Jamboree kicks off season for area teams

Saturday's PPAL celebration will include the traditional parade of teams, followed by a day of football scrimmages and cheerleading routines.

By STEVE LEE

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 11, 2000

NEW PORT RICHEY -- The long journey for youth football players and cheerleaders to reach the Pasco Police Athletic League Super Bowls and Super Cheeroffs begins Saturday.

The teams and cheerleaders, divided into four age divisions and representing 10 communities, will battle this season for four divisional playoff titles. Their quests begin at 9 a.m. Saturday with the PPAL Jamboree at River Ridge's Jim Valentine Athletic Complex.

Scrimmages are scheduled throughout the day with cheerleaders honing their routines on the sidelines.

Pasco County Sheriff Lee Cannon and PPAL president Ted Mounts will address players, coaches and fans before the traditional parade of teams at 11:30 a.m.

Perhaps no one is more eager for the start of the season than New Port Richey Buccaneers announcer Donnie Britt, whose late father, Mike, helped found the league.

"The parade gives me tears in my eyes," said Britt, who along with Larry Marsh Jr. will emcee Saturday's jamboree. "You get to see all the teams come around (the track). It's electrifying. I can't wait."

As of now, the league consists of 10 teams that make up the North and South conferences.

Earlier this summer, there were discussions about adding teams in Wesley Chapel, northern Hillsborough and northern Pinellas counties, but league officials tabled expansion until a later date. "We were going to (expand), but not yet," Britt said. "Wesley Chapel hasn't really gathered up enough people and gotten together a board yet."

Pinellas and Hillsborough counties have youth football and cheerleading organizations, but Britt said inquiries have come from teams or groups wanting to be a part of PPAL.

The jamboree is a precursor to the regular season, which begins Aug. 19. The 10-game season culminates with the PPAL Super Bowls and Super Cheeroffs. This season, those final contests will be held Nov. 11 at Springstead High.

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