SPC's Dan Mancuso resigns

(SPC coach Dan Mancuso. Times photo - Atoyia Deans. Click to enlarge)

St. Petersburg Catholic High football coach Dan Mancuso resigned on Monday. The decision, announced by the school on Tuesday, shocked players and administrators, including Father John Serio, who said the decision was Mancuso's, not the school's.

Mike Lynch, one of Mancuso's assistants, was named interim football coach.

"I have 708 personal reasons why I am resigning," Mancuso said in a prepared statement. "The students of this school are always first, not just those that are athletes."

For more details, check out Wednesday's Times.

-- JOE SMITH

Comments

he finally stepped up to the plate

We can all get into a huge debate about Dan Mancuso and illegal practices, recruiting, etc. One thing NO ONE can ever debate is Dan's committment to kids and how successful he has been in getting kids (including SPC kids AND non-SPC kids) into colleges through football. At the end of the day THAT is all he cares about and all he will be remembered for by the families of the kids he helped.

The rest of us should be so lucky to be remembered that way.

the non SPC kids are part of the reason he is no longer coaching.

Strongly disagree... I am referring to non-SPC parents who went to Mancuso AFTER their HS eligibility was done nd asked for help because they couldn't get it from their own coaches.

Mancuso up, Jalazo on Deck & John Davis in the hole!

[louise]

St. pete HS is one of the most respected and sought after schools to get in. They have tremendous tradition dating back to 1800's which students and faculty are proud of. We not only have athletes, but academic athletes who go own and receive D1 scolarships. Tremendous family and alumni support!

If St. Pete High is so great, why do kids that make Cs and Ds in private school get honors there and 87% of the graduates end up taking remedial courses at SPC?? At least the kids at SPCHS get an education.

Is it odd that coach Mancuso would resign in the middle of the season, and also in the week before the school was to go in front of the FHSAA board. Is there more to this then what is being said. Nobody is perfect, and everybody makes mistakes in life. The only people who are really getting hurt by this, is the students who played under him. So to the students at SPC you had a great coach, so always remember him as that, and for the other schools, you will never know what it would be like to have such a coach that did so much for his players.

[MD]

It is sickening that a coach that has such a passion for helping young people trying to get to the next level has been persecuted and set up by a bunch of public school jackasses who don't give a damn what happens to their kids after they are through with them. These guys have been pissed off for years because they keep getting knocked off in the playoffs by some private school somewhere. Not because the privates are recruiting, but because these guys suck as coaches. They have just had their talent bussed to them for years so they looked alot better than they were (you know who you are - J.A.).
BTW, I am not a private school parent. Unfortunately my son went to and played for a Pinellas Co. public high school. Had I known about SPCHS and Dan Mancuso back then I would have done everything possible to get my kid there. My son was not college football material but I saw several of his teammates that were. Their coach never lifted a finger to help get those kids into college anywhere. He did however sacrifice his team's record to try to make his own kid look good for college.
Dan Mancuso has been able to place many of his seniors, and others, into schools across the country for several years now. Not because they were necessarily all-stars, but because they had a high school coach who cared. We should all be so lucky.
Thanks Dan.

[BC]

I do not know the entire story to this case but I can tell you that Coach Mancuso did evrything he possible could to help the kids at SPCHS succeed in school as well as in football. Furthermore, he did everything he could to help student athletes make it to the next level, many of which would not have gone on to college without his assistance. This is much more than could ever be said about another SPCHS coach, specifically the girls soccer coach Claire.

[SPC Alumni]

Thank god Mancuso is gone and in a few more days he will be forgotten. It is truly a shame that SPC was dragged through the mud for the benefit of a handful of athletes. If he really did care about "all" the students he wouldn't have broken the rules for a handful. Spin it however you like, he did not do it the right way and he is gone. Place the blame however you like. Blame Austin, blame the fhsaa, the fact is neither one forced Mancuso to recruit or have illegal practices. I AM alumni and a parent of a SPC athlete and it WAS getting out of hand. SPC is a great school and it can be a great athletic institution as well without all the things Mancuso brought upon us. SPC will have a team. They will have school. The flags are not a half mast. Whether Mancuso or his supporters believe it or not, life will go on. To tell you the truth, the majority involved are relieved. One of the things that always puzzled myself and other alumni was all the scholarship talk. 99% of the kids that get scholarships at SPC get academic scholarships. The handful of athletes that get athletic scholarships would have gotten them regardless of where they went to school. Now it is up to the administration to get things back to respectability. The perception of our school is not good. We have a chance to clean it up and we took one giant step yesterday! Go Barons! Heres to the future.

Maybe we should make exceptions for people who break rules, as long as they have some good intentions in life?...........Im sure Debra Lafave was a good teacher, even while she was banging that kid.
LET HER GO!
Im sure there are plenty of DUI's each week, that are committed by good people?
LET THEM GO!

As educators, these people are supposed to teach kids to do "THE RIGHT THING, THE RIGHT WAY" not cut corners, but do it the right way. That wasnt the case at SPCHS. There is no doubt that danny helped his kids once they got there, but it was part of the deal & When one felt they werent treated right they ran thier mouths. I hope your bed is comfortable.

Well now that Mancuso is gone let's see who the public school coaches go after now or maybe since they will have more time on their hands now they might get to a State Championship and maybe start coaching alittle instead of calling the FHSAA and Mr Hester running down here hiding in bushes.

MAYBE MANCUSO CAN BE THE COACH AT CAMPBELL PARK HIGH... WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE IS NO CAMPBELL PARK HIGH? ARE YOU SURE? I SEE THEM PRACTICE THERE EVERY SUMMER........ ONCE AGAIN, BLAME HESTER FOR DOING HIS JOB. DON'T BLAME THE GUY FOR PRACTICING. THAT IS THE CHURCH SENDING THE WRONG MESSAGE ISN'T IT?

Well, the next most likely is that other Catholic school. Fire Jaz,he is 100 times worse for the school and the players than Mancuso was. Time for Bob Cotter to step up.

I was really impressed to read Dixie Hollins coach Mike Morey's comments about Mancuso's resignation in this morning's article... "It just makes it tougher on their kids, especially when they're 1-4 and playing Tampa Catholic in a big game this week."

WOW!

Obviously Mancuso has broken some rules... the school has admitted it and Mancuso lost his job because of it. But let's get real... if the Dixie Hollins coach 1)knows the SPC record 2)knows who they play this week and 3)knows it is going to be a "big game"... at the same time he is in the middle of his own season trying to compete for a district championship... doesn't that sound like he is obsessed with Mancuso? I mean, if we want to be honest about Mancuso breaking the rules, let's be honest about at least some public school coaches being obsessed with Mancuso.

I also agree with the comments above about the McKenzie brothers... let's be honest about why they are no longer at SPC. If your reporter had done any kind of homework about why they are no longer at SPC, I doubt the name "McKenzie" would have been used as the lead in of the recent wrticle on SPC. They don't have the most objective point of view.

For the record, there are no bushes at Campbell Parks Field. They would get in the way of practice....... Danny thought he was immune and he was blatant. Now he is gone. Danny can pick up a few extra shifts at the pizza joint now. Gotta give it to him though. If it was him or his wife. He would have to go, because I think the a.d. position pays a little better than the coaching does.

Mckenzie for prez.

Why do you want to bash Mckenzie now. You know when he did that in the bathroom it shoud of been reported. But again you covered it up. Why?, He probably would of spoken up earlier if you pressed charges. Now that he is gone and has spoken up, you want to bring that up. How about the dad that busted mancuso in the mouth? No charges because he would of spoken up. The list goes on and on and on. Thats what comes with the territory when you promise snotty nosed teenagers things. You are in denial if you think otherwise.

71 and 51 record? They make out like he was Bear Bryant or something. With the schedules he played he should be ashamed of himself! Maybe he and his mighty offense will go back to Azalea little league and coach. Lord knows he spends enough time there.

And this is going to help Pinellas Public Schools win a Football State Championship how?

MONEY BILL, MONEY PETE, MONEY JIM, MONEY RILEY WHO ARE YOU GOING TO BLAME. YOUR MONEY FOR OUR PROBLEM. YOU KNOW WHO IAM AND I WILL NOT TELL YOU "I TOLD YOU SO" YOU JACK ASSES

Could you explain the money post? I know those are the guys that "funded" the scholarships over there but we are having a hard time following you.

not sure if i know but these guys paid for speed and sat this guys kid on the bench. money wins in small school ball check out the rest of the state.

I have been coaching in Pinellas County off and on over the past 20 years and I coached with Dan for two years.
He is a man of high integrity and he truely cares about his players and players in general. I know for a fact that he stepped up on local players and helped them find a place to play when the player's own coach would not do so.
It is a shame that a man with his conviction to help as many kids as he can find a place to play won't be in a head coaching position in htis county.
My guess is that regardless of whether or not he is a head coach he will still be willing to help kids find a place to play.
After the smoke clears on this issue I would hope that the county looks at the coaches they have hired and demands them to do all they can to go to college and play. I think this should be true for all sports, not just football.
If you aren't there for the kids, why are you doing it. One more point, I could see the ferver of the other coaches in the county as justifiable if their jobs were determined by win and loss records. AS far as I know, there aren't many coaches in this county with tenure who have with a winning record.
Maybe that should be a criteria as well. If you don't win you are out! Just a thought.
Prediction---Dan Mancuso will have an option to coach college ball somewhere if he wants it.

Sure there is more to this story, and that will come out when the time is right. For the parent who is praising that Mancuso is gone, you are most likely one of the few that threatened to go to the papers if Mancuso isn't removed. What a backstabber,,because your son sits on the bench!!! NICE!! Who is bashing McKenzie. The bashing is for the Times who can't report accurate information. Coach Moron at Dixe, shut your pie hole Mr. I have my onw illegal practices. You are such a j-hole you don't even know it!!

OmiGod 11:25 AM, are you on drugs, lucid, in need of bedrest??? Mancuso, in addition to all the dishonest,cheating and dishonorable things that are said about him, does not know enough football to qualify for the Azalea Team, much less High School. Have an option to coach in college??? You are in dreamland.

I agree, Morey is a Class A jerk!

i am sure that coach mancuso has never sat down and decided "hey what kids are on the bubble around the county that i can bring over". from what i have heard and seen the families find him and ask him what he can do for their kids, some of them just decide to play at the school. i thought the kids have a choice now of what school they want to attend. if they see they have a better chance to play in college or (from speaking to most of this counties football players i can attest they have very liitle book smarts) even getting a chance to go to college, why wouldn't they go to SPC and play. most of these D1 athletes are not very smart most cant break 900 on their SAT why take away the only chance they will have at contributing to society. that is why this county especially Saint Petersburg, has so much crime and violence, public school coaches make them that way by taking away the only thing they know how to do well. play football. please excuse the satire but it is true to a certain point.

wow 11:47, i go to seminole high and play football there, and weight lift at a local gym with coach mancuso. He is one of the greatest coaches there is to talk to about help on anything. not once did he try to recruit me, but he encouraged me to keep working hard, and if i needed help getting into college ball that i could go to him. He does have the potential to coach college ball. The only reason he might not, is because he would not like being away from his wife. Not only a good coach, but he is a man loyal to what he loves. Football, football players, and his family. Thats what he loves.

mori- what goes around comes around
great season, what is your record? I guess all your skill guys where recruited away.

It is scary to see all of the posts that say what a great guy this coach is, and how he bends over backwards for kids. I am astonished that you all can overlook BLATANT recruiting and CHEATING......just because someone is a nice guy does not mean he is ethical and moral. How can you all live with yourselfs? And how can a Catholic school overlook that as well? Yes, he is fired now, but this was not his first offense and I would NEVER send my child to a school that put winning over everything else. It is pathetic.

Funny the last post mentions ETHICAL and MORAL. Is it not the ethical and moral thing to assist others, and especially kids? Is it not ethical to do whatever is in your realm and capacity of good to impact kids in a positive fashion.

Mancuso has been tarnished by a board, not of his peers, or by the court of law, rather an agenda driven faction whose purpose was is to promote the greater whole (FHSAA). Did anyone miss the part in the Times article that mentioned SPC turned away one of the kids in question, and the other kid who did eventually enroll actually recanted his story, but his recanted story was ignored arbitrarily. The same thing happened with the NE and DIX kid who were supposedly recruited years ago. Did you know they too recanted their story, and actually admitted that they were intimidated to falsify their story?

Ethica and Moral you ask? What about the public school coaches on a vendetta driven goal of ousting one of the premier coaches in the area for the benefit of their self interests? What about the harm these public school coaches have done to the students of SPC and the affected parties thereto?

Dont come in here claiming ethics and morals, you have no ground to stand on!

I wish Pinellas County schools would look a little closer to their own schools. What/who will Morey blame now for his underperforming teams now that Danny is gone.

How about endorsing a practice of pulling kids out of class into an office, telling kids to write up a false complaint and SIGN it or they'll never play again, and turn it in as evidence of recruiting to the state and the kids parents ARE NEVER NOTIFIED. Sound familiar Jerry A? Even worse, when the FHSAA notifies SPC, it becomes SPC's problem to be the first to notify the public school kid's parents of the signed document. Then the parent signs a NOTORIZED document refuting the whole thing and the FHSAA believes the first coerced statement. Talk about kangaroo court. And this has occured at Northeast more than once!

If this is common practice it's no wonder why Pinellas County PUBLIC schools are th 9th worst large school system in the NATION. With such due dilligence perhaps Coach Jerry should be incharge of FCAT prep. Or even better, teaching the remedial classes that 67% of Pinellas County's graduates must take before being allowed into JUCO.

As the old adage states,"When you point a finger, there's three pointing back at YOU".

As for Danny, he'll be okay, he is still loved and supported by those who have always loved and supported him and at the end of the day, sadly, he'll still be way ahead of many of you Public school coaches.

ps. No CCC doesn't recruit. Many kids come from counties away just for the education, not soCCCer! And having Sonny Hester, the former AD at Jesuit in charge of investigations/compliance is laughable!!!!!!!!

Who cares, Danny is gone now lets forget about it, He will probably get a GA job somewhere. At least he finallly realized the only way to make good was to get out.

Danny Mancuso????? Never heard of him! Hey Shannon get off the blog! Besides the legend Todd St. Louis is who built that program. HAH!!!!!

People forget that the key word is "Allegedly" with regards to recruiting pertaining to SPC. Apparently the FHSAA seems to think the word "Allegedly" means "Guilty" But it is ok for a player to play in a Spring Football game that he isn't even enrolled for the school and win his appeal???? The St.Pete Times needs to get their stuff together and stop stirring the pot. Of all of the coaches in the County, they always have to contact that idiot at Dixie who can't stand Mancuso. Such childish behavior. SPC didn't FIRE Mancuso he resigned, but not because of the "ALLEGEDLY" recruiting BS, but for other reasons and those Backstabbers know who you are.

NorthEast has a kid with a 3.8 and 900 SAT scores and he gets a times scholar athelete award. What is wrong with the Times and Northeast. At least the kids who go to SPC actualy earn thier grades. Some one should check out how Northeast gets a 3.8 for a kid with a 900 SAT score and gets the times to give him an award. It does not compute. THe grades or the SAT score are wrong. I bet on the grades being a crock.

There are a lot of dirty programs in
this county.

Wow. The poster at 1:40 described Mancuso as "one of the premier coaches in the area". Hilarious. Only in comparison to the weak cast of characters coaching H.S. Football in this region could he be considered "premier". For God's sake, the sloppy play of SPC teams over the past few years is certainly not the mark of a "premier" coaching effort. You can talk all you want about "getting kids into college", but for the most part, the Mancuso college placements I've heard about are obscure at best. There have been some high profile placements, but those are not based on a H.S. coach's effort- those players are recruited, not "placed" by their H.S. coach.

j.sanders score still not available?

Dan cheated know matter how you look at it. He may have been a good guy I'm sure the Brooks guy was a good guy but they cheated. And once a cheater always a cheater. I am sure Brooks is cheating now. He is probly just covering it up better with all the money at the school. I'm sure alot of coaches have a few secrets they cant tell.

Dont hate on BIG, my dog is at DUKE for free, his junk was good enough for them

[Jack]

Should focus be on the best interests of (1) the teenage student athlete, or, is that secondary to the (2) won/lost record of high school athletic coaches?
If (1),please consider:
# Should not parents of teenage student athletes be afforded the most complete and accurate information available regarding high school options...that to define their best path ahead for ensuring success of their offspring? How better than to know all of the options to include financial aid available from private schools? Need based financial assistance is not limited to athletes. Should it be excluded from them? That would be bias in its most basic form.
# Competition provides an abundance of information for comparison puposes. Recruiting is competition for personnel and part and parcel to everyday activities in the USA. Other than high school athletics, I can think of no other activity which bans same...colleges certainly don't. Do not most parents want the best of circumstances for the success of their sons and daughters? That is their right.
# With "choice" in public schools, it would be naive (at best) to think that recruiting throughout Pinellas is not pervasive.
# Bottom line opinion: Do away with the recruiting ban. The best interests of parents and student athletes are best served by actively educating them about the various high school options available. That is to ensure that they are best situated to increase the chance of fulfilling their student athlete's aspirations and goals, whatever those may be. Doing otherwise is depriving individuals of the potential for bettering their indivdual lives.
If answer to 1st para question is (2), please consider:
# Hillsborough high schools are a similar arrangement of Public and Private (Jesuit, Tampa Catholic, Berkley, etc) facilities. I've not read of any (Public/Private) animosity there.
# While I've not done an exact analysis, Pinellas and Hillsborough seem to have enjoyed a similar level of play-off success in State-wide athletic competition. The noteable exception appears to be football.
# Perhaps energy, expended currently on spying and machiavellian plots, should be redirected inward. Objective would be to improve one's own program, making it an attractive destination for prospective high school student athletes.
# The Countryside Program is on the rise. Coach Davis' name is conspicuously absent from all of the noise. Perhaps he is busy at work, trying to narrow that football performance gap with Hillsborough.

I don't know all of the facts...doubt anyone does...including FHSAA. Opinions are forwarded for chewing on.

[Bill]

Forget about the recruiting. He practiced out of season.....blatant cheating. Maybe all the other stuff is true......but that alone shows the man's 'character'.

donut will get his from the parents this is not ccc.

Hey, so he practiced out of season. who doesnt? Northeast calls kids out of class to review film and lift, but they still pull great grades. Ya right!!! Dixie is another culprit, I live by thier school and I see them out there in the off season practicing and throwing the footballs around withh the coaches on the field but no theres nothing wrong with that. Mancuso had never said anything bad about those coaches but its just funny how Morey always has something to say about mancuso.. Hey why doesnt Morey play Spc in a bowl game neither one is going to the playoffs.

I completely agree with the opinions of 4:14. Regarding these kids that Danny gets into college, consider this:
- Not only are the colleges obscure, they are for the most part (80-90% of them) Division II or Division III schools that, get this, don't even give athletic scholarships. The only benefit that they're getting is financial aid; the same financial aid that any other kid at those same schools are getting. So this nonsense of getting kids football scholarships is 80-90% BS! Furthermore, a brief look at the success rates of these same kids will show that the vast majority of them are home after the first semester or two. Very few of them every finish college. By the way, what is Chris Davis' degree going to be in when he's done at FSU?

[louise]

SPHS is quite the contrary, the kids from private schools aren't getting their grades handed to them like in private schools. They actually have to work in IB and AP classes. 80% of our graduating classes, including caucasion,white,black, hispanic,oriental all are in a type of Nat'l Honor Society, graduating with honors and continuing to four year Universities and Colleges,Many on Athletic and/or Athletic Scolarships.
Our students aren't given good or passing grades according to whose family is the biggest contributor to the private school. This was brought to my attention from a former teacher that taught at a private school here in Pinellas County!

Ask coaches from king, blake, and tampa bay tech about about some of the things they have seen in hillsborough. bradenton is having problems now as well. once again an uninformed defender. maybe you should attend the task force hearing in tampa next month. you won't believe what you hear. it is a problem all over the state whether you believe it or not. obviously you have a lot of time on your hands with that lengthy post. take some of that time to get informed and attend the task force meeting. it will definitely be eye opening for you.

wow. another nice article today in the times. all this made up crap sure seems to be happening a lot. repeat offenses, seems to equal big time penalties. oh well, good riddance.

someone please name the kids that danndie got in school. new to the county. ned some proof and did they graduate. name the school and the kid.

ALL ARE NON-SCHOLARSHIP SCHOOLS.

The real question here is ...Is SPC going to do the right thing and "clean house"? Being in denial will get SPC nowhere but deeper in FHSAA dog-house. The Admin needs to wake up and take action before they lose the entire program.

LIST OF HIS GREAT PLAYERS IN COLLEGE PLEASE. YOU DANNY LOVERS NEED TO STEP UP. WERE NONE OF THE KIDS CATHOLIC. JUST STUDY HALL KIDS OUT OF BATHROOM. DON'T COVER UP PUT UP THE NUMBERS.

my best recollection, his last legit catholic kid was casey moore to stanford. been a little different since then.

(I completely agree with the opinions of 4:14)
You are an idiot if you think that D2 and D3 don't recruit and that there coaches don't have influnce over "financial aid". You don't have a clue.

In response to 12:26 PM... my recollection is Moore at Stanford, Davis at FSU, Ross at USC, Cromartie at Villanova, Tapp at Mississippi, Teague at UConn, Etheridge at Eastern Michigan, Lindsey at Marshall, Sanders and Harris at WVU plus a number of others to Coast Guard, Brown and a variety of other non D-1 schools that the kids probably would not have gotten into without football. I am also sure there are plenty of others I am missing. That list seems pretty strong to me. Whether or not these kids are college superstars or even get to play at these schools, you can't argue about the D1 kids listed above... all of whom got full rides at least in part becaause of Mancuso.

In response to your post, while some of those kids are "Catholic" I hope we are not trying to keep score by religion.

DII school can give out some money right. Dont they get like 36 scholarships. DIII schools cant give scholarships. But the coach has influnce getting players in. If you get in than you get finanical aid. That aid at a lot of small schools is very generous. You are sadly mistaken if you dont think that the football program gets some kids in who normally would not get in.

Donations at colleges from the alums go way up when the show up for homecoming to watch the winning football team.

They get a few in every year .

To all who have legitimate or non-legitimate opinions or information regarding the SPC mess. There is only one person to initially blame for it. That is lovable Fr. Lou. He was the principal that promoted the AD secretary to AD and put her in a no win situation. Not many people can be objective regarding the implementation of procedures and discipline to their respected spouse. I'm sure the other coaches at the school would be questioned if the school saw an influx of transfers to their particular sport. That would send up a red flag. So if the intent to promote within rather than a qualified person into that position was to save a yearly salary, then I guess they are now paying for it in fines.

If Dan has 708 personal reasons, why have that many come to light now. No matter how you sugar coat the reason, it looks really bad, especially midway throught the season. The school can say that they were shocked, but the fact remains, this is a man who loves what he does and I doubt at this point he would make that decision ALONE.

So to all you supporters, send Fr. Lou a thank you.

cormatie, got kick out ,davis from osceola with his dad. trapp is not even on the depth chart does he really have a ride, estridge from gibbs with G. teague from gibbs not on the depth ,lindsay is at a cc. he is from st pete. sanders is going no where they can,t find his sat ha. harris has committed to who. my home boys you are still ......their????

Dan was a nice guy. However, the football program at SPC has been one of the most undiscliplined & inconsistent programs around. With the talent they've had (numerous D1 players that were recruited from public schools / youth football programs in the area), SPC should have gone well into the playoffs almost every year in the past 6-7 years. They have underachieved in a big way!
Beyond their Wins & Losses, this program should be teaching more than X's & O's. It has been ALL FOOTBALL LESSONS & VERY LITTLE IN THE WAY OF "LIFE-LESSONS". For goodness sake, this is a Catholic School. The coaches should be "teachers & motivators of young men", not macho dudes that are trying to re-live their old football glory!! How much Spirituality, or lessons in "Life Principles" are being taught by these coaches?? The answer is VERY LITTLE & that's a huge wasted opportunity!!

Here is an idea for SPC...have kids play in their own games that are not enrolled at SPC and you will be fine. You will win your appeal if needed. Just ask Tarpon Springs. SPC can learn from the Spongers!!!

Etheridge is at western kentucky

Throughout this blog all I've heard is how great Danny is about helping kids get into college and how bad public school coaches are at not helping their players. Seems like CCC had a great college football recruiting year in 2006. I'm not a CCC fan by no means, but my question to someone out their is to please name a public school kid that Mancuso has helped get into college that did not transfer to SPC. I want names of players who actually graduated from the Pinellas public school system that Dan helped. All I've seen is names of kids who went to SPC, they may have started at a public school, but their diploma says SPC. Please respond, thanks.

5:41, very nicely put. But...does the administration see this? Everyone can blame the Mancuso's if they want (and rightfully so) but ALL this crap happened on somebody's administrations watch. Who was it? Who turned (and apparently is still) turning their blind's eye to this? Whoever that is is the REAL culprit here.

[Tommy T]

GO GET YOUR SHINE BOX!!

I really think the Administration is clueless as to what the coaches of the football program do or don't do. Danny's assistant coaches were the main source of the problem (obviously Danny & numerous Boosters were willing to go along with things)as long as it would translate into more victories. Many of his assistant coaches have ties to many of the youth football programs in the area & love the idea that they can have some influence or impact on Baron Football. I don't think ANY of the administration (other than Dan's wife) has their hand on the pulse of what goes on w/ the program!!I'm sure Dan, nor his assistant coaches view what they do as cheating. Newsflash for you: IT IS!!!!!

danny is a joke down town he would do anything for speed i mean anythang ask any kid from the south promise you anythang he would court you like a woman

The administrations at both the Catholic schools in this County know exactly what is going on in their respective programs. They are "one" regarding their admins. Both allow whatever it takes to put their football, biggest money maker, out front for one purpose, the almighty dollar. Shame, you are not blameless, and shame for making the little person take the hit alone.

College recruiting is soooo much more sophisticated than 10 years ago. I was recruiting coordinator @ a D2 university so I speak w/ first hand experience.
The high school coach can certainly screw up a kids chances by saying negative things about a kid, but if a kid can play @the next level - schools will find him & ask for tape. If they like him on tape, coaches from the school will either come meet him, or schedule a campus visit. The high school coach has VERY little impact - unless it's NEGATIVE & he says negative things about the kid.
The idea that Dan "WORKS SO HARD" to get kids into school is simply not true. He has VERY little impact.
Florida high schools like SPC are on all colleges radar because of Chris Davis, Mike ross, Casey Moore & all the talent that comes out of Florida. If you play at SPC, you will get a look from any college in the US that has any type of recruiting program. Danny knows this & so does every other high school coach that gets ALOT OF PLAY FOR "GETTING KIDS INTO COLLEGE". That's NOT AT ALL HOW IT WORKS!!!

Danny is a scumbag, He talked negative about my son to a d2 school because my son would not go play for him while he was in high school. The d2 program informed me of this and of course when i confronted Danny he denied it. I am glad he's gone.

So who's the next coach?

[DR]

I played for Coach Mancuso for 2 years on Varsity in 2005 and 2006, This man isn't just a coach, hes's a father figure for all the kids on his team. I know for a fact that coach mancuso never talked to the kids the paper alledges that he did. If a kid wanted to come plat SPCHS then them and their parents would go to coach mancuso. We had the best football program in teh county for how many years in a row? Yeah of course public schools are gonna get jealous and pissed because there kids want to play for a coach who gets his players into college 100% of teh time and a coach who wins and has discipline and knows what it takes to get you to the next level. To all you sorry ass coaches who have nothing to do except whine about mancuso. I wish I could slug you guys right in the face. You guys are so low, and so bad at coaching, that your mad that you guys can't get out of the first game of regionals every year, and your mad that SPCHS is in the Region Finals every year, that you have to bring a coach down for "taking your players" when thos players came to him, because you asshole are sorry ass coaches. Mancuso is and always will be remembered as one of the best coaches in P county, not only for coachin, but for actually caring about his players and getting them into college.

How about talking to jilazo over at CCC for recruiting? or do theynot count because all the public schools were concentrated on mancuso? I know a player that played at Jesuit, who jilazo brought into his office and had a jersey made for him with the kids name on the back of it, to try to get him to go to CCC, after the jesuit coach was fired. Yeah the kid went to CCC to look at the school, but I dont thuink Jilazo bringing the kidinto his office and having the kids name on the back of the jersey is very legal do u? lets get real here that shit about the mcenzie brothers straight up bull. Jermaine was caught getting oral sex in the bathroom, thats why those kids and there father left. Not because of his fathers ailment!! he didn't look to bad driving his denali on 22's to practice everyday.

I'm still waiting for someone to name a public school football player who was helped get into college by Mancuso. All you guys that have boasted so highly of that fact need to produce some names. Also thank you 9:44 am college recruiter, for educating those who know so much about the procedure. Maybe Dan needs to get a job in Hollywood editing film. That's what he seems to be good at in getting very talented athletes into college. It does make the coach look good if the players has the skills.

Is the poster right who says that D2 schools can give out some atheletic scholarships?

NCAA Division 2 is allowed 36 Full Scholarships for football.
If a kid qualifies for certain Financial Aid packages, the school can only use half of a scholarship for that kid - allowing them to give almost double the # of scholarships. Alot of schools stretch the number of scholarships by getting kids grants & academic scholarships ...etc... Division 3 DOESN'T GIVE ANY ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS. At D3 schools it's all Academic Scholships, or Family Need Scholarships, or Grants - but nothing based on a kids athletic ability. That's why D3 is such a huge step down from the competitiveness of D2 when it comes to football. D3 is on a lower level of competition than NAIA. NAIA still gives athletic scholarships 20-30 per year in football.
Anyway, when Danny says he got a kid into a D3 school - It's the kid & his parents that applied & got in. Once a kid gets to a D3 school, all students are invited out for the football team.
It's almost like a CLUB TEAM. People that say danny got kids into a D3 program simply don't have a clue!It's funny because I hear people bragging on him for that all the time...Whatever!!!!!

[angrybald54]

hi

Wow - There is clearly a lot of passion for this subject. It's a shame not a fraction as many people actually participate in the PCS blog to discuss education. It is no wonder there are students w/ 3.8 GPA's and 900 SAT scores. Our priorities are skewed!

The bottom line is who cares IF Mancuso did recruit? With school choice in effect, do you not think public school coaches "encourage" youth football players to attend specific magnet programs? The real problem is Mancuso put together a good team and those who lost to him got their feelings hurt. Now some of you want to bring Brooks into it, be real!

Once again he cheated and so did Brooks. I know very little about coaching football but I bet I can get a kid like Chris Davis and amd Largo's Dexter Mccluster in into college.

So if I was to go out and recruit great athletes like this and get them into college would that make me a nice guy and a good coach. No/// didn't think so.

It would make me a cheater. And thats what Danny and Brooks are. SPC is just lucky all they have gotten in trouble for is athletics. Because I know an administrator there that talks about alot of shady stuff that goes on and has gone on for years.

[Spencer Williams]

Best Coach i ever played for!!!!!!!
in 98' my brother and my cousins came in because they choose to Steve Williams,Eric Jelks and Derrick Jelks no recuriting took place
SPC nor Mancuso did anything wrong
Anyboby has anything they want to know email me saw12387@yahoo.com

Look it is like this:

D1 coaches will find you whereever you play.

Some 1AA programs will find you some need the coach to make contact and send film and give character references.

D2 coaches have all most no buget to recruit but have 36 full rides to give out. Coaches have to work to find out who needs the type of kid they have that year and has money. If the coach puts in the work and to get out the tape and put the kid on the radar screen their are clearly opportunities that come up that never would have otherwise.

D3 school have no scholarships and no budget to recruit. But there are some excellent academic instituations that play D3 football. A coach who puts his kid on their radar screen can get a kid into a school that he would never get into otherwise. Does not get the coach any credit for a scholarship but is very important for the kid who gets into an elite academic program and a great education.

Saying that the coach cant work the systeim for his kids is just plain ignorant.

I know nothing about the former coach at SPC in this area. But majority of parents of former kids in his program seem to think that he really went the extra mile in this regard.

The idea that Danny does all of this hard work to get kids into college is a complete joke. Ask him exactly what he does for kids.
He wouldn't even think about twisting things that way because other coaches & college recruiters know it's total BS.
Giving kids letters that are sent to the school does not qualify as "working hard" to get kids into colleges. Sending a videotape with a roster & contact info (for all the players) doesn't count either. He's been getting soooo much undeserved credit for that - it's a joke!!!! Ask any High school coach or college recruiter. The recruiters don't base their scholarship decisions on what the kids high school coach says. In the end, the kid has to look good on tape. A parent should be ashamed of themselves if they leave that up to their kid's High School coach. I'm sure danny tries to help where he can, but it's not up to him & he has very little effect on the process.
Anyway, it's part of a coaches job! What coach wouldn't try to help cooperate w/ college recruiters??? It's your flipping job!!!It's not something ANY coach should get canonized for.
WHATEVER!!!!@

SPC I HOPE THOSE HIGH PRICED ATTORNEYS WORKED WELL FOR YOU TODAY. CANT WAIT TO HERE THE OUTCOME.

SPC lost their appeal.

The kid that played football at St. pete catholic in 2005-2006 certainly learned more that football fundamentals. He learned how to use his mouth as a garbage dump. My son was recruited to come to SPC 3 years ago merely for his athletic abilities in 3 sports and was offered a free ride for 4 years and our family were not parishoners. I was completely shocked. Always thought of going public with it, but figurd SPC would end up hanging themselves which from what I understand happened today with their appeal being denied. Justice does prevail!

brooks your next stopped talking to lakewood players .what did you say you stop coaching at spc to do bs.bs. mow yards

DONUT ARE YOU PLAYING THE RIGHT KIDS AS A PARENT DOES YOUR BOSSES SON NEED TO PLAY AT ALL KEEP YOUR PROMISE.

BELIEVE ME A LOT OF COACHES CANT BE BOTHERED TO HELP KIDS GET INTO A DIVISION II OR DIVISION III SCHOOL. nOT PRESTIGIOUS ENOUGH. NO PICTURE ON NATIONAL SINGING DAY IN THE TIMES. TIMES DOESNT COVER DII SIGNINGS. NO LIST OF WHAT COLLEGE KIDS GO TO FROM EACH SCHOOL. YOU WOULD BE SURPRIZED HOW FEW MAKE AN EFFORT.

[Football Fan]

I feel sorry for the football players at SPC. Now that the appeal is over what will continue at SPC? I was quite shocked to read the Saturday’s Times to see that Mancuso was on the sidelines during Friday’s football game. What AD would allow a coach that resigned to walk the sidelines?….oh, I forgot his wife is the AD!

I would be curious to know how many players from SPC’s basketball team played at other high schools prior to coming to SPC.

all how about the two guards one from seminole and one from gibbs.

did they just transfer

Uh Oh. Is basketball next?

Hey Spencer!!! Cedric Taylor was The Jelks boys uncle. Guess who got a coaching job when the Jelks boys went over to SPC from Dixie? Thats right, Cedric Taylor. I know Cedric and we have talked about it. I know what the deal was. He would never go on record with it but he has told it all. The whole thing was a joke. Everybody knows it was going on man. Let it go. They got caught, they are done, let it go.

FYI, in regards to post 9:02am...GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT...Mancuso was NOT walking the sidelines during the game, I was there an hour before the game til' an hour after the game...he remained in the south endzone (where anyone has allowable access). And another FYI, the AD hasn't overseen the football program for quite sometime, not many are aware of that because it wasn't publicized, perhaps they figured they wouldn't give idiots like you a reason to BASH!

Thank you 10/02 1:16,,,Mancuso was not on the sidelines but in the End Zone which at least he came to watch the team play. Last I knew, Coach Mancuso resigned he wasn't fired or banned from the campus...Good God!!! On a side not for SPC's appeal as mentioned to resolve their issue, just use students that are enrolled in other schools and you will be ok, just ask Worthy Jackson and Tarpon Springs...Hmmmmmm. FHSAA...Translation>>>You SUCK...always have it out for the Private Schools...Can't get money from them unless you Fine them!!

SPC needs someone who won't thumb his nose at the FHSAA Rules. It's one thing to have Public Schools accuse you of recruiting because of jealousy, but for the FHSAA to conduct thorough investigations & come up with the same result consistently tells us that there was clearly a problem.
It's not "some type of conspiracy" by the FHSAA. It's not like everyone's out to get SPC or Dan Mancuso. It's time for those who want the best for SPC to acknowledge there was a problem & do everything in their power not to repeat it. YOU CAN'T FIX A PROBLEM UNTIL YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS ONE. Seems like many Dan Mancuso supporters still want to deny that there's a problem & want to blame the public schools, the FHSAA & everyone else.
It's time to pay very close attention to the rules so players 3 years from now aren't still paying the price for coaches who didn't think the rules applied to them. Anyway, the next SPC coach should make the SPC Football program one of class & integrity. The "Life Lessons" football can teach should be the main focus of this program. Football is just a vehicle to teach these life lessons. With hard work, discipline, and everyone pulling in the same direction The Barons can rise from all of this with dignity & hard lessons learned!! GO BARONS!!!

for the post on 10/02/2006 @2:14p.m.
More of the same garbage mouth. They must teach you to cuss in addition to illegal actions

RE: Post 10/02, 10:39
You must be one of those Non Educated Public School dropouts who can't read!!! Show us One CUSS word that is in that paragraph!! Now some Moron wants to bring Basketball into play...Let's see, hmmm yeah that's right, 3 Final 4's in a row, so SPC must be recruiting. The Kid from Gibbs....oh yeah,,he attended SPC his Freshman year prior to transferring to that Ghetto ass school called Gibbs!!!

[One who knows]

Why would Dan Mancuso be allowed to be in the south endzone? Could I? Could you? The answer is simply NO. The reason he was allowed is because his wife, the AD won't tell him to leave. One writer mentioned that she does not oversee the football program...then who does?..the assistant AD who takes orders from the AD? Come on folks we aren't blind to what is happening at SPC.

Just looked at spc's website. It has been updated with new events for football with the schedule and scores. Even after all of the updates Mancuso is still listed as head coach. You call this a Catholic school? I heard that Las Vegas now has odds - they are:

Mancuso Returns - pays 1 to 60

Last time I heard...Mancuso resigned!! He wasn't fired nor trespassed from SPC property. Good God,,,you are going to gripe because a Head Coach that resigned came to watch the team play? Get a grip on reality and leave it alone. Mancuso resigned, grant it I think it should have been done either before or after the season, but by no means should he be not allowed to watch the team play in person. It wasn't like he was on the sidelines like some idiot blogger posted.