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Hillsborough: News and notes

By Eduardo A. Encina and Keith Niebuhr, Times Staff Writers
In print: Tuesday, May 13, 2008

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'Win-win' situation for area teams

Like the athletes whose games they work, officials need practice. With that in mind, the West Coast Officials Association teamed with the NFL Referees Association, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, USA Football and the Florida High School Athletic Association to host a state clinic last weekend in Tampa. Meetings were involved, along with "practice" at local high schools.

Seven area high schools held intrasquad scrimmages at which officials were trained. At Plant, several dozen officials took part, including about a dozen from the NFL. Panthers coach Robert Weiner called it a "win-win" situation.

Meantime over at Blake, the Yellow Jackets played Tampa Catholic in what amounted to a simulated game. The first half was treated like a regulation contest. In the second half, a running clock was used. TC won 10-0.

"This is for official training," county athletic director Lanness Robinson said. "It's not to benefit the schools. Will the schools benefit? Yes. But the purpose is to give officials more training. In order to get training, you've got to have games."

When Blake football coach Sean Washington was asked if he wanted his team to have an extra scrimmage this spring against another team, he jumped at the chance. "It," Washington said, "was a great opportunity."

But …

"There were still some bad calls," he said, laughing.

Wharton latest to ink Reebok deal

The Wharton football team has agreed on a shoe and outfitting deal with Reebok, becoming the third Hillsborough County high school to sign with the athletic apparel company, Reebok's director of team sports for the state of Florida Rich Keast said Tuesday.

Hillsborough and Bloomingdale already reached agreements with Reebok, which will provide the team with practice shirts and shorts and outfit sideline staff in exchange for a team purchase of their NFL Equipment shoe line at a discounted price, Keast said. The schools also receive discounts on Reebok uniforms, which will be of the same quality as NFL uniforms, complete with form-fitting fabric with moisture-wicking technology for sweat.

At least three other bay area football teams could follow, Keast said.

"We've made a lot of local on-site meetings," Keast said. "We're receiving a lot of interest."

Reebok's foray into high school sports is a new one. Reebok is the official supplier of the NFL and is now focused on spreading its brand into the high school football ranks.

Armwood signed an exclusive Nike agreement, one of just five in the state.

Compiled by staff writers Keith Niebuhr and Eduardo A. Encina.

Two Eagles pick colleges

Two Brandon football players in the Class of 2008 have decided where they'll play in college, Eagles coach John Lima said Monday.

Quarterback Tracy Burr will attend Division II Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, Missouri. Burr was a Times' all-county honorable mention last fall.

Receiver Jeremy Tillman will walk on at Florida A&M. Tillman also was an all-county honorable mention as a senior.