Dolphins look to turn page
New attitude, new faces hope to erase 2-8 season from a year ago
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News GBHS assistant coach Brad Filbert looks on as Jason Pendergraph runs a drill during the opening day of spring football practice Thursday.

The Gulf Breeze Dolphin football program recently took part in a program called Bigger Faster Stronger, a program that strives to improve a player on and off the field.

The Dolphins are hoping to add a second B to what they've learned in BFS - that's B for better.

Gulf Breeze began preparations for the 2008 season last Thursday, the first of three days in shirts and shorts before being allowed to break out the full pads on Monday.

Head coach Chris Nemith has seen an improvement in team morale as a result of the BFS program, which challenges players to Be An 11 on a scale from 1 to 10.

"There's a lot more positive affirmation out there," Nemith said.

That change in attitude comes with a change in coaching personnel. The Dolphins, not wanting to be in a position of having to wait until summertime to get enough new coaches in - and not having them come, as was the case last year - Nemith has brought in several volunteer coaches to help with the ninth grade and junior varsity squads.

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Coach Chris Nemith goes over a running drill as Brandon Van Camp (34) looks on.

Dick Adams, Von DeKozan and Sean Weiser will aid the ninth grade squad, led by Matt Alt, while Mark Tryon and Greg Adams will assist the junior varsity team, which will be led by Greg Hundley. Alt and Hundley will also help the varsity staff on Fridays.

The Dolphins have also hired a new offensive coordinator, who isn't all that 'new.' He's a former Dolphin coach who's spent the past two years in Milton.

Editorial Note - The Gulf Breeze News knows the identity of the new coach, but the GBHS administration asked that it not be released until the county's next school board meeting. The News will honor that request.

Nemith says it's important that the players coming in from the Gulf Breeze and Tiger Point Sports Association teams will able to continue what they've learned there - DeKozan, Weiser, Dick Adams and Tryon all coached in the GBSA program.

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Jenny Noiles with Athletes Performance leads the Dolphin football team in a stretching drill Thursday.

"I've seem significant improvement," Nemith said of his players, who went 2-8 last season. "I'm excited to see how our team strength and team speed will compare with Milton and Pace, whose programs are established."

The Dolphins will host a spring jamboree on May 27 against the Panthers and the Patriots.

Nemith says he's hoping to get back to a run first offense, which will be led by senior to be Rhys Rinke. "Right now, he's our guy," said Nemith, adding that senior Brandon Van Camp, junior Mario Villegas and Navarre transfer Ty Rodewald could also see time back there.

"Last year, we put (Rinke) in some tough situations and he executed real well," said Nemith, adding that players like Jeff White and Nicky Schumacher could be put in as a two-back package.

"Instead of being a one-headed monster, maybe we can be a four or five-headed monster back there," he said.

The Dolphin running game will be bolstered by a strong, experienced offensive, led by seniors Kyle Magnes and Andrew Quadrini. Senior Tyrone Covyeow will also return after missing most of last year with a knee injury. Michael Williams and Wes Cross also saw some time 'up front' last year.

With the linebacking tandem of Houston Chapman and Jimmy Beyers graduating, the defensive reins will be handed over to Van Camp and E.J. Troup.

Nemith calls them the team's vocal leaders on defense, while players like Taylor Retherford, Jason Pendergraph, Seth Hewerdine and Kyle Robinson provide leadership by example.