A future with football in it at Seffner Christian?

It won’t happen this year, and it might not happen in 2009 either, but sometime down the road Seffner Christian hopes to add football. “It will happen eventually,” Crusaders athletic director Andy Holmes told the Times Wednesday. “We’re trying to expand our program.”

Right now, financing of the sport is the school’s primary hurdle because there would be significant start-up costs. Seffner Christian is still paying off its gymnasium and currently owes several hundred thousand dollars, Holmes said. “We don’t want to do it when the timing is wrong,” Holmes said. “Some of the schools that recently have started football maybe have done it too soon. We want it to be the right time.”

Fall soccer -- and its success -- is another consideration. Because the school has a small enrollment, many of its athletes compete in multiple sports. Seffner Christian plays fall soccer rather than winter soccer largely because several soccer players also play basketball. Football would compete head to head with fall soccer, and the school would prefer not to spread itself too thin.

Seffner Christian, which has produced numerous successful teams this academic year, opened in 1983. The school, now in its fifth year of Florida High School Athletic Association membership, never has fielded a football team. “A lot of our parents are constantly asking about it,” Holmes said. “We realize there is a need for it. It’s in our future.”

-- KEITH NIEBUHR

Comments

yawn.

[football parent]

We are in the Valrico area, my son is a multi sport athlete, we wish Seffner Christian was an option for us , but until they get football, we will stay in public school.......class 0f 2010

[current hawk]

My son is on the Armwood jv team.....would much rather have him at Seffner Christian.....could get more play time and also be in a great Christian atmosphere.....

[lancealot]

fall soccer is a joke.....is there even enough schools playing fall soccer to make a full schedule?

[tank1]

build it and they WILL COME !!!!!

[curious]

is caimbridge the only option for a christian education with football? does providence still have a football program? we will be making the move from a christian school that only goes thru 8th....lakeland is too far from us....are their any other options?

[interested]

Set a date and stick to it.....leave kids hanging and they will leave or never come in the first place....

[r u seriuos]

stick with fall soccer....unless you have REAL athletes you can't compete in winter soccer.....

I don't know about the "build it and they will come" comment-Canterbury built it and no one has come to them yet

if u don't have football do u really have an athletic program....football seperates the wanna be's from the real deals

Please start by spring 2009, how many athletes come to your school because of soccer? ......Announce football and see how many athletes will come....not just athletes but Christian athletes looking for a place to call home...many of which are multi sport athletes that would add to your baseball and basketball and wrestling programs...

[wishful]

Many Christian schools in the Brandon area end at 8th grade....for the kids playing youth football and want to play in high school they don't have many options....except public school....if Seffner started a program I'm pretty sure those kids would take a good look at them and so would their parents who would be willing to fund the program rather than take there kids from the Christian education and smaller teacher to student ratio...
just my opinion

cool

in response to canterbury starting a program....pinellas has choices...Northside,Keswick,Shorecrest,Calvary,CCC,StPeteCath...ect Hillsborough has Caimbridge...Tampa Catholic...????? Seffner seems to compete well in other sports I think they should take that next step ASAP,
response to football can fund the program....many of the parents who chose private schools have deep pockets..

you say parents are pushing for it....tell them to put up or shut up...start a football funding drive...set deadlines for having certain amounts collected for an 09 start...you my be surprised how they respond....I can testify parents pay outragious amounts to play youth football and will pay top dollar to outfit their kids in the most expensive gear available. Test the waters you may even raise enough to start your football program and pay off you gym as a bonus!!!

[panther parent]

When we leave BSCS we are looking at Grace, Providence, SCA, my son wants to play football, but we have to stay in the East Hillsborough area....We would be more than willing to pay our part to SCA and get our son involved in a football program.

you could get the hawks rejects...hawks rule

there are alot of kids that can't make the team at Brandon, Armwood,King, or Bloomingdale...they may not be the elite....but they can still play football and would like the chance to play high school ball

your choice is between soccer or football ? if u cant figure that out you dont need football

Northside fired a winning coach for a losing coach....he may still be available

the sooner you start, the sooner your school will grow...

if seffner had TIm L they would be 10-0!!!!!!!!!

The problem with asking the parents for the money to start the program is that they are already paying much of their disposable income to send their kids to school and just don't have any leftover to help get that going. Seffner CA needs to start a fundraiser or it will be too late

i'm sure some kids would rather play on a varsity team at seffner than a jv team at other schools

players that can't make weight on tbyfl
teams or fyfca teams and are 8th-10th
would love a school to play at....it would be up to seffner to convince them to stay once they hit 11th or 12th
if they have the ability to play elsewhere

someone have tim l call seffner!!!!

can home schoolers participate at seffner?.....there are home schoolers wishing for a place to play football in east hillsborough.....please post info if u know!!

[ftball freek]

look at indian rocks....bradenton....
calvary....caimbridge....are these schools that much bigger or better than seffner academy

don't consider football unless you have a legitimate weight lifting program in place for a year....don't start with a coach that doesn't have high school experience....money isn't the only issue....anyone can start a program...it is different to actually compete and win.....think about preparing now.....th

keep talking it up

remember casey weldon came from a christian school

is seffner 1a or 2a ? 3a?

they are 1A, seem to compete well in most sports, should already have started football since temple terrace christian closed up a year or two ago

school is 1a ..do they reallize fall soccer is dead.....schools that don't have football still play in the real soccer season (tamp prep ect) I'm sure they will make the final 4...since there are only 3 schools left playing fall soccer....is there even going to be a play-off in fall?........if you want to have any respect in soccer..make the switch to winter...even if you never get football...

is the sports program about the students?........if they want football give it to them....lay out the costs...
believe me if the students want it...the parents will respond...and it's true about fall soccer it's all but dead and gone...

I HATE THE MIND SET THAT A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL WOULD ONLY GET PLAYERS UNABLE TO PLAY ELSEWHERE! THAT'S CRAP, SEFFNER WINS IN EVERY OTHER SPORT, FOOTBALL WOULD BE NO EXCEPTION. THESE PLAYERS COULD COMPETE AND INSTEAD OF DRAWING REJECTS,THEY WOULD PULL IN SOME OF THE GREAT PLAYERS IN EAST HILLSBOROUGH. STUDENTS IN THAT PART OF THE COUNTY NEED A CHOICE. THEY COULD PUT OUT D-III D-II OE EVEN D-I PLAYERS LET ALONE NAIA OR OTHERS. CHRISTIANS ATHLETES ARE NOT SECOND RATE. CHECK OUT THE PLAYERS IN THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES IN THIS AREA. AND I AGREE WITH A EARLIER POST THAT A FOOTBALL PROGRAM WOULD BENEFIT BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, WRESTLING, TRACK & FIELD, AND MORE.
2009 IS THE TIME!FLORIDA IS FOOTBALL COUNTRY.

I don't think the school even competes in track and field or wrestling....
I do think they would draw many kids who like to multi-sport... A kid may make 1 team at public scool, but could multi sport at Seffner...I have noticed 1A Caimbridge is having a nice run in baseball with a core of football players...and a football coach. In a time when many players specialize in 1 sport, many high school coaches discourage multi sporting. A school the size of Seffner could take advantage of telling a player...hey you could be our starting quarterback, our shooting guard, and short stop...that would appeal to alot of kids! And I would like to agree with post 2:34 Christian athletes don't have to play second fiddle to anyone...neither do Christian coaches.

[ad advice]

Mr A.D. .......contact all the schools you compete with....find out the in's and out's, the plus and minuses,
the advantages and disadvatages, crunch the numbers, do students choose not to attend because you lack football....It's up to you to figue it out....don't sit on your hands while your potential players enroll elsewhere....make your case to the boosters and get this thing going.Corporate sponsership is out there if you are willing to invest some time and effort to find it.
2009 is not yet out of reach...but it is up to you Mr A.D.

parents please give the school your voice in this matter.....let them know....let the office know....not just the AD he seems powerless...let administration know....to them it's easier to do nothing ..unless they are aware of the want and need of a program....

[daplayr]

i'd come play

think small....stay small...I serve a BIG GOD...THINK BIG!!!!!

[PLAYINW6]

I think 6 man football is in that area...it's spreading through the state with small budget schools...at least it would be a start....

since hillsborough voted out middle school football years ago....it opened the door for kids to play at these small schools (that are 1st through 12 grades)....when they are in 7th or 8th grades. These kids can actully play varsity ball 6 years....that appeals to alot of athletes who don't want to wait until 10th 11th or 12th to get playing time. I'm not saying this is a way to get second rate players but to get good players who want to play early and often. Can you imagine as a coach getting a group of kids you could develop over a 6 year period..I think this school could produce some very good players and compete with others schools their size. I imagine starting a program does involve growing pains but anything worth having does..Good luck to Seffner Christian, I will gladly come and watch on friday nights...

Nathan Law,

Poem Friday Night Lights

A cold chill across your back, you ought to know what will happen next.

The lights flash on, the crowd grows dense, you lace your shoes and get one last stretch.

The tunnel awaits, people stomping their feet, it's time for Victory. It's time for a fight.

You rush onto the field with nothing but Pride. You're about to leave it all. For tonight is Friday Night!

Wow...I read this poem and it gave me the chills....almost started crying. Im a senior in high school and my team was so close to winning states but fell just short, exactly like the movie friday night lights. This really got to me...you should make more poems like this... :'(

Hector Thats awesome. just reading it gets me fired up haha, it explains game time perfectly.

Big Al this poem is gangster

Football

Team
Football
Cheerleaders
Crowd going wild
Sport

[give us a chance]

We Are Football Players

People don't play football because its fun. Ask any football player, most of them fear it, but they couldn't imagine their life without it. It's part of them, the love/hate relationship. It's what they live for. They live for the practices, cheers, long bus rides, championships, night games, countless pairs of cleats and Under Armour, water, Gatorade, and coaches they hate but appreciate. They live for the way it feels when they beat the other team, and knowing those extra sprints and laps they ran in practice were worth it. They live for the way they become a family with their team, they live for the countless songs they sing in their head while training all those painful hours. They live for the sound of their heart pulse, pounding frantically as they do sprints and updowns. They live for competition, they live for teammates, the practices, the memories, the pain, blood, and sweat. It's who they are. It's who we are. We are football players waiting to play at SCA

is seffner starting football or a poem team ha ha just kidding
sounds like you kids a passionate about getting football...let your parents and school know how you feel

[ontarget]

I love the line....they live for teamates, the practices, the memories..

thats what high school football is all about

I'm not sure where seffner is but I hope they get football for these students

[willing to give]

how can we donate to the football fund?
please get the word out....

Right now this situation is a mess,
emerging from which is test.
It's we who have thew zest,
and capabilty on our chest
and yes we're hungrier than the rest.
So do your best,
and leave to god the rest
class of 2009

[hihopes]

Crusader Pride

I walked into the locker room and sank to the floor.
The final whistle had sounded and all I want is more.

One more pass, one more play is what I long for.
But alas the time has come, for me to walk away once more.

To the coaches I have no regrets I have give my all in every game.
To the alumni I have done my best to hold high our Crusader name.

Days will come and days will go. But there is one thing I will always know.

We are the Crusaders !
We are the maroon and white!

But alas I've awaken,
and to the field I've never taken,
for football is always two years away,
and graduation is happening today!

make it real, something we can touch,
not just a promise that never ends as such.

there is still time for Crusaders in 2009!!

r u kidding?

As a parent if it stirs up these kids
to write things like this I'm 4 it!But my kids are in elem

sounds like yu have a bunch of drama queens

you mean the soccer coach is afraid of losing the players to football....let the students decide not the soccer coach...no brainer

does the administration realize the passion and emotions that come along with football? my high school experience would not have been the same without it....

caimbridge has football

and a final four baseball team

look at all the problems at northside christian

post this blog on the school website and measure the response....whats the amount when you say significant start up cost? put a dollar figure on it and see what parents are willing to do. Lakeland Christian seems to have support are you any different than them or Victory Christian?

Where would they play? The Brandon Lions field?

The lions field or armwoods off nights,
or btrandons ortbtechs off nights they have a soccer field on campus don't they? play @ 4pm if they don't have lights....plenty of options

say fotball draws 10 to 12 guys in who would have went elsewhere....i don't know what your tuition is but wouldn't that take a big chunk out of start up cost? then have a fundraiser....then whats not raised pass that cost on to the players...it's doable if you want it done....or you could stick with fall soccer and have a top 10 team, if there are still that many teams left....

i thought seffner had football?

They do...it's called Armwood High School.

wake me when it's over.....zzzzzzzzzz

do they

09 would be great. when could we know for sure?

get the word out.....i know some guys who would love to come if their parents could afford it...how much is school cost per year?

it would be nice to see a team with
real class, play by the rules, and I bet they would be winning games and district titles before long, they seem to win at other sports

any word is 09 possible?

i heard it depends on how fall soccer goes, and if the gym gets paid off, but it is a possibility

please say 09

poo poo on soccer----football in 09 baby