Plant High (Tampa, FL) –

Where do I start? I am truly convinced that somethings can only happen at Plant and no where else. The first thing that jumped out at me was the observers and spectators. There were about 20-30 parents, students or just neighborhood people just watching practice. Kids were running around the perimeter of the field, playing with some of the equipment that was not being used at the time.  Fathers were in the stands just shooting the “ish” and talking about their sons. I guess it’s nice to leave work and hangout at Dads Stadium. I can hear Coach Garcia now (who I played and coached for at Hillsborough) with all that going on, hahahah…everybody is getting kicked out. Maybe even the players.  But here is the thing, none of what was going on off the field seem to even exist to the players and coaches. The kids were still focused and the coaches were still eye to eye with the kids. Four QBs were in the rotation with James Few out with a slight injury. Antonio Crawford could start the season as the best CB in the area. Paris Bostic is a specimen and will replace Wilder just fine. Derrick Mann is a guy that the Plant staff feels will impact their team on both sides of the ball. RB, Wesley Bullock is a quick lil sucka.  There was a lot of energy which I really feel gets those kids through these long practices. The practice was very organized and the offensive line coach over there is my new favorite. He looks like one of those guys who could take on any teams best 3 defensive linemen at once.  Plenty of question marks around the young Panthers, but they always seem to have an answer in December.