footballgal
08-05-2010, 11:31 PM
Two-A-Days: Port Isabel out to restore its tradition
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August 05, 2010 6:51 AM
Armando Garza
RGVSports.com
PORT ISABEL — Watching the Port Isabel Tarpons practice, one could easily sense a new attitude.
And that’s a good thing.
Along with turnovers, having the right mindset as a group was one of the Tarpons’ problems the last two years, head coach Monty Stumbaugh said.
Consequently, PI missed the playoffs the last two seasons, including a 4-6 record in 2009.
But those issues seem to be a thing of the past.
Players were in a hurry. They were enthusiastic. They had looks of determination on their faces and all had a sense of purpose.
All of those are what Stumbaugh and his staff want to see as they turn a new page this season.
“The losing crap, it’s over!” Stumbaugh told his team after a recent practice. “You guys understand?”
An enthusiastic “Yes sir!” was what he heard in return from his team as they passed around sweaty water bottles.
Stumbaugh emphasized that this group WANTS to get back to the tradition of Tarpon Football.
That’s half the battle.
POSITION BATTLE
The Tarpons are another team that will have a new quarterback.
The frontrunner appears to be Blake Sapp, who was a wideout and defensive back last season.
Sapp’s a solid athlete who saw plenty of time on both sides of the ball and should be a nice fit at quarterback.
But last year’s backup, Bobby Barker, is definitely in the mix, too.
Barker is another jack-of-all trades who’s pretty quick on his feet.
At drills, each looked nimble and in good shape as they zipped down the practice field behind the baseball stadium.
The good news for the Tarpons here is one will line up at quarterback while the other will contribute at another spot.
TURNING UP THE HEAT
Also gone is Joe Vega and his 1,300-plus rushing yards from last year. So someone will have to tote the football in Stumbaugh’s offense.
That guy could be C.J. Barrera, who totaled over 400 yards offensively (357 rushing) last season.
Barrera could get a firm grip on the job with a good preseason and scrimmages.
Should he emerge as the starter, it would give PI an experienced back who’s seen some success in the system, something they lack at the moment.
THE SKINNY
This team seems like it’s just that—a team. The cohesiveness was evident at their workouts. Guys encouraging, talking and just overall more into their craft. It should translate to a postseason return in 32-3A.
While Stumbaugh didn’t address it directly, the buzz on the squad last year was a somewhat (for lack of a better word) divided locker room that did them in nearly as much as the turnovers.
About those giveaways, highlighted by seven in a loss to Hidalgo, they need to stop and it’s one of PI’s top priorities. As Stumbaugh put it, “It was the little things that hurt us and turned into big things.”
Armando Garza covers District 32-3A for Valley Freedom Newspapers. He can be reached at 956-430-6255 or at armandog@valleystar.com
PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB/DB Blake Sapp, Sr.
6-0, 185, 4.5
OT Jonathan Delgado, Sr.
6-0, 250, 5.5
TE/LB Victor Rivera, Sr.
5-10, 190, 4.9
QB/WR Bobby Barker, Sr.
6-0, 170, 4.6
RB/LB C.J. Barrera, Sr.
5-8, 155, 4.7
STOCK RISING
DB/LB Matt Martinez, Jr.
5-9, 160, 4.8
OL/DL Aureliano Silva, Jr.
5-10, 210, 5.3
DB C.J. Boyd, Sr.
5-9, 185, 4.9
THE COACH
Monty Stumbaugh, 10th season
Record at school: 67-39
STUMBAUGH’S TENURE
Wins and playoff appearances were the norm under the former Cuero assistant until 2008. PI went three deep in ’02 before their impressive run to the state semifinals in 2003. The Tarpons steadily made the playoffs until 08. They’ve recorded back-to-back 4-6 seasons and missed the postseason each time.
PROGNOSIS
This Tarpon team is physically similar to those of recent years. They’re not the biggest or fastest team around. But PI will field its share of athletes and kids that can play football. This year seems like it’s no exception.
PREDICTION
Port Isabel should get back into the playoffs. It’s not an unreasonable expectation as they expect it themselves. With a cohesive locker room and less turnovers, they can run their way back to the playoffs. A tough non-district slate will be telling.
2010 record: 7-3
http://www.rgvsports.com/articles/isabel-7080-port-tradition.html
http://956sports.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=124&pictureid=701
Comments 0
August 05, 2010 6:51 AM
Armando Garza
RGVSports.com
PORT ISABEL — Watching the Port Isabel Tarpons practice, one could easily sense a new attitude.
And that’s a good thing.
Along with turnovers, having the right mindset as a group was one of the Tarpons’ problems the last two years, head coach Monty Stumbaugh said.
Consequently, PI missed the playoffs the last two seasons, including a 4-6 record in 2009.
But those issues seem to be a thing of the past.
Players were in a hurry. They were enthusiastic. They had looks of determination on their faces and all had a sense of purpose.
All of those are what Stumbaugh and his staff want to see as they turn a new page this season.
“The losing crap, it’s over!” Stumbaugh told his team after a recent practice. “You guys understand?”
An enthusiastic “Yes sir!” was what he heard in return from his team as they passed around sweaty water bottles.
Stumbaugh emphasized that this group WANTS to get back to the tradition of Tarpon Football.
That’s half the battle.
POSITION BATTLE
The Tarpons are another team that will have a new quarterback.
The frontrunner appears to be Blake Sapp, who was a wideout and defensive back last season.
Sapp’s a solid athlete who saw plenty of time on both sides of the ball and should be a nice fit at quarterback.
But last year’s backup, Bobby Barker, is definitely in the mix, too.
Barker is another jack-of-all trades who’s pretty quick on his feet.
At drills, each looked nimble and in good shape as they zipped down the practice field behind the baseball stadium.
The good news for the Tarpons here is one will line up at quarterback while the other will contribute at another spot.
TURNING UP THE HEAT
Also gone is Joe Vega and his 1,300-plus rushing yards from last year. So someone will have to tote the football in Stumbaugh’s offense.
That guy could be C.J. Barrera, who totaled over 400 yards offensively (357 rushing) last season.
Barrera could get a firm grip on the job with a good preseason and scrimmages.
Should he emerge as the starter, it would give PI an experienced back who’s seen some success in the system, something they lack at the moment.
THE SKINNY
This team seems like it’s just that—a team. The cohesiveness was evident at their workouts. Guys encouraging, talking and just overall more into their craft. It should translate to a postseason return in 32-3A.
While Stumbaugh didn’t address it directly, the buzz on the squad last year was a somewhat (for lack of a better word) divided locker room that did them in nearly as much as the turnovers.
About those giveaways, highlighted by seven in a loss to Hidalgo, they need to stop and it’s one of PI’s top priorities. As Stumbaugh put it, “It was the little things that hurt us and turned into big things.”
Armando Garza covers District 32-3A for Valley Freedom Newspapers. He can be reached at 956-430-6255 or at armandog@valleystar.com
PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB/DB Blake Sapp, Sr.
6-0, 185, 4.5
OT Jonathan Delgado, Sr.
6-0, 250, 5.5
TE/LB Victor Rivera, Sr.
5-10, 190, 4.9
QB/WR Bobby Barker, Sr.
6-0, 170, 4.6
RB/LB C.J. Barrera, Sr.
5-8, 155, 4.7
STOCK RISING
DB/LB Matt Martinez, Jr.
5-9, 160, 4.8
OL/DL Aureliano Silva, Jr.
5-10, 210, 5.3
DB C.J. Boyd, Sr.
5-9, 185, 4.9
THE COACH
Monty Stumbaugh, 10th season
Record at school: 67-39
STUMBAUGH’S TENURE
Wins and playoff appearances were the norm under the former Cuero assistant until 2008. PI went three deep in ’02 before their impressive run to the state semifinals in 2003. The Tarpons steadily made the playoffs until 08. They’ve recorded back-to-back 4-6 seasons and missed the postseason each time.
PROGNOSIS
This Tarpon team is physically similar to those of recent years. They’re not the biggest or fastest team around. But PI will field its share of athletes and kids that can play football. This year seems like it’s no exception.
PREDICTION
Port Isabel should get back into the playoffs. It’s not an unreasonable expectation as they expect it themselves. With a cohesive locker room and less turnovers, they can run their way back to the playoffs. A tough non-district slate will be telling.
2010 record: 7-3
http://www.rgvsports.com/articles/isabel-7080-port-tradition.html
http://956sports.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=124&pictureid=701