“One, Two, Three… DISTRICT CHAMPS, DISTRICT CHAMPS, DISTRICT CHAMPS”
-2007 Venice Indians
Football is a game of emotions. It is a test of a person’s will and determination, character and commitment. Football is passion and perseverance. It can take you to the highest of highs and bring you to the lowest of lows.
When Venice walked onto Joe Kinnan Field at Hawkins Stadium Friday night, you could tell the contest for the district championship would be just that. An emotion filled game, the team more determined and committed to win would prevail. The Indians had taken certain steps leading up to the game to ensure them a very real chance of coming out on top. You could say it started on Monday, the first day of practice preparing for Manatee, or you could say it started Saturday, when the coaches handed out Manatee’s scouting report to the players. Maybe it began the Friday before when Venice beat Charlotte, and they knew they had a shot at the title. Perhaps though, it goes back even further than that. Perhaps it goes back to last winter when Venice chose a new head coach and these kids came out ready to work hard and put last season behind them.
Commitment: Individually they made a commitment to each other and to themselves. As coaches it was a commitment to Venice High, to the good people in the community, it was a commitment to start anew and build something really special. Above all it was a commitment to their players to not let them down, to prepare them for what lay ahead, to show them that they had the ability to achieve what last year seemed so very far away.
As players they made a commitment to learn from these coaches, to take in what they had to say. They bought into a program because they saw the potential in it and in themselves. Working hard day in and day out they made a commitment to become a team, to have each other’s backs. They made a commitment to shut out the doubters, to achieve very real and tangible goals.
This was the beginning.
Determination: “We were really confident going into the Manatee game. I had a good feeling all week. The Coaches really helped us prepare” Jimmy Laurie, Senior.
Setting their sights on the future, they were determined to turn around a program that was once considered a powerhouse. They had the knowledge and good kids that wanted to learn from them. They had kids that were just as determined as they to succeed.
They were all determined to prove that they were better than 1-9. Last years distractions were gone and they were refocused, determined to achieve their goals. Determined to be District Champions, determined to make the playoffs. These seniors were especially determined, because it was their last shot at a district title.
This set them on their path.
Character: “District Champs…Come on. We all put in the work, the players, the coaches, Friday night was the end result” Ronnie Thomas, Senior.
There is a saying that hangs in Coach Peacock’s office, it reads “Ability will get you to the top, but it is character that will keep you there” – Abraham Lincoln. It suits a team that has large amounts of ability, but has tremendous amounts of character.
Character is defined as one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual. It is the collective character of the players that distinguish this team.
This gave them their identity.
Passion: “This is such a big win for us and the future of the program” CJ McGrain, Senior.
They say that Football is America’s passion, nowhere is this truer than under the Friday Night Lights. It takes a person passionate for the game to coach high school football. It is a kind of passion that is passed on from coach to player, from father to son.
C.J. McGrain is one such player that is passionate about the game. From the first day he became a Venice Indian he poured his heart and soul into it, never missing a summer workout, practice or game. He is so passionate that when his father passed earlier this year, instead of going home, he stayed with his teammates. Later that evening, as the Indians played Port Charlotte, C.J. caught his first Varsity touchdown pass. It was for his Dad.
This gave them the will to win.
Sacrifice and Selflessness: “The coaches do a good job of getting us ready. The scouting reports, defensive recognition, and our scout team give us all an advantage against our opponents. Plus feeding us before games helps” Nate Sardinas and Tim Nixon, Seniors.
Many don’t understand the amount of time that goes into a Friday night. It is countless hours spent by both players and coaches to get better and to prepare themselves for their opponents.
For coaches, it starts on a Saturday. Sacrificing time away from their families, they get up at eight in the morning and watch film all day until two or three o’clock. They go home and watch more film, they create scouting reports on Sunday’s, and work never stops. It continues throughout the week, late practices, watching film with the team, going to support the jayvees and the freshmen. Until Friday comes along, and they hope that all the hard work and sacrifice was enough for these kids to go out and win. Not to make themselves look good, but because at 15, 16, and 17 years old these kids are making sacrifices themselves. These coaches know, they see it with their own eyes, and they have lived it when they were their age.
“I was overwhelmed and speechless” Jimmy Laurie after defeating Manatee.
Selflessness is seeing a kid so elated because his team won, that he doesn’t care that he wasn’t productive carrying the ball. That is Venice Captain Jimmy Laurie. Selflessness is not complaining about losing your starting position to a sophomore, because you know it is better for the team. Selflessness is helping that same person learn how to play that position. That is Kyle Callahan. Selflessness is taking a pounding day in and day out on scout-team O to prepare your defense every week. Selflessness is to never complain when you don’t take as many snaps as you would like on Friday night, but when you do you take advantage of it. That is Matt Brogan. This is a group that truly cares about one another, and puts the team above self.
This is what makes Venice Indian Football.
The Indians beat Manatee last Friday night 21-7. Capturing the District crown for the first time since 2003. While the offense couldn’t get much going, they took advantage of their opportunities and scored when it counted. The Indian defense got the job done as they limited a Manatee offense that averages 330 total yards per game to fewer than 200. The defense was all over Manatee’s quarterback, limiting him to 7 completions out of 24 attempts for 74 yards, and –22 yards rushing. Manatee was not allowed inside the twenty all night. Special teams made all the difference, as Dre Archer got things going for the Indians on punt return, taking it to the house 80 yards for a touchdown. A fake punt to Paul Costanzo set up another Venice touchdown. While it may have been an off night through the air, Trey Burton became the first quarterback in quite some time to pass for over 1,000 yards in a season, as he went two-of-nine for 45 yards and a touchdown pass to Gerry Hunek. He made things happen on the ground as he rushed for over a 100 yards and a touchdown. Manatee’s only score came on a controversial fumble late in the third quarter.
Led by Captains Jimmy Laurie and Andy Czuprynski, as well as the other Indian seniors, Venice goes into the last two regular season games looking to finish out the season with wins over North Port and Booker. Gaining momentum for post-season play, they are now determined that this District Championship is just the first of a couple more this season.
-2007 Venice Indians
Football is a game of emotions. It is a test of a person’s will and determination, character and commitment. Football is passion and perseverance. It can take you to the highest of highs and bring you to the lowest of lows.
When Venice walked onto Joe Kinnan Field at Hawkins Stadium Friday night, you could tell the contest for the district championship would be just that. An emotion filled game, the team more determined and committed to win would prevail. The Indians had taken certain steps leading up to the game to ensure them a very real chance of coming out on top. You could say it started on Monday, the first day of practice preparing for Manatee, or you could say it started Saturday, when the coaches handed out Manatee’s scouting report to the players. Maybe it began the Friday before when Venice beat Charlotte, and they knew they had a shot at the title. Perhaps though, it goes back even further than that. Perhaps it goes back to last winter when Venice chose a new head coach and these kids came out ready to work hard and put last season behind them.
Commitment: Individually they made a commitment to each other and to themselves. As coaches it was a commitment to Venice High, to the good people in the community, it was a commitment to start anew and build something really special. Above all it was a commitment to their players to not let them down, to prepare them for what lay ahead, to show them that they had the ability to achieve what last year seemed so very far away.
As players they made a commitment to learn from these coaches, to take in what they had to say. They bought into a program because they saw the potential in it and in themselves. Working hard day in and day out they made a commitment to become a team, to have each other’s backs. They made a commitment to shut out the doubters, to achieve very real and tangible goals.
This was the beginning.
Determination: “We were really confident going into the Manatee game. I had a good feeling all week. The Coaches really helped us prepare” Jimmy Laurie, Senior.
Setting their sights on the future, they were determined to turn around a program that was once considered a powerhouse. They had the knowledge and good kids that wanted to learn from them. They had kids that were just as determined as they to succeed.
They were all determined to prove that they were better than 1-9. Last years distractions were gone and they were refocused, determined to achieve their goals. Determined to be District Champions, determined to make the playoffs. These seniors were especially determined, because it was their last shot at a district title.
This set them on their path.
Character: “District Champs…Come on. We all put in the work, the players, the coaches, Friday night was the end result” Ronnie Thomas, Senior.
There is a saying that hangs in Coach Peacock’s office, it reads “Ability will get you to the top, but it is character that will keep you there” – Abraham Lincoln. It suits a team that has large amounts of ability, but has tremendous amounts of character.
Character is defined as one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual. It is the collective character of the players that distinguish this team.
This gave them their identity.
Passion: “This is such a big win for us and the future of the program” CJ McGrain, Senior.
They say that Football is America’s passion, nowhere is this truer than under the Friday Night Lights. It takes a person passionate for the game to coach high school football. It is a kind of passion that is passed on from coach to player, from father to son.
C.J. McGrain is one such player that is passionate about the game. From the first day he became a Venice Indian he poured his heart and soul into it, never missing a summer workout, practice or game. He is so passionate that when his father passed earlier this year, instead of going home, he stayed with his teammates. Later that evening, as the Indians played Port Charlotte, C.J. caught his first Varsity touchdown pass. It was for his Dad.
This gave them the will to win.
Sacrifice and Selflessness: “The coaches do a good job of getting us ready. The scouting reports, defensive recognition, and our scout team give us all an advantage against our opponents. Plus feeding us before games helps” Nate Sardinas and Tim Nixon, Seniors.
Many don’t understand the amount of time that goes into a Friday night. It is countless hours spent by both players and coaches to get better and to prepare themselves for their opponents.
For coaches, it starts on a Saturday. Sacrificing time away from their families, they get up at eight in the morning and watch film all day until two or three o’clock. They go home and watch more film, they create scouting reports on Sunday’s, and work never stops. It continues throughout the week, late practices, watching film with the team, going to support the jayvees and the freshmen. Until Friday comes along, and they hope that all the hard work and sacrifice was enough for these kids to go out and win. Not to make themselves look good, but because at 15, 16, and 17 years old these kids are making sacrifices themselves. These coaches know, they see it with their own eyes, and they have lived it when they were their age.
“I was overwhelmed and speechless” Jimmy Laurie after defeating Manatee.
Selflessness is seeing a kid so elated because his team won, that he doesn’t care that he wasn’t productive carrying the ball. That is Venice Captain Jimmy Laurie. Selflessness is not complaining about losing your starting position to a sophomore, because you know it is better for the team. Selflessness is helping that same person learn how to play that position. That is Kyle Callahan. Selflessness is taking a pounding day in and day out on scout-team O to prepare your defense every week. Selflessness is to never complain when you don’t take as many snaps as you would like on Friday night, but when you do you take advantage of it. That is Matt Brogan. This is a group that truly cares about one another, and puts the team above self.
This is what makes Venice Indian Football.
The Indians beat Manatee last Friday night 21-7. Capturing the District crown for the first time since 2003. While the offense couldn’t get much going, they took advantage of their opportunities and scored when it counted. The Indian defense got the job done as they limited a Manatee offense that averages 330 total yards per game to fewer than 200. The defense was all over Manatee’s quarterback, limiting him to 7 completions out of 24 attempts for 74 yards, and –22 yards rushing. Manatee was not allowed inside the twenty all night. Special teams made all the difference, as Dre Archer got things going for the Indians on punt return, taking it to the house 80 yards for a touchdown. A fake punt to Paul Costanzo set up another Venice touchdown. While it may have been an off night through the air, Trey Burton became the first quarterback in quite some time to pass for over 1,000 yards in a season, as he went two-of-nine for 45 yards and a touchdown pass to Gerry Hunek. He made things happen on the ground as he rushed for over a 100 yards and a touchdown. Manatee’s only score came on a controversial fumble late in the third quarter.
Led by Captains Jimmy Laurie and Andy Czuprynski, as well as the other Indian seniors, Venice goes into the last two regular season games looking to finish out the season with wins over North Port and Booker. Gaining momentum for post-season play, they are now determined that this District Championship is just the first of a couple more this season.
