There is no getting around the impact that south Florida athletes make every year.
Whether it’s in the NFL or at hundreds of colleges and universities across the country, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach student/athletes are stepping up and grabbing the spotlight. It’s been like that for decades – and looking into the future – there is no end in sight.
In a year where just getting out on the football field was a chore – and certainly took time to achieve – high school football coaches have been working overtime.
Taking every precaution possible to guard against this pandemic, the season amazingly finished up with many teams getting games in to help in the recruiting process. But as much as coaches, parents and athletes tried, this was a tough year to grab the attention of college coaches are limited where they can go – and what they can do.
Because of the smaller schools not having to play by those rules, this past Saturday became vital for high school seniors with grade and no place to go.
As the 5th Annual Orange Bowl Senior Showcase Presented by Tire Kingdom was taking place at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, small colleges made their way down to watch nearly 300 athletes do their thing.
This free, one-day event was once again conducted in association with the National Football Foundation (NFF) and its local chapters (there are five other similar events in various markets nationwide), and will bring together academically qualified high school seniors from Florida and football coaches from NCAA Division II, III and NAIA programs across the country, which provides an unprecedented opportunity for young student-athletes to use their athletic and academic skills to earn collegiate scholarships, and ultimately a college degree.
It has not been a great year for high school football players across the country.
With the Pandemic cutting into everything – especially football – many of these prospects are sitting here without a place to go.
As much of the focus on this day was gaining exposure for the media and college coaches to promote, it was also about Terrell Owens.
Invited to the MRE (Major College Recruiting) event by owner and founder Ernesto “Ernie” Munguia to come speak to the area athletes who attended the event at Ives Estates Park, this 16-year NFL standout shared the qualities that put him in the Hall of Fame – despite never getting recruited.
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There are very few people who know and understand that landscape of football in south Florida like Chris McGonigal.
From the competitive and successful youth programs all the way to high school, his knowledge and passion has made him one of those people that many gravitate toward.