Hillsborough: News and notes

When Billy met Earl

Legendary football coaches Billy Turner Chamberlain, top, and Earl Garcia (Hillsborough) share a history, with Turner hiring Garcia as Terriers defensive coordinator in 1977. As the coaches prepare to face each other Friday, the Times offers a memory each day:

Garcia laughs as he recalled Turner "firing me three times my first game." Garcia, then 26, was tabbed as defensive coordinator 10 days before the top-ranked Terriers played a highly touted King team with 13,000 fans in the stands. King didn't attempt a forward pass, but rushed for 500-plus yards in a 33-29 win.

"Billy fired me after the first quarter, the half and the third quarter," Garcia said. "I went back to the locker room at 1:30 a.m. to turn in my keys and Billy said, 'What are you doing?' I said, 'You fired me three times.' Billy went, 'Get the heck out of here and we'll see you in the morning.' "

Panther picks college

One trip to Georgia Southern and David Bergin was sold. After visiting the school last weekend, the Plant pitcher committed to the Eagles over Central Florida and LSU.

"It's a great school," Bergin said. "I love the kids, love the baseball team, love the coaches, and it's a great atmosphere. It wasn't a difficult choice. Once I saw the campus and the baseball field, it was pretty much a done deal."

The 6-foot-2, 235-pound right-hander went 5-2 last season and is 12-2 overall at Plant. He generally throws fastballs (low 90s), curves and changeups. Bergin carries a 3.6 GPA and hopes to major in architectural engineering.

Nip and tuck

If he hasn't already, Durant coach Mike Gottman might want to invest in a bottle of Maalox. In Week 1, his team lost to Plant City by one. In Week 2, the Cougars needed a 24-yard Evan Kelly field goal with one second left to beat East Bay by three.

"It's been tense," Gottman said.

Good thing Durant has Kelly. The senior is 3-of-4 on field goals, including kicks of 37, 42 and, of course, last week's winner.

Alumni tracker

UT volleyball standout Erin Clark (King) was named Sunshine State Conference offensive player of the week after leading the second-ranked Spartans to three victories at the South Region Crossover. Clark posted double-digit kills in matches against Albany State (11) and previously unbeaten West Florida (16).

Did you know?

The Plant girls cross country team has advanced to the state meet 19 consecutive seasons.

Numbers game

4 10-win seasons for the Hillsborough football program this decade(2000, '03, '04, '05)

Statitude

All-time state championship leaders in volleyball:

18: Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons

15: Tampa Prep

12: Berkeley Prep

8: Boca Raton Olympic Heights

6: Miami Sunset

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com or (813) 310-9024. Keith Niebuhr can be reached at kniebuhr@sptimes.com or at (813) 226-3458.

[Last modified September 11, 2007, 22:33:01]