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Ruling makes Ross eligible for award

By SCOTT PURKS

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 31, 2000

TAMPA -- A few days after hearing he was left off the ballot and wasn't eligible to win the Guy Toph award, Gaither's Lydell Ross learned Saturday he has a chance to win it after all.

In an unprecedented move, Hillsborough County athletic director Vernon Korhn consulted with the Toph family and decided to allow county coaches and media to write or fax in their vote for Ross. "If anyone has already voted, then they can change their vote for Lydell Ross by writing to us," Korhn said. "But it must be in writing, and it must be in before the original deadline (Jan. 10). With the way everything happened, we just thought this is what needed to be done."

It was a strange turn of events during a strange week surrounding the voting for Guy Toph, given every year since 1939 to the county's best player.

The controversy started because Gaither coach Howie DeCristofaro (in his first year in the county) failed to nominate Ross -- even after Ross broke the county single-season rushing record with 2,698 yards and the career mark with 5,120.

"I had no idea who Guy Toph was and how significant the award was," DeCristofaro said Friday. "People told me the Golden Helmet award was the big one, so that's the one I nominated Lydell for.

"I would have nominated Lydell for the Guy Toph if I would have understood the significance of it."

DeCristofaro, who could not be reached for comment Saturday, nominated defensive end Kenny Huebner.

Ross said he is pleased he is getting another chance to capture the award everybody expected him to win. "I understood that coach made a mistake, and I know he didn't mean to do it," Ross said. "I'm just happy people get a chance to write in now. It's good news."

Ross' father, Melvin, said, "I feel like justice has prevailed. When I heard he wasn't going to get it, I was so mad. But today, I think my appetite is starting to come back. I'm extremely pleased."

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