, happy hour is before the games, so that's not a problem for us ... how much of that was out loud?

Just enough that your editor is probably dialing your number right ... about ... now ...

Yeah, right. Anyway ... Oops, hold on ... Hello? Oh, hi! Yes. Uh-huh. What do you mean two weeks notice? Oh, that happy hour thing ... Yeah, that was just a joke. ... Uh-huh. ... Um, okay. ...Won't happen again. ... I promise.

Well, short timer, the schedule? What's the dilly, yo?

Yes, well, to be honest, I like a lot of the games this year. I like Land O'Lakes against Pasco in McHugh's debut the first week. I like Hudson at Pasco on Sept. 21 (winner goes to the playoffs; you heard it hear first).

I like Ridgewood at Gulf on Sept.28. I think Pasco at Zephyrhills on Oct. 5 has a little extra zip to it.

On Oct. 9, I love, love, love Gulf at Hudson (lots of bad blood, and at this moment I like the Bucs, but mostly because that should aggravate both coaches a little and hey, anything to help. Well, that and the fact Nash told me he thinks Fulmer is a big boogerhead, but Fulmer said he was rubber and Nash was glue ...)

Oh, shuddup already.

I'm also digging Wharton at Mitchell on Oct. 9, which sets up the Nov. 2 meeting between Mitchell and Wesley Chapel for a runnerup playoff spot (you heard it here second).

That's a lot of games ... but say I can only make one game all year.

Nov. 2, Ridgewood at Land O'Lakes. By then, the Gators will have all the kinks worked out and will be much improved. The Rams will be 8-0 (did I really just say that?). The district title will be on the line, and it's the perfect setup for a pre-game meal at Hungry Harry's.

You know what I missed most about this edition of 20 questions? No cracks about the age of the Land O'Lakes coaching staff?

Listen, the last time I did that to these 31-year veterans, John Benedetto and Al Claggett whipped out their quills and parchment paper and wrote me some nasty letters. My daughters totally dug the pony that delivered it. My wife, not so much.

That's all you got?

No, that's all you got.

John C. Cotey and the imaginary friend who asks him questions can be reached at (813) 909-4612 or by e-mail at johncotey@gmail.com or imaginaryfriend@gmail.com Okay, that last one isn't a real e-mail address.

[Last modified August 29, 2007, 13:44:59]

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