FHSAA's Friday court hearing canceled

A Friday preliminary-injunction hearing in the gender-equity lawsuit against the Florida High School Athletic Association has been canceled, signaling a potential settlement.

The FHSAA's board of directors unanimously voted Wednesday to rescind an April decision to trim the schedules in all sanctioned team sports except football. That earlier decision spawned the lawsuit, which claimed it violated Title IX guidelines because football was exempted.

FHSAA executive director Roger Dearing was out of the office Thursday and not immediately available. Jacksonville-based law professor Nancy Hogshead-Makar, representing the plaintiffs, told the Times on Thursday all parties have agreed to a self-imposed deadline of July 31 to reach a settlement.

Hogshead-Makar, a swimming gold medalist at the 1984 Olympics, said her group is seeking a "declaratory judgment" that clearly would state Policy 6 (the initial FHSAA amendment to reduce schedules) violated federal gender-equity laws.

The reduced-schedule measure initially was a cost-cutting effort by the FHSAA amid the state's education budget crisis. Now that it has been rescinded, the onus of budget cuts in athletics falls more heavily on local school districts.

Hogshead-Makar warned individual districts that opt to cut contests on their own in some sports and not others could be in Title IX violation.

"We want the declaratory judgment so we can make that clear to the other school districts and schools so that we don't have to have 100 more lawsuits," Hogshead-Makar said.

When asked if she foresees further litigation at this point, Hogshead-Makar said the ball is in the FHSAA's court.

"It depends on the posture of the FHSAA; it completely depends on them," she said. "We're trying to settle the case. There's no compromise here."

Bright House announces second-half Game of the Week schedule

Bright House Sports Network announced the second half of their Tampa Bay high school football Game of the Week schedule tonight on their sports show "The Lineup."

Here's the schedule:

(All games at 7:30 p.m., All game replay Saturdays at 8:30 a.m.)
Oct. 9     Gulf @ Pasco
Oct. 15   Countryside @ Tarpon Springs
Oct. 16   Riverview @ East Bay
Oct. 22   Spoto @ Jefferson
Oct. 23  Osceola @ Lakeland
Oct. 30  Northeast @ St. Petersburg
Nov. 6    Lake Gibson @ Kathleen
Nov. 12  East Lake @ Nature Coast
Nov. 13  Tampa Catholic @ Jesuit

Click HERE for the first-half schedule that was announced Monday.

-- EDUARDO A. ENCINA

FHSAA votes to rescind shortened-schedule plan

In a brief meeting high on attendance and passionate dialogue, the Florida High School Athletic Association's board of directors voted unanimously this afternoon to rescind a previous decision to trim contest schedules in all its sanctioned sports except football.

The 15-0 vote, held before a gallery of dozens at the FHSAA headquarters in north Gainesville, came in the wake of a lawsuit filed by a gender-equity group that argued the trimmed schedules violated federal Title IX guidelines, essentially because football was excluded.

Coincidentally, a hearing on the gender-equity group's motion for preliminary injunction against the FHSAA is set for Friday in a federal courtroom in Jacksonville. On Tuesday, the United States Department of Justice filed an amicus brief on behalf of the plaintiffs against the FHSAA.

The original FHSAA decision, intended to help alleviate the state's educational budget crunch, would've trimmed varsity schedules in all sports (except football and cheerleading) by 20 percent and reduced junior varsity schedules by 40 percent.

At today's meeting, FHSAA executive director Roger Dearing said the costs of going to court over the issue would've negated any money saved by the trimmed schedules.

"I'm a native Floridian," Dearing said. "There's an old saying that says the juice is not worth the squeeze."

That reaction itself concerned Title IX attorney Nancy Hogshead-Makar, an FHSAA Hall of Fame member and Olympic swimming gold medalist representing the plaintiffs. She said she hoped the issue would serve as a "teach-able moment" to FHSAA officials, but seemed uncertain if it was.

"I'm very happy that it was a unanimous decision," said Hogshead-Makar, who briefly addressed the board before the vote. "On the other hand it does worry me in the fact that the (FHSAA) doesn't recognize how this is a violation of law."

"Nobody said, 'Oh we're sorry,' or 'We see the light now,' or 'This was a violation of gender equity.' The only thing that has made a difference for them is a lawsuit."

Addressing reporters afterward, Dearing said the FHSAA's intention all along was not to discriminate, but simply assist the state with the financial crisis, and devise a uniform cost-cutting solution so no sport would be eliminated.

With the abolition of the trimmed schedules, the onus of budget cutting now rests upon individual school districts. Hillsborough County assistant athletic director Jennifer Burchill said future athletic budget cuts in Hillsborough will rest with the superintendent.

Could losing sports be a possibility?

"I think you always have that in the back of your mind based upon what goes on with the economy and what goes on with our funding," said Burchill, who attended the meeting. "Every aspect of the economy is feeling pinches and the question is just going to be where is that pinch going to come from?"

Plant-Armwood highlights Bright House's first-half Game of the Week lineup

They are the only two football programs to bring state championships home to the bay area this decade and their paths to the Class 4A crown annually crossed in the region final. Plant and Armwood are now in different classifications, but the game has become Hillsborough County's best rivalry.

This season's Plant-Armwood game, which will be played Friday, Oct. 2 at Armwood's Lyle Flagg Field, headlines the Bright House first-half Game of the Week broadcast schedule, which was released this evening on "The Lineup."

Also included on the Bright House slate is Plant's Sept. 11 game at Hillsborough and Armwood's home game against Tampa Bay Tech on Thurs., Sept. 17. The Bright House regular season slate kicks off on Thurs., Sept. 3 with Dunedin at Largo. Bright House will also broadcast Clearwater Central Catholic's home game against Berkeley Prep on Fri., Sept. 25.

Here is the rest of Bright House's first-half Game of the Week lineup. The second half will be released on Wednesday on "The Lineup" at 6 p.m. on Bright House.

All games are at 7:30 p.m.

Fri, Aug 28: Davenport Ridge Community at Winter Haven (preseason)
Thu, Sept 3: Dunedin at Largo
Fri, Sept 4: Palmetto at Bradenton Southeast 
Fri, Sept 11: Plant at Hillsborough 
Thu, Sept 17: Tampa Bay Tech at Armwood 
Fri, Sept 18: Bradenton Southeast at Bradenton Manatee 
Fri, Sept 25: Berkeley Prep at Clearwater Central Catholic
Fri, Oct 2:  Plant at Armwood

-- EDUARDO A. ENCINA

Photo: Plant linebacker Mike Mirabella (right, tackling former Armwood running back Tavari Grant) and his Panthers teammates face Armwood on Oct. 2 in a game that will be broadcast on Bright House Sports Network/Times photo.

Football: Angel Rodriguez charged with two felony counts of burglary

Angel Rodriguez, once the starting quarterback at Tampa Bay Tech and Wiregrass Ranch, was arrested Thursday and charged with separate felony counts of burglary of an occupied dwelling. He was released a few hours later.

Authorities say Rodriguez, a juvenile at the time, attempted the burglaries just days before his 18th birthday within blocks of his home at 28950 Long Meadow Loop in Wesley Chapel.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, Rodriguez rang the doorbell then entered the home at 28331 Tall Grass Dr. in Wesley Chapel through a bedroom window. The female victim was home, but did not answer the door. She told police she witnessed Rodriguez steal a computer valued at $2,600. Police said they recovered a finger print from inside the window that matched Rodriguez, who denied entering the home, but admitted to taking the computer.

In the second attempt, Rodriguez again rang the doorbell this time at 31349 Philmar Ln. in Wesley Chapel. He gained entry through a bedroom window when no one answered. Once halfway through the window, the victim yelled causing Rodriguez to flee, according to police. Rodriguez later admitted to ringing the doorbell and opening the window, but denied entry.

The attempts occurred June 14 and June 24, the first just blocks from his home. Rodriguez turned 18 on June 27.

Rodriguez was a Times' All-Hillsborough County honorable mention selection last season. He amassed more than 1,300 total yards and accounted for 18 touchdowns. He signed a letter of intent in April to play football at Cheyney University in Pennsylvania.

"He was the best quarterback I ever coach," former Wiregrass coach Ricky Thomas said. "This is shocking to me."

-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com

Greg David named Bishop McLaughlin boys hoops coach

Bishop McLaughlin has a new boys basketball coach and, perhaps, some stability in the program.

Greg David, previously coach at Notre Dame Catholic School in Spring Hill, has been hired to lead the Hurricanes, becoming the team's third coach since the start of the calendar year.

Veteran Greg O'Connell abruptly walked off the job in January after a highly publicized encounter with some disgruntled parents. New York Mets baseball scout and retired coach Les Parker replaced him on an interim basis.

"Coach David is committed to growing our program and building strong young men of faith through their experiences on and off the basketball court," Bishop McLaughlin athletic director Eddie Kenny said in a school release.

David led Notre Dame, a program not affiliated with the Florida High School Athletic Association, to first place in its division last season. A former semi-pro player in Puerto Rico, he also coached the boys' youth basketball program at the Children's Aid Society in New York before arriving in Florida.

According to the school release, David's collegiate career "included time at the well-respected Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City where he also earned his degree."

Football: Former Armwood star Justin Cabbagestalk faces felony charge

Former Armwood star Justin Cabbagestalk was arrested Tuesday night and charged with a felony count of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief. He was released on a bond early Wednesday morning.

According to Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Debbie Carter, Cabbagestalk, 18, and three juveniles entered a home Tuesday night on Parkcrest Drive in Tampa at about 7 p.m. They gained entry through an unlocked screen porch door, then broke a kitchen window to enter the home. They exited through the front door and were observed by a witness, who called police.

"It appears as though nothing was taken," Carter said.

Cabbagestalk, a 6-foot-4, 275 pound lineman, signed a letter of intent in February to play football at Vanderbilt this fall. He becomes the second of Armwood's nine signees to face burglary charges.

In April, former teammate Angelo Hadley was charged with third-degree grand theft, grand theft of a firearm and armed burglary of a dwelling with firearm possession, all third-degree felonies. Soon afterward his scholarship to North Carolina was pulled.

Hadley has entered a plea of not guilty with his next hearing scheduled for September.

"(Vanderbilt) coach (Bobby) Johnson and the staff have been notified of the case and will withhold official comment until more facts are known," Vanderbilt spokesman Larry Leathers said Wednesday morning.

-- IZZY GOULD and JOEY KNIGHT

All-state boys basketball teams

Here are the all-state boys basketball teams for the 2008-09 season, as selected by Florida sportswriters and members of the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches. Bay area players in bold.

CLASS 6A
First team
Charles Hankerson, Coral Reef (Miami), 6-5, Jr.
John Henson, Sickles (Tampa), 6-10, Sr.
Martavious Irving, Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes), 6-2, Sr.
Khyle Marshall, Flanagan (Pembroke Pines), 6-6, Jr.
Austin Rivers, Winter Park, 6-3, So.

Second team
Martell Buie, Olympia (Orlando), 5-11, Sr.
Andy Diaz, Hialeah Miami Lakes, 6-8, Sr.
Dexter Fields, Olympia (Orlando), 6-2, Sr.
Jerron Granberry, Coral Reef (Miami), 6-5, Sr.
Tim Hardaway Jr., Palmetto (Miami), 6-5, Jr.

Third team
Bryce Clark, Ely (Pompano Beach), 6-5, Sr.
Richie Edwards, Lakeland, 6-7, Sr.
Antonio Johnson, Melbourne, 5-11, Sr.
Angel Rodriguez, Dr. Krop (Miami), 5-10, So.
Tony Watson II, Palm Beach Gardens, 6-2, Sr.

Fourth team
Julian Vasquez, Miami Senior, 6-1, Sr.
Bryan Bynes, Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes), 6-3, Sr.
Jayson Guerrier, Oviedo, 6-4, Sr.
Kevin Paxson, Jupiter, 5-11, Jr.
Shemiye McLendon, Vero Beach, 6-3, Sr.

Recruiting: Flavarsity.com releases its full preseason top 100

Flavarsity.com has released its top 100 list of statewide football recruits list. It had released 26-100 earlier this week.

Tampa Catholic senior Christian Green, right, was ranked No. 3, tops among bay area players. The 6-foot-2, 200 pound quarterback/receiver has garnered tons of interest from some of the country's top universities. This ranking will help solidify his place a blue chip prospect. Some of his offers include Florida, Florida State, Miami, Ohio State, Michigan, Tennessee and Southern California.

Hillsborough defensive back Terrance Mitchell is ranked No. 12, and Tampa Catholic lineman Chaz Green is ranked No. 18. 

Other locals selected include Blake quarterback Michael McFarland (No. 40), Leto running back Jeremy Deering (No. 44), Gulf lineman Leon Orr (No. 55), Nature Coast running back Tevin Drake (No. 67), former Armwood lineman Alton Bailey (No. 70), Tampa Bay Tech fullback Maurice Hagens (No. 73) and Hillsborough quarterback Tarean Austin (No. 74).

No Pinellas County athletes were listed.

-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com

Baseball: Three University of Tampa baseball players sign with MLB teams

Three University of Tampa players have signed with Major League Baseball teams, the school announced Monday.

Spartans pitcher Alex Koronis, who was selected in the 11th round of the MLB draft, has signed with the Tampa Bay Rays. Spartans pitcher Danny Keefe, who has appeared in two games with the Class A affiliate Boise Hawks, was a 14th round pick signing with the Chicago Cubs.

Spartans catcher Jose Jimenez was picked up in the 49th round and selected for the second consecutive year by the Los Angeles Angels.

-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com