It takes a special amount of dedication and determination to bear a bullseye on your back week-in, week-out; taking everyone’s best shot. Some programs are better at it (not naming names, they know who they are) than others. If Head Coach Bob Hudson and his East Lake Eagles are going to get to the next level in bearing that burden and get to the upper echelon of Tampa Bay HSFB, then there isn’t a better time than now.

The 2011 campaign can be characterized as a series of breaks for and against them, especially in the first two games against CCC and Countryside that came down to essentially one play. Their record in those games was 1-1, but they went on a 7-game winning streak after a shaky 2-3 start. A five-game start to the season worthy of being labeled as pound-for-pound the toughest in Pinellas County and (outside of 6A-8 with Armwood, Jefferson, Hillsborough, etc.) a top 5 strength of schedule in Hillsborough and Pinellas combined.  The first half of their season went like this: vs. Clearwater Central Catholic, vs. Countryside, vs. Tarpon Springs, at Ocala Trinity Catholic (defending 2B State Champions) and at Largo. Only one of those teams didn’t make the playoffs (Tarpon Springs) while two of them went 2nd Round or deeper in the playoffs (CCC and Trinity Catholic.)

East Lake finished at 9-4 and later in the calendar year than any other Eagles Football team has in school history, even though it ended with 3rd Round gut-wrenching loss in OT to eventual State Champions Plant 28-21.  They dispatched a 9-1 Vero Beach team that carried a state ranking, as well as district rival and North Pinellas neighbors Palm Harbor University for a 2nd time in less than a month. Two games in which the final margin of victory averaged 4 points.  Things haven’t looked better.

“We knew as coaches that we had a chance , but we had a lot of growing up to do, a lot of gelling to do; because of how tough our schedule was.” said Hudson. “We got on a winning streak and the kids really started to believe in themselves.”

That’s all history though. Time to move on and cast the stare at the 2012 installment of East Lake as well as replace some invaluable pieces to the puzzle that Hudson is all too aware of at the present time. His first comments regarding the upcoming season were directed towards filling the void left behind by 27 seniors and well-known starters like RB Tyler Lane, FB Tyler Carbonelli, as well as both starting CB’s (Matthias Maynard and Blake Grimm) who were responsible for 92 tackles between the two of them.

There isn’t reason to panic yet though on the East side of Tarpon Springs; they also started 6 sophomores and a freshman, as well as return their 6-2, 205lb Quarterback Mr. Pete DiNovo who will be on everyone’s short list for best QB in Tampa Bay going into spring ball. They get the services of guys like WR Artavis Scott, OL Mason Cole, LB Brenden Goettel, DL Leo Jeter, FS/CB Devon Abraham and SS/RB/LB Weston Fordham for another two years while RB/FS George Campbell is a Class of 2015 standout.

Even though there’s a quite a foundation there, Hudson isn’t taking anything for granted nor does he sound as myopic as some of the early prognostications would have him believe.

“I’ve already started hearing this, this and that about next year                (alluding to the expectations this fall), but you know what? We’ve lost 12 starters, 3 offensive lineman, a D-1 tight end, a running back, a fullback, our starting cornerbacks AND three-quarters of our defensive line. We’ve got some kids that need to step up and play those roles and fill some shoes.”

Hudson also sounds quite confident that no one will take his team  lightly; expecting this offseason to be paramount in their development especially in the weight room and on the conditioning side of things. Not that anything was outwardly wrong with their approach last season, it’s just what Hudson expects of his players. “Football is a fast game, you’ve got to have guys that play quick and play physical. Something we have to keep getting better at.”

The Eagles have made it to the playoffs 6 out of the last 9 seasons, but their record before this year’s run was only 1-5 with their last three exits courtesy of Hillsborough County teams Tampa Bay Tech (twice) and Plant. It hasn’t stopped Hudson though from building a perennial contender coming out of Pinellas County however; something that he credits to the consistency of the coaching staff. “One of the biggest things has been the continuity on our coaching staff. I’ve been here for as long as I have and our defensive coordinator has been here since the school opened; we (and when I say we I mean players and coaches along with the support from parents and boosters) have worked very hard as a program.”

Hudson’s team has won 7, 8 and 9 games the past three seasons, and if that trend is to make it to 10 it’s going to require their best effort obviously. A 2-3 start this year won’t be the end of the world for sure, but it certainly won’t make things any easier. East Lake will start home versus CCC who is even stronger this year in only John Davis’ 2nd season for the Marauders, then will play at Countryside (coming off back-to-back undefeated seasons and one point loss to Venice in the 1st Rd), at their rival Tarpon Springs and at Ocala Trinity Catholic before getting a stacked Largo team at home in the first 5 weeks (schedule flipped from last season.) Hudson certainly prefers it this way as opposed to having a backloaded schedule.

“I’ve been a part of teams that win right out of the gate then lose the rest. I’d rather start the season like this. That’s as tough a start as anyone and I like it.” There are examples of that have taken place. The Eagles themselves went 4-0 back in ’05 when they started 4-1, then promptly went 0-3 in the district beginning with a 3-0 loss to Dunedin on their way to losing 5-straight and finishing 4-6.

Only time will tell, but if the momentum they currently possess carries over, this East Lake team won’t just bear the burden of being one of the most feared programs in the area and the expectations thrust upon them, they’ll end up being a burden for the rest of the state come playoff time. Something Pinellas County (especially in the higher classifications) hasn’t seen in quite some time. The pieces are in place, the path is clear, the time is now. The higher they soar, the thinner the air becomes. The Eagles and their faithful don’t seem to be bothered one bit by the “soaring” expectations, after all that’s what they’re supposed to do.