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HOLLYWOOD, FL- With another exciting season of High School football in South Florida coming in fast, 15 programs all gathered for the first-ever Florida Hotbed media days. With so many changes in divisions, head coaches, student-athletes, etc., this season is gearing up to be one for the books. Let’s take a closer look at some of the biggest storylines of the head.
Transfers play a more significant role than ever.
The new laws recently passed in the state of Florida have essentially allowed student-athletes to choose where they want to display their talents. And this can be seen all over South Florida, such as Westminster Academy (Lions); which has used the new rules to bring “8 or 9 players to really
bolster the trenches” according to to head coach Ehren Walhof. Not only are players using this to their advantage but the schools themselves. According to the head coach Adam Ratkevich,” We have built a college-style weight room and kids take notice of that.” Schools must be multi-dimensional when it comes to getting a dominant position and staying there. Whether that’s academics, relationships outside of school, or new facilities, schools are going above and beyond to get to
the top and stay there.
New Divisions throughout the state?
With districts coming into play this year, it should make for some powerhouse games under the Friday Night Lights. We will see powerhouse schools such as St. Thomas Aquinas face off against Dillard in a regular season game. Also, the ever-growing rivalry between Miami Central and Miami Northwestern is shaping up to be a big one with playoff implications.
New Faces in New Places
Of the 15 teams to show for the media day, there were some new faces in charge. The most significant coaching change would be Miami Central. One of the big questions is, how they would fare with losing long-time coach Roland Smith, who recently accepted a coaching job at the University of Miami. If we were to ask new head coach Jube Joseph, he would tell you “We haven’t missed a beat” The Rockets head coach spoke with confidence when he said, “It is a standard to win state” and that’s what he plans to continue. Some other notable head coaching changes that were made this offseason is Gerald Cox, who was the former head coach for Coconut Creek but now reigns at North Miami. Coach Cox was replaced by his assistant Johnnie Sloan. How quickly will these new head coaches be able to get their philosophies across and turn their respective programs around?
