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New coach, new start

Sports

Friday, 13 May 2011 09:47

News-Gazette Photo/Andrew Sullivan

Running back E.J. McKenzie runs behind his blockers during practice at St. Cloud High Wednesday.

Mike Short puts his stamp on program

By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer
In a little less than a year, the St. Cloud football program has had three head coaches.
Last June, Mark Jackson was dismissed, and assistant coach Bill Buldini took over.
Buldini became embroiled in a Florida High School Athletic Association investigation about housing one of his players, and left at the end of the 2010 season.

So, under the new coach, former offensive coordinator Mike Short, maybe the most important goal this spring is for things to go back to normal.
Two weeks into spring workouts, you can put an emphatic maroon-and-gold “check” on that.
Players said that the decision to replace Buldini with Short — who coached in Buldini’s place against Edgewater during the FHSAA investigation — was met positively.
“We were expecting it, and everyone feels like we got who we wanted,” receiver Cole Harvey said. “Our chemistry is real good, something we
didn’t have as much last year. We’ve really come together.”
Linebacker Jeff Spelman said that it hasn’t even felt like there’s been a transition.
“Practice is real up-tempo, just different than last year, and we can’t help but think it’s better,” he said. “We haven’t missed a step. I mean, Dylan (Mackey, the starting center) is hurt but he’s out here helping coach the line.”
The only downside, Spelman said, has been the endless beating on teammates in practices that take place in 90-degree heat. That will end at the team’s spring jamboree May 27, when St. Cloud will host Olympia and Evans at 7 p.m. All teams will play each other for one half.
“We’re sick of hearing (Short’s) voice,” he said.
But, better to hear his voice than the voice of a stranger with a completely new offensive scheme, right?
Quarterback Phillip Steinmetz, who won’t have to learn a new playbook this year, agrees.
“Having him coach, you get the point a lot better of why we do things,” he said.
Short said that everything is falling into place, and he thanks the players for much of that.
“It’s been a very smooth transition. It feels better, with all the legislature stuff going on, just knowing that I have my job,” he said. “We’ve got seniors who have stepped up and taken ownership of this team.
“Jeff’s there with the defense. Phillip’s been a leader on and off the field, been vocal on the field, and then killing guys in the weight room. And I can’t take credit for any of that.”
Short said the defense is ahead of the offense, which is looking for a replacement for 1,300-yard rusher Irving Huggins, who recently transferred to a military prep school.
“The first four days were phenomenal, then I started throwing a lot of new plays at them and I guess the learning curve caught up with them,” he said. “So we’ve geared it back a bit and have been just very heavy on the fundamentals. We just want to take baby steps right now. It’s going to be tough going forward without Irving, but I’m excited.
Short said defensive coordinator Tommy Jurgens has things under control.
“He’s done a great job with those guys.”
Short said that the spring jamboree is more of a reward for the players getting through the month of May than a competition.
“We just want to put a good product out there,” he said. “The main thing is to see if some of the young guys we have can play.”
To Short, the only game that matters is at juggernaut Lakeland for the regular-season opener Sept. 2.
“What a great way to see if we’re as good as we think we are,” he said.
St. Cloud also will be tested by Rockledge, Agape Christian, North Marion and local rivals Osceola and Harmony.