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Avon Park Coach Perkins Honored At Buc Headquarters

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Avon Park head coach Earnest Perkins takes it all in while standing in the middle of the Tampa Bay Buccaneer locker room, during Thursday's tour.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: September 28, 2007

TAMPA — Wicked awe washed over them, and the gates to football paradise parted.

Avon Park head coach Earnest Perkins and a precession of representatives of the Red Devil football squad were honored on Thursday by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Perkins picking up Bucs Coach of the Week honors while members of his coaching staff and players enjoyed the day they will not soon forget.

The Bucs learned of the Red Devils' 10-7 stunning victory over Class 3A-District 12 rival Hardee Wildcats last week after reading of the achievement in the Highlands Today and sent an official letter to Avon Park about their selection.

The second-year Red Devil coach led a Red Devil team that lost its first two games by a combined score of 89-0, yet never let his team stop believing they could turn things around.

"You never quit," Perkins said. "I kept preaching to this team that we are not out. Every team has that breakout game and this was ours.

"That win really went along way in putting Avon Park on the map. I told our kids that we could win. We were the only ones who believed."

The Buccaneers will honor 10 high school coaches from West Central and Central Florida during this year's prep football season. Perkins is the third such recipient this season and was presented with a $1,000 for his football program. He'll also be featured on Buccaneers.com and NFLHS.com.

The Red Devil skipper, along with defensive line coach Dwayne Council, outside linebackers coach Gino Bullock, offensive guard Chris Bower and defensive lineman Fred Mixon arrived with a look of magic and wonderment, as they strolled through the hallowed halls of One Buc Place.

"I thought it was a joke when I got the letter," Perkins said. "But I can't tell you how proud I was when the Bucs took the time to call and congratulate me.
"This is something I will never forget."

The morning was filled with snapshots that will be filed away to tell the grandchildren.
From sitting in the film room, where Bucs head coach Jon Gruden and his staff break down games, to watching players passing them in the hallway, to seeing a workout regimen in progress, the wide-eyed group from Highlands County were treated not as outsiders, but as members of the Bucs' football fraternity.

No event was more personally awe-inspiring for the group than having a few precious moments in the Tampa Bay locker room. There was no young or old, no men or boys, just football fans as each Red Devil found their favorite Buc player's locker.

"Ronde [Barber] is a total professional," Council said as he looked in the locker room of the Buccaneer's Pro Bowl defensive back. "He does everything the right way and that is the way we try to teach our kids to play.
"He is a great example."

Perkins stood looking up at the wood lettering above each player's locker, taking in the various amenities and plush surroundings NFL teams employ to pamper players.

But before they could catch their breath, Perkins and his troop were led to watch the final moments of morning practice by the Bucs. The sights and sounds of Gruden and his staff running offensive and defensive plays chirped across the fields, and the Red Devils paid attention to every detail and soaked up every nuance of the moment.

When the final whistle was blown, a silhouette could be seen in the morning sun, as Gruden walked over, extending his hand to his fellow coaching brethren.

Presenting Perkins with an autographed football and a commemorative certificate, Gruden gabbed with everyone — making sure to instill his bit of wisdom on Mixon and Bower — and took photos that'll surely be keepsakes for a lifetime to each in attendance.

"It was a great accomplishment winning that game," Gruden said. "I know all too well what kind of dedication it takes to win a game nobody thinks you can win.
"This team is what it's all about and why we play this game."

Gratitude and an enormous sense of pride could be felt from Perkins, who answered questions about his coaching past and future, not to mention the location of Avon Park itself.

"I couldn't believe I was watching the Bucs practice," Mixon said. "And when Gruden congratulated us, it really gave me a sense of pride in being a Red Devil."

As the event wound down, a hush fell over the visiting contingent as they walked through the lobby and past statues of Gruden, Warren Sapp, Derrick Thomas and others from the Super Bowl XXXVII champions.

Council broke the silence with a statement to Mixon and Bowers.
"Just remember, every one of those players we just saw started where you are now," he said.

That was food for thought for the ride back to Avon Park, where the team's own practice was on the horizon, as they prepare for today's game with the Frostproof Bulldogs.

The euphoria of what just happened ended, and it was back to business, drawing up a blueprint of how to curtail the Bulldogs' Carlton Thomas, who's rushed for over 700 yards this season.

"(Carlton) is a pure athlete," Perkins said. "What we have to do is hit him at the line of scrimmage and negate his big runs. He's so good at making you miss and taking it to the house."

After getting a dose of Buccaneer fever, however, Perkins and his staff will no doubt energize the rest of the Red Devils and lead them into tonight's 7:30 p.m. meeting.

Avon Park High School Football Photo Gallery

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