Looks like the 4X100 team took 1st at region, all of which are football players. So including alternates that's 6 skilled players Im not expecting to participate with spring football as I the spring game is the 16th and state track meet is the 18th. Manatee has some huge holes to fill on its OL, as the only returning starter was a soph last season who was largely ineffective last season and was eventually replaced by moving a defensive starter to his position. A number of large number of JV players will be moving up, but I found them while possessing good size, to be slow as well as not displaying much in the way of over-all strength. Manatee will have a 3 year starter at the QB position, a nice mix of talent at the WR position (but the speed guys I'm not anticipating playing, due to the state track meet). Same for the RB position as the top 2 players are on that 4X100 team, but a freshman that was lighting on the JV team last season, should find plenty of opportunity to show what he can do.

On defense Manatee returns 2 3-year staters on the DL, and promising young man moving up from the JV at the nose guard position. Manatee had 2 transfers that Im expecting will play at the LB position, both missed large portions of their seasons last year due to injuries. LB play was a area of major weakness for Manatee last year. DB position should be a position of strength for Manatee, with a number of returning starters or players that saw significant playin time last season

How did the high school football season go...

Have to admit I spent most of my time chatting it up with Mark Cannon, but what I did see pretty much validated my suspicions I had about Manatee going into the game. Primarily the total lack of physicality on the part of the Manatee OL, and then the unexpected domination of a young Vanguard offence over the Manatee supposed strenght.....its defense. Manatee was missing 2 RB's and 2 WR's due to the state track meet where they will be competing to bring home a state titlle in the 4A 4X100 event.........but all in all I believe Vanguard had more to be pleased about, and Manatee has some things it should probably be concerned about heading into the 2024 season.

Green vs White Game this Friday at 6 pm. Come get your first look at the 2024 Venice Indians! We are requesting a donation of Tide Pods for admission. May 10th

The majority start this week and last through next week. I prefer jamborees because each team plays at least two teams leading to better efforts by each team. It is also more enjoyable to see how teams match up to more than one opponent.

I’m planning to make it to at least two games, one inter squad game and possibly one jamboree. I will stay local to watch Durant’s inter squad and drive to Bradenton for Ocala Vanguard @ Manatee this week. Next week there are quite a few games to choose from. That Friday night I am tempted to make it to Bishop Verot who is hosting Miami Columbus and Sarasota Riverview.

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How did the high school football season go...

Hardee just posted the 2024 football schedule on Instagram, all ten regular season games plus the preseason Kickoff Classic are listed. It's interesting to see Fort Meade back on the schedule after the coaches dropped them from the schedule last year. Hardee's coaches were having trouble finding a home opponent for week 8 but finally found one in Williston who was 11-1 last year and ranked #36 in the state in MaxPreps's final 2023 rankings, their only loss last year was to Hawthorne in the Class 1R Regional Finals. Not included on the Instagram schedule is the May 23 Spring Jamboree in Frostproof which includes five teams: DeSoto, Frostproof, Hardee, Lake Placid, and Victory Christian.

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The FHSAA in its non stop attempt to ruin the HS football, announced this week that it may end its long standing rule of not allowing players who transfer to participate in Spring football games. The proposal says Ricky Bell (FHSAA Board Member), would be big for recruiting, as it would allow players to be on the field before college recrutiers! Wondering to myself, how long berfore the FHSAA submits a proposal to allow for in game transfers? Because.......Hey its great for recruiting!

So before I end this post, thought I would add a music video from 1/4/1972 on the BBC series "Sounds of Saturday" of the the Band "Faces". The clip is time stamped to start at a rather appropriate titled song of - Losing You

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How did the high school football season go...

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Former Sarasota Sailor and USF running back Mike Ford passed away Monday. This is a very tough one for me. I went to school with both of his parents. I never coached Mike but I coached against him many times.

The first time I met Mike my flag football team scrimmaged his team in the now defunct Ringling Redskin league. He was twice the size of practically every player on my team. Of course I wanted to see his birth certificate.

Mike was nice kid and very likable. Many of the players that knew me from coaching called me Coach Mark for years even though I had not coached for some time. Mike was the last one to stop calling me that. I got a kick out of that.

I could go on and on with Mike Ford stories. Right now my heart is heavy and I’m fighting some deep sadness. We communicated last week and now he is gone.

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How did the high school football season go...