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Cobras to face California team
By JOHN C. COTEY
© St. Petersburg Times, HUDSON -- One need only look at how many players Terry Voyles has helped place at obscure schools to know he is a determined sort. And if that doesn't convince you, check out Week 2 of his 2001 schedule. Hudson versus California's Northgate High. At Disney's Wide World of Sports. Getting a game against the California school is a coup for Voyles and his Cobras. Scheduled for Sept. 7, it is believed to be the school's first game against an out-of-state opponent. The game was set up by the Kaylee Scholarship Association, a 10-year-old non-profit organization that sets up national games and awards scholarships. The KSA accepts applications for its games and invites teams to various sites across the country. "It's as close to a college or pro experience as you can get," KSA sports manager Todd Hayes said. The KSA will pay for Northgate's flight and accommodations. So how did Voyles do it? The same way he finds colleges for his players -- lots of phone calls and an abundance of persistence. "I've just been kind of bugging them to keep my name in the hat," Voyles said. "I thought it would be an exciting thing for my kids to do. "I just kind of harassed them until they gave us a game." Each team that plays in a KSA game -- which Voyles said is sanctioned by the Florida High Schools Activities Association -- is given a scholarship of between $250 and $2,000. It is given to a player at the coach's discretion. Hudson also will be paid $1,000, more than it would typically take in from the gate at a home game. But Voyles said money had nothing to do with trying to get his team the game. Rather, the experience was. "The main reason was I just thought it would be a great opportunity," he said. "The kids are really pumped up about it. We've been trying to create some different opportunities for the kids. In 40 years from now, they will look back and remember this. It'll be a good memory." Voyles said he already has exchanged film with Northgate, which is located in Walnut Creek. He said he sees a team that is solid but beatable. "It's a little bit of a gamble," Voyles said. "They're a good football team. They're not better than Jefferson High School or Jesuit (two teams that beat Hudson last year). We've talked to each other, and their coach doesn't want to go all that way to get his butt kicked. He wants it to be a good experience. Same for us. "The game is going to be filmed and broadcast back to California. It's kind of like being on TV, and it's a national game. So we don't want to embarrass ourselves."
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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