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His hits speak loudest
By JAMAL THALJI
© St. Petersburg Times, DADE CITY -- Name: Garion Pope. Nickname: "Red." Team: Pasco. Position: linebacker, end, defensive back, wherever he's needed. Height: 6-foot. Weight: 160-pounds. Likes: winning, hitting. Dislikes: losing. Any other comments? "Win. I play to win," he said. "I love to win." Well, that about sums up Pope. He doesn't say too much (yes, he's a Pirate; that's not a typo.) He's just shy, his coach said. He doesn't like to brag, or talk, or barely utter a whisper about himself, or any other subject. On those rare occasions when he does speak, don't expect to hear more than four or five words at a time. But there's more to be written about Pope, even if he won't say why himself. For there is no higher compliment at Pasco High than this: "He's a Darren Hambrick-type player," Pirates coach Ricky Thomas said. "He's the kind of guy who will take your head off." Darren Hambrick? The all-everything linebacker who helped lead the Pirates to the Class 3A state championship in 1992? Hambrick, the man-boy in high school who now plays for the Dallas Cowboys? How can Pope, a thin, wiry senior, possibly compare? "He's just the heart and soul of our defense," Thomas said. "He's been overlooked somewhat because he's very quiet. He doesn't talk too much. But on the field he's everywhere making plays. "He attacks the football. He plays with reckless abandon. Without question, he's probably the most reckless kid I've had since I've been at Pasco High School." These days, the Pirates need every bit of that reckless abandon from Pope on the field. Injuries have decimated the team, as it attempts to heal in time for Class 3A, District 7 showdowns with Wesley Chapel on Oct. 18 and Zephyrhills on Oct. 26. Until then, Pasco is doing its best to survive this midseason. That means escaping with a 14-12 district win against Gulf last week, taking on a talented South Sumter team on the road tonight, and then tangling with district foe Hudson next week. So Pope will be counted on to play a pivotal role. But he's also headstrong, and his value to the team was sorely tested when he was suspended for the Gulf game for breaking unspecified team rules. "We missed him a lot against Gulf," Thomas said. "Getting him back this week and keeping him through the stretch is very important to this football team. He brings aggression, he brings athletic ability, he brings a lot of playmaking ability, he brings reckless, relentless desire." Thomas said it's geographical. "He was raised in Lacoochee," the coach said. "Just like Darren and Troy (Hambrick) and Mudcat Grant, to name a few (athletic greats). They had a different kind of attitude, and he's no exception." But to compare him to Darren Hambrick? "That's absolutely right," Thomas said. "This kid is in the same mold." He leads the team with 38 total tackles and has two sacks this season. The team uses him wherever he's needed, in the defensive backfield, at the line, or in the middle. "We move him around a lot, we try to put him in a position where we need a big play," Thomas said. "When we need a sack, a quarterback pressure or a hole plugged up, this is the man to do it, no question." All Pope will admit to is that he likes throwing himself into the path of the ball, wherever it may be. His favorite time to be on the field: kickoffs. "I like to head full speed downfield," Pope said. "I'll hit anybody."
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