Dan in Daytona

I remember him. Tim Knight (Mainland 1976 or 77) was a younger brother of my classmate Mike Knight. Timmy was the second best baseball player in the area at that time . He signed with the New York Yankee's and got as far as AAA. Time and a family made him hang up the spikes. He passed away last month.

Great speedy lead off hitter. He in the National League and Rickey Henderson in the American League dominated the bases in the same era.

Cross City, like his father. A famous female author wrote a book, and a movie followed years later. Cross City was the location. Her name and the book/movie slips my mind.

Larry "Chicken" Little, Cy McCLairen

His late father Willie Collins, a powerful running Qb, graduated from B-C in 1975.

Gerald Odom!! Edit: better story below http://spacecoastdaily.com/2013/05/odom-among-floridas-top-all-time-coaches/

...more like Dr. Dud, says my wife.

Two other teammates played in the NFL that weren't drafted: Albert Burton (2yrs), Charles Cornelius (4yrs) Now a Test for you, OldSchoolLION. Match the "nicknames" with the players : 1. Willie Lee-------------------------------A. "Dr. Love" 2. Charles Cornelius------------------B. "Bubba" 3. Bernard Coleman------------------C. "Tony" 4. Randy Walker------------------------D. "Red" 5. Albert Burton------------------------E. "Foots" 6. Earl Inman----------------------------F. "Country Boy" 7.Arnold Robinson-------------------G. "Sweetback" 8. Andre Samuels--------------------H. "Rabbit" Can't find these in the old FHSAA Record Book....

I was teammates with the 1976-1978 NFL'ers........and Henry Still (1968) was our DL coach at Mainland High. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Bethune-Cookman_Wildcats_in_the_NFL_draft

.....a Seabreeze Sandcrab.

...on 2nd thought, I'll clear up the above confusion.... 1999- 6A North semi's- Lincoln 24 - Palm Bay 21. Championship: Lincoln 21 - Miami Southridge 14. 2000- 6A North semi's- Palm Bay 21 - Lincoln 20 (OT). Championship: Palm Bay 10 - Dillard 6. 2001- 4A North semi's- Lincoln 24 - Palm Bay 21. Championship: Lincoln 28 - STA 20. 2002- 4A North semi's- Palm Bay 44 - Lincoln 21. Championship: Palm Bay 19 - Tampa Jefferson 10.

There was a four year stretch around the turn of the century (too lazy to look it up) when Burke's Palm Bay and Tallahassee Lincoln were the top two programs in the state. Where each knocked the other out (semi's?) and won the title. They flip flopped for the championship in 4A and 6A (the largest class). I wrote about it once, when the mind was clearer....oh well

True, Mainland has been a big fish in a small pond for 25 years. They don't have the weekly competition in Volusia county like others have in their's. That's why they've always attempted to schedule good teams during the season from other areas. Beating the "sisters of the poor" weekly doesn't help. A smack in the face during the season ALWAYS gets our guys in the right frame of mind. And now with the playoff points system, it's a must. Added this year : Sanford Seminole, Freedom Bowl opponent, Cocoa, and Bolles.

Larry Smith and John Reeves were excellent college players. Saw both of them many times. FAU's Lane Kiffin "was" married to John Reeves pretty blonde daughter...

Someone else NORTH of Plant and Dr Phillips had to play the Monsters of Dade 9 of those 10 years.......just saying

Shameless homer plug: Mainland 42 AH-P 30.....5yrs ago (2014)

Just saw the thread....was in la,la land

Deland High....hint, hint

I couldn't remember the RB's name (Jermaine Green). Big, super fast track guy (built like a tank) who went out to the northwest (Washington?). Came home (dropped by the NFL), had a meltdown (with a female), got shot (police) and went to prison. What a waste....sad. FOUND THE VIDEO :

Leonard was an All American for the Trojan's of Southern Cal. He was recruited by Lane and his father Monty Kiffin, the long time DC for the Tampa Buccaneers.

It's about time

You knew that one too, Darter

That's NFL 1st rounder Leonard Williams out of Mainland High. Big, fast, and what a motor....sideline to sideline. This year the Jets also drafted DE/LB Jachai Polite in the 3rd round also a blue and gold Buccaneer.

And just so there's no misunderstanding Jam, IMO Rocky Yocum and Bud Asher, hands down are the best coaches to ever lead a Volusia county football team in my lifetime. Edit: Gerald Odom (Merritt island, NSB,Cocoa) also needs to be in the conversation

They had a shotgun spread before Beach (don't remember 4 WR's sideline to sideline play after play) with Qb's Andre Roan and Pa'tel Troutman. Both were more dangerous as runners then passers. But I don't believe Yocum's system (outside of a special limited package) was the same. Even when he went to Spruce Creek and was successful, it was still a run first offense (fundamental roots brought from Oklahoma) . Beach's is a pass first go through a progression system. It came from Mumme early 90's Valdosta State. I'm open to a refreshing of my fading memory. Go for it Jam