By Matt Mauney | Associate Editor
Many young football players who grew up in this area dream of one day being able to run out of the tunnel at Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
For many of the players on the Turkey Creek Trojans junior varsity team, that experience has already become a reality. And the ones that haven’t yet experienced the stadium will do so Dec. 15.
As the Super Bowl champions of their division in the Florida Youth Football and Cheerleading Association, the Trojans will have the opportunity to have the unique experience as they face the Nuccio Jaguars, a champion in its respective league, at Raymond James Stadium.
“It’s a cool experience for the boys,” Trojans head coach Dub Atkins said. “They really get the superstar treatment.”
Players will get to have their picture taken on the famous pirate ship and get to use the same lockers and locker rooms of the Buccaneers and other visiting NFL teams.
They also will get to feel like NFL stars when they are introduced individually over the loudspeaker and run out of the famous tunnel.
In addition to the experience, the Trojans will be on a mission to finish what they started, which includes an impressive 14-0 record and a devastating defense that has allowed only 18 points all season.
The Trojans got here by beating the rival Plant City Dolphins JV team in the FYFCA Super Bowl 32-8. Four teams in the Turkey Creek program advanced to their respective Super Bowls, but only the JV team came out with a win.
NOT THEIR FIRST RODEO
As Atkins did a roll call of how many of his players have played in one of the annual Raymond James games, more than half raised their hands.
The Trojans JV team, comprising 11- to 13-year-olds, played there just a year ago, when it suffered its only defeat of the season in a 12-8 loss to the Town and Country Packers, coached by Tampa Bay Buc great Derek Brooks.
This year’s Trojans team featured only seven returning players.
“We brought some kids in from other parks, but to start pretty much from scratch with just a few Turkey Creek boys and have the season we did is pretty special,” he said. “They’re a great bunch of boys, and I’ve been blessed with a great coaching staff.”
This will be the third game at Raymond James for defensive tackle Casey Flouro, 13, who said he was nervous the first time.
“I’ve already been there, so I wasn’t as overwhelmed about playing on the field,” he said. “The players that have been there before help the other players there for the first time be relaxed.”
According to Atkins, two key players on this year’s squad are Amir Abdullah and Treshaun Ward, the nephew of Plant City High head coach Wayne Ward.
GUEST OF HONOR
The JV Trojans have been inspired all season by the story of former defensive coordinator Kenny Brown, who was diagnosed with brain cancer.
“He missed the whole season, and after going through chemo and having his tumor removed, he actually made it out to our Super Bowl game,” Atkins said.
According to Atkins, Brown is expected to make it out for the game Saturday.
“That is something extra special that should motivate them when they take the field,” Atkins said.
FOR THE LOVE OF COACHING
Atkins has coached the JV team for three years and has coached for the Turkey Creek youth football program since 1997. He has coached every age group except varsity.
This will be his fourth time coaching a Trojan team at Raymond James.
“His heart is in it, and he always does what’s best for the boys,” said Turkey Creek assistant trustee and Mighty Mite coach Ruben Fuentes of Atkins. “He wants to win for the kids and not for himself or personal reasons.”
Atkins is unique, because he didn’t get involved with the Turkey Creek program through one of his three sons. Atkins’ youngest currently plays for the Midget division of the Trojans, but Atkins said he never had a desire to coach one of his sons.
“I didn’t want to justify his playing time, because he was a pretty decent player,” Atkins said of his oldest son. “I wanted to make sure whatever he got, he earned it.”
He has kept that mentality with his other two sons.
“People feel good when they don’t think you have an alternative motive,” he said.
Atkins said none of the Trojans JV coaches have a kid on the team, a trend that’s popular with other Trojan teams in the program.
“I think that’s a big thing with our park, that we have coaches that come out to coach the kids because they want to coach the kids and not just to coach their own kid,” Atkins said. “I think that helps a lot.”
Atkins credits that as being a large reason the park has produced talent that has moved on to the high school and college ranks.
“Our program usually sends a few teams to the Super Bowl every year, so that helps to bring kids in from other parks,” he said.
Receiver and safety Jaden Garrett came over to the Trojans after playing for the Brandon Cowboys last year.
“We never got a chance to go to Raymond James, because we used to lose to Turkey Creek all the time,” Garrett said. “I think it should be fun, because we’re facing a new team, and they’re supposed to be pretty good.”
Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@plantcityobserver.com.