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Break-In Doesn't Break Bonjokian

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

New Avon Park head football coach Andy Bonjokian instructs his players during spring football camp in May. The Red Devil alumnus has a positive outlook about the upcoming season, despit the fact that his team's locker room was burglarized earlier this month.

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: July 29, 2008

AVON PARK - New Avon Park head football coach Andy Bonjokian walked into the Red Devil football locker room on the morning of July 15 and found his young coaching career had hit its first speed-bump weeks before kickoff.

The Red Devils' locker room had been burglarized and numerous items were taken, including a set of coaches' headsets worth $3,000.

"It's really disheartening and sad that our football facility was broken into," Bonjokian said. "We're trying to get as prepared as we can with the funds that we do have, and something like this happens and it's just sickening."

Bonjokian and his coaching staff are pressed for time to get ready for his inaugural season on the sidelines for the Red Devils and have worked tirelessly with the athletes during the summer workout program.

But the break-in has put an unforeseen strain on an already budget-conscious program.

"$3,000 is a lot of money that could've been used for a lot of things that we need during the season as a football program," said the AP alumnus. "Now we're using that money on equipment that we should already have.

"But the last thing that we want is for our kids to worry. We're not going to use this as an excuse, but try and use it as a motivating tool to take our game to another level."

A presence in the community is something Bonjokian expects out of his team as the Red Devils try to reclaim their fan base and show a sense of team unity.

"We're definitely going to be more civic-minded as a team," Bonjokian said. "I want the kids to be visible and help out in the community and become a key part in bringing back the pride to Avon Park."

Bonjokian's coaching staff has been brainstorming on a daily basis to turn the fortunes of Avon Park football around after a one-win season in 2007.

"We've been really pleased with the turnout to our summer workout program," Bonjokian said. "That tells me that the kids are serious and also believe in what we're trying to accomplish.

"The coaches and I have been working on a fine-tuning our playbook. The kids caught on quick during spring practices, but we'll know more during training camp when everything comes together."

Getting the coaching staff all on the same page was Bonjokian's first order of business when he took the AP post, something the new coach felt was going to be a key aspect if the Red Devils hoped to be successful.

"You've got to have all the coaches working together and believing in the same philosophy," Bonjokian said. "I've been fortunate that all the coaches and myself have a good working relationship. They all have been taking advantage of the open weight room and we tend to feed off each other. We're always sharing ideas and different offensive and defensive schemes in the hopes that we can make the Red Devils a better football team."

Bonjokian can hardly contain the excitement in his voice when asked about the start of training camp, which begins Aug. 11, and knows that the feeling has spread throughout the locker room.

"We're all excited and can't wait to put the shoulder pads on and start playing football," Bonjokian said. "This has been the longest Christmas morning for me since I took the job and having to wait to open my present which is training camp and the upcoming season.

"We're pressed for time since the opening of training camp and our first game is only a few weeks apart, but I have faith in these kids that they'll step up to the challenge."

The Red Devils host Lake Wales on Aug. 29 in the Preseason Classic and open the regular season on the road against Ridge Community in Davenport on Sept. 5.

Chris Hoffman can be reached at 863-386-5827 or choffman@highlandstoday.com.

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