SPORTS CONNECTION

from Osprey Observer Riverview/Apollo Beach May 2022

EYE ON BUSINESS...................PGS

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HEATHER RODRIGUEZ.):

TONY RODRIGUEZ TAKES OVER RIVERVIEW FOOTBALL PROGRAM AS HEAD COACH

The Riverview High School Sharks were looking for new blood after struggling last football season with a 2-8 record. Riverview native Tony Rodriguez is the perfect fit for the program due to being an assistant coach for 15 years and having ties to the community.

The 1994 East Bay High School graduate and former ofensive lineman for the Indians always wanted to be a head coach but, admittedly, came in second often when he was a candidate for other jobs, until now. Rodriguez was an assistant coach briefly for Riverview in 201819 under then-Head Coach William Mosel in a record-setting season. In January, he finally got the call that he was hoping for. He said that he was fired up, jumping in the air and fist-pumping when he got the phone call from Principal Brian Spiro ofering him the job.

“When the opportunity to work here became available, I applied and went through the interview process, and I won for a change,” joked Rodriguez. “I’ve gotten told ‘No’ a hundred times at many diferent places and this has been the one time that they’ve finally said ‘Yes’ to me. I’m blessed they picked me and I’m excited for the opportunity.”

Rodriguez, in his 14th year of teaching, currently teaches weightlifting at Riverview. Most of his school career was spent at East Bay as a social studies teacher, where he also began coaching football as a running back and ofensive line coach. In 2020, he and his wife, Heather, who he met when they attended East Bay, decided to make a drastic change and move to Alabama, where Rodriquez coached at Enterprise High School as a receiver coach under former Apopka High School legendary Head Coach Rick Darlington. They moved back to Hillsborough County after football season because of a rule that required Heather, a Florida Virtual School teacher, to teach in-state. He spent last season in Manatee County as an ofensive coordinator/quarterback coach for Parrish Community, a school that was in the midst of its first year as a varsity program.

“Everything I’ve postured for, every move I’ve made in my coaching career, has always been to make it to where I was acquiring knowledge to jockey for a position to become a head coach,” said Rodriguez. “I wanted to get around good programs to learn what it takes to be a big-time program. I’m definitely a person that has a growth mindset, and I’ve always tried to learn from others and be a sponge in hopes that one day I’d have my own team and apply those things and those experiences to this program.”

Rodriguez hopes that when his players come through his program, they will learn tools for life and leave as better people, and he hopes that they have a great high school experience. He also wants to get his players into college, if they desire, and win a state championship. The team is currently in the midst of its spring season. They will play their intersquad ‘Black vs Blue’ scrimmage on Thursday, May 12 and their spring jamboree against Lennard on Thursday, May 19 at East Bay. “Coming into this situation, the expectations for a firstyear head coach aren’t very high because you have to come in and establish things, change the culture and whatnot,” said Rodriguez. “We’re going to work hard, not thinking that we are in our first year. Our approach is that we are going to win them all. We are going to take each game, one game at a time, and try to go 1-0 each week. And at the end of the season, we’re going to let the chips fall where they may—make our own destiny, so to speak.”

Rodriguez is looking to add coaches to his staf. If you live in the area and are interested in coaching at Riverview, reach out to him at 813-815-0310.

Riverview High School hired Tony Rodriguez as its head football coach in January.

Tony Rodriguez was an assistant coach briefy for Riverview High School in 2018-19 under then-Head Coach William Mosel in a record-setting season.

By Nick Nahas

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Michael Clayton has a storied career as a football player, winning a national championship with Louisiana State University in 2003 and a Super Bowl with the New York Giants in 2012. He was selected 15th overall in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft by the Bucs and played six seasons with the team. Clayton now looks to add to his crowded mantle, this time as the head football coach of the Plant City Raiders.

Plant City Athletic Director Randall Humphrey said that the addition to the program has created a buzz within the school and the community.

“His accomplishments on the field really spoke for themselves,” said Humphrey. “His information and knowledge of football was clear, but when you really heard him speak to the heart of the student-athletes, the way he was able to speak directly to them really showed them instantaneously that he cared about them and that he would put together a program and pour all of his energy and efort into making sure they are successful in life.”

Clayton, who always wanted to become a head coach, was introduced as the Plant City head man on April 1 in front of a gym packed with Raiders students and fans.

“Everything kind of aligned for me personally,” said Clayton. “I’m very lucky and very blessed to have the opportunity, and here we stand today, me being the head coach of Plant City High School.”

The Thonotosassa resident said that he’s had good and bad coaches, takes knowledge from the good coaches and doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. He cited his former coach, Nick Saban, as a strong influence and template on his teaching style and how he wants to run his own program. Clayton said his players not only benefit by learning proper football technique from the former pro, but he also teaches them valuable tools from the game that translate into life skills they can take with them for the rest of their lives to become productive members of society. He wants to develop them as football players and, more importantly, as good, well-rounded young men.

“I know how to motivate guys, being that every player that puts on pads, you don’t pay the price for no reason, you play the game to be the best at it, to win a championship,” said Clayton. “I’ve won a championship at the college level; I know what it takes to be

the best in the world in college. I won a Super Bowl in the pros; I know what it takes to be a champion in the pros. I also know the lessons that I’ve lived in the past 20 years that I’ve learned from football, in terms of life skills.” Clayton has a vested interested and a standard of excellence when it comes to his Defensive coordinator Terrence Hicks (left players doing well acto right), former Tampa Bay Buccaneers ademically. He encourreceiver Michael Clayton and ofensive ages them to sit at the coordinator Kenny Kelly were introduced at front of the classroom a school pep rally on April 1. and participate fully in class. Every teacher at the school has his cell phone number so that he can keep tabs on how his students are doing. He wants them to represent the football program well and become leaders amongst their peers in the classroom as well. “The goal is to make academics a priority to make sure that if they desire to play the game of football, that they go through the full process of being great in every aspect of life, including academics and how to carry themselves outside of football,” said Clayton. “All of those things are going to help us build a foundation.” The head coach has built a great coaching staf to help him spread his message. Former Wharton defensive coordinator Terrence Hicks brings a lot of experience and leadership, taking charge of the defense. Offensive coordinator Kenny Kelly, who played quarterback at the University of Miami and professional baseball, also coached in the college ranks as an ofensive assistant at Florida International University. Plant City High School alumnus John Broome, who is a fixture within the Pop Warner community in the city, will be the junior varsity head coach. Clayton thinks that these hires will keep the top players from the area at the school and build a strong tradition of winning. “We have to learn how to play football the right way,” said Clayton. “That’s goal number one, to set a standard of excellence in everything we do to finish hard for four quarters every time we get a chance to play. Obviously, the standard is set high to win every game that we play and to win a championship. Regardless of how young our players are, regardless of how inexperienced they are, the goal is to come together as a team and to win a championship, and I will hold them to that standard every single day.” Clayton will be hosting a camp in the near future with other former NFL players to teach football fundamentals. For updates about the camp, follow Clayton on Twitter @MCListenUp.