As much of Plant City knows, there weren’t many things late Plant City Dolphins president Buddy Bennett loved more than football. Until his death, Bennett remained as involved with the program as ever and was planning ahead for the upcoming Tri-County Youth Football and Cheerleading Conference season.
So, to honor the man’s memory, what could be better than holding a day full of football?
That’s what the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World will get Saturday, August 1, as the Dolphins have joined forces with the East Bay Buccaneers for a pre-season fundraiser.
“A fun day, something he definitely would have enjoyed,” Ericka Bennett Winslow, one of Bennett’s daughters, says. “The games between East Bay and Plant City are always the best games we have all season.”
Winslow, who serves on the Dolphins’ board of directors, says that this idea has been floated around since March, and all plans were finalized Wednesday, July 15. Also of note is the fact that this wasn’t originally the Dolphins’ idea: the spark came from the Bucs, long one of the Dolphins’ biggest rivals.
FRIENDLY RIVALS
Longtime Dolphins fans and players know, during football season, no games compare to those Plant City-East Bay matchups. Those are the games that are often decided in crunch time, the games where players and fans from both sides give it 110%. But it doesn’t mean there’s been a lack of respect between the two sides.
“The Bucs and Dolphins are friends off the field and enemies on the field, but as soon as the game’s over, we’re right back to being friends,” East Bay Bucs football trustee Jason Hillman says.
In fact, before Bennett’s death, the Bucs organization stepped up to help the family get through the difficult time.
“They’ve been a very good organization,” Winslow says. “They’ve just been very good about being there and helping us out with anything football-related. They said if we didn’t have enough people to be there, they’d help us out. They had several people come spend time with Dad on a regular basis. They had somebody from East Bay come to visit or call Dad every day for the last week or so of his life. They were willing to provide whatever we needed.”
In March, shortly after Bennett’s funeral, the Bucs again reached out to Bennett’s family and the Dolphins to offer some more help.
It wasn’t like the other calls.
“A few board members and coaches contacted me and a couple of our board members, saying they wanted to do something, raise money for the Dolphins and have a good time,” Winslow says. “All to honor Buddy.”
That’s how the Buddy Bowl was born.
Now that the planning stages have been finished, the Dolphins and Bucs are ready to put on a show that the area won’t soon forget.
BIG DAY OUT
All five teams in each organization are set to play each other throughout the day, beginning with the Mighty Mites’ game at noon. The hope is for the junior varsity and varsity squads to be able to play under the lights at Buddy Bennett Field, in the Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex, so the two organizations have planned a day jam-packed with fun activities and what should be a slate of great games to watch.
The fundraiser, which will cost $3 for admission, will include bounce houses, face-painting and other things for kids to do while they’re there, and there will also be a raffle featuring prizes from some of the TCYFCC teams. All teams in the conference will be in attendance.
“A few teams will contribute stuff and make sure they have people here to represent their organizations,” Winslow says.
Each team will be raffling a basket with its own unique theme, such as restaurants or fishing. Those in attendance can also win a fishing charter, a Yeti cooler and a 50-inch television. The cost for raffle tickets will vary based on what prizes people choose to go for.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the Buddy Bennett fund.
The games will likely be the highlight of the day and should be competitive — that’s what Bennett would have loved to see. As an exhibition, these games won’t count toward the Dolphins’ or Bucs’ TCYFCC record, since the regular season usually starts in the fall.
“It’s not all about who’s gonna win, just for the kids to go have a good time,” Winslow says.
On top of everything else, all parties want to make sure Bennett would be proud of everything that transpires that day, from the on-field product to making sure every guest goes home happy.
“I’ve been with the Bucs about 10 years, and I’ve known Buddy for about that long,” Hillman says. “What Buddy meant to people, whether he wore teal and green or regular clothes, is that he was genuinely a great guy. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it, and you don’t see that much anymore … I’m just looking forward to a great time and remembering Buddy for the gentleman he was.“
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
IF YOU GO
BUDDY BOWL
Where: Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex, 2602 E. Cherry Street
When: Games start at noon Saturday, August 1.
Cost: $3 admission; raffle ticket prices will vary.
PRIZES
Two flat screen televisions
Yeti cooler
Tampa Bay Bucs Tickets
Golf bag and equipment
Hammer drill and cordless drill
Ten different themed baskets to be raffled off during the Varsity game
The Dolphins will also raffle off items, such as restaurant gift cards, during the third quarter of each game. Those prizes will be announced at the start of each game.