Chamberlain

By Rod Gipson
Published August 31, 2007

Multiple Choice

Chamberlain coach Billy Turner was an outstanding athlete at Auburndale High. As a prep athlete, he:

A) Went 20-0 as a starting quarterback his last two seasons

B) Averaged 16 points for the Bloodhounds basketball team that was a combined 56-0 during his junior and senior campaigns

C) Led his baseball team to a 22-2 senior season

D) Set a then-Polk County record with a four-minute, 36-second mile

E) All of the above

Answer: E. In the mid-1950s, long before he was the most-tenured coach (29 years) in the county, Turner was the standout athlete in Auburndale. He landed a scholarship to the University of Tampa, where he lettered in football, baseball and basketball.

True-False

Chamberlain starting quarterback Dontae Aycock was only 14 when he started his first game as a sophomore last year.

Answer: True. Aycock learned plenty as a part-time starter last year. He helped the Chiefs overcome a 2-5 start, win four in a row late in the season and qualify for the Class 5A playoffs. At 6 feet, almost 200 pounds, Aycock is adept at throwing over or running through defenders.

Yes or No

Will having 18 returning starters give Chamberlain an edge in the four-team district race?

Answer: Yes. In fact, Chamberlain has to be considered the overwhelming favorite in 5A-6. The Chiefs return key players at crucial positions, including all of their offensive backfield (Aycock and solid runners Kenny Allen and Deven Persaud), both receivers (including standout Fred Sykes) and their entire secondary. The Chiefs have four returners on the O-line.

Essay

Sickles coach Pat O'Brien on Chamberlain:

"Chamberlain is definitely better. I look at them as being one of the tougher teams in the district."

Turner on the Chiefs:

"I've got a lot of respect for this group of kids. Their attitude and discipline is great and they are a hard-working group. As coaches, we can't ask for more than that."

Extra Credit

Turner has led the Chiefs to the playoffs eight consecutive seasons and nine of the past 10. To extend that streak, the Chiefs will have to overcome a depth problem; Chamberlain starts the season with only 40 players. Any academic issues or injuries and the Chiefs could be affected. ...Offensively, Chamberlain will run a multi-spread option and utilize a 4-3 defense.

Rod Gipson, Times correspondent

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[Last modified August 29, 2007, 15:23:30]