Their student population figures rival that of a small D-1 college. Their marching band is bigger than most of the senior classes in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties, yet their futility as a football program is one of near legendary status; and we’re not talking about a good legendary either. In the past when people have declared that ‘you mess with the bull, you get the horns’ they have certainly haven’t been referring to Bloomingdale High School Football.
All of that is changing in Valrico and if you don’t believe me, then you’ll have to find out the hard way if you’re one of the teams on their schedule thanks to Head Coach John Booth and his staff in addition to the quiet emergence of their most talented group of players ever in their 25 years of existence. Or at least that’s the buzz in Bulls Country.
Two of the most engaging members on that roster are Junior QB Cody Crouse, who originally spent the first 15 years of his life in Groveland where South Lake HS is located and Sophomore RB Kameron Faile who spent his time backing up 1,200-yd rusher Eugene Baker, a 5′-11″ 200lb Junior for the Bulls. Crouse (6-6, 180) who is entering his 3rd season as the signal-caller threw for over 1,350 yards, 14 TD’s and 8 INT’s.
Although the Bulls finished up losing four of their final five games including all three of their district opponents (Alonso, Plant and Wharton), they began the 2011 season by making school history; by simply starting out 1-0 in a comeback win against Chamberlain even though they managed less than 200 yards of total offense. Then they made history again by starting out 2-0 with a 40-6 blowout of Strawberry Crest.
They were on the verge of making heads explode throughout the county, but lost a 28-26 heart-breaker to East Bay in which they racked up over 370 yards of offense. The following week they suffered a thorough lashing by Tampa Catholic where they seemingly started from scratch with less than 175 yards total ground and air. The first half of their season ended up 3-2 and the Bulls faithful was still making some noise. Then came the the 1-4 slide and what most on the outside thought as another classic Bloomingdale season of severe underachievement.
You see, over the past 25 seasons the Bulls have compiled a 63-179 record. They’ve had three 0-10 seasons while winning only a single contest five times. Only three times have they even finished at .500. Enough with that already. If they worried about the past they wouldn’t have any idea about the limitless future that lies ahead for the 24 returning Sophomores and Juniors on this team. Like I said, that’s all changing.
“It has come down to team chemistry, but mostly it has been discipline,” says the deep voice on the other end as Crouse describes the overall changing in the culture that has taken place since Booth’s arrival. “The discipline in the classroom as well has played a major part. Everything off the field is transferable to on the field. We have a group of guys that are athletes and buying into what Coach Booth is preaching to us. It’s about the program and the team.”
The influence of Booth and his staff is something that Faile confirms as well; “We do everything together as a team. We obviously play as a team, we do things outside of school as a team. We’ve got each others’ backs.” Faile has grown up around the Bloomingdale program and has played Little League or some form of ball with players from virtually every school in East Hillsborough, so he’s noticed the difference and then some. “Coach Booth has definitely done a lot to change the program. I’ve been coming to Bloomingdale games since I was a little kid. I’ve seen the losses, and I’ve seen them struggle to win. I’ve seen it all.”
It’s one thing to grow up in and around the area, but to Crouse the decision to attend Bloomingdale coming from just outside the Orlando-Area actually came over some others that could have certainly used his services. He was coming from a program that has produced Jeff Demps and Nick Waisome along with Marcell Harris this season who is one of the top CB’s in the nation. When asked about his choice, Crouse sounded as sure and sincere with as much poise as a seasoned NFL Veteran.
“My Dad had a job that basically could have allowed us to find a home anywhere. It’s just when I met with Coach Booth and started to see what he was doing,” Crouse pauses, “Coach Booth just had something to prove. He was building a program and that what I liked. It’s what I wanted. South Lake still has a ton of talent I spent the time from I was born until I was 15 there, but what made them really good was when they had the “other” things that we have at Bloomingdale now like the commitment to team and the discipline.”
The conversation then turns to a handful of other issues that lay ahead of Bloomingdale this season such as avenging the defeats suffered at the hands of their district opponents, baseball & track and field, and the upcoming spring and 7-on-7 season.
They lost 20-14 to Alonso in which they could only muster up 57 yards of total rushing, but in the Wharton game they lit up the stat sheets for over 475 yards. Problem is they gave up 49 points to the eventual runners-up in 8A-6. The boys did talk about one other team that’s present and that of course is the current 8A State Champions Plant. A team and a philosophy that Crouse was not afraid to speak about nor embrace as his (their) own.
“Plant’s goal is to defeat teams before they even step on to the field with the chant and everything, but you’ve got to move past that. We’ve got to adjust our mentality to that way of thinking as well and that’s what we’re in the process of doing.”
Although Rome has certainly not been built in a day or even a couple of years, the process shouldn’t take much longer. In addition to Crouse and Faile, the Bulls return aforementioned Baker, WR Adam Posateri (’13) who caught 10 TD’s on 45 catches for 781 yards. They also return some studs on the defensive side of the ball, most notably the trio of DB’s starting with 2nd Team All-County Favian Cartagena (’13), Gerard Trott (’13), an accomplished sprinter just recently winning the 100m and 200m vs. Plant City this week and Alan Yearby (’14) who already is standing at 5-11, 175lbs and recorded 66 tackles. Cartagena led the Bulls with 5 INT’s as well.
Not all is crystal clear yet for the QB though. Just last week Crouse threw a no-hitter vs. Chamberlain followed by a two-hit performance vs. Alonso on Tuesday. The transition from throwing a baseball to throwing a football isn’t easy. Something Crouse learned the hard way. “My sophomore year I hurt my arm because I wasn’t really throwing a football at all during baseball season. I kept thinking that I could pick it back up with no problem. This year, I’m switching it up. I’m throwing the football on the weekends for instance.”
Faile runs track as well as Trott and has noticed the additional benefits of competing in that sport. “I’ve seen a big difference in my bursts. My 40 times have increased and my leg power is getting stronger. Running track has definitely helped me for sure.”
The final topic we discuss is the 7-on phenomena and some of the myths and truths associated with it. It was a great way to finish the conversation because both had identical messages that completely characterized the “new” attitude around the program and gave some insight or perhaps a glimpse into the development of Crouse.
“I think the 7-on-7 is good for skill positions, but it’s a total change when the pads go on. The QB doesn’t get the same kind of action he would get under the lights. A true QB has to be able to move in the pocket, make the read, then make the right throw and accurately. It’s real easy to stand out there in t-shirts and shorts, make the read and go forward down the field.” Faile echoed those sentiments. “It shows how good your athletes are, but once you put the pads on it’s a totally different deal.”
Indeed. Just like the attitude and culture around Bloomingdale High these days. A totally different deal.