Vitale Gala reaches $1.7 million mark but donations still coming in

The Dick Vitale Gala raised $1.7 million this year at its annual event to raise money for pediatric cancer research, but Dickie V. says people are still contributing and the number could go higher.

Vitale said the Gala raised $2.1 million last year thanks to an anonymous donor who gave $500,000 after the Gala was over. This year he is hoping to reach that $2 million mark again.

"Things have been great. We've raised $10.3 million since we started this eight years ago. It's awesome," Vitale said. "We've had great responses from the coaches and many of the people who were there. Many said it was the best event they've ever attended and it certainly is for a good cause."

Willie Taggart/USF get new quarterback for next season

The quarterback situation for the University of South Florida and head coach Willie Taggart just got a lot more competitive and perhaps better.

Penn State quarterback Steven Bench announced on his twitter Thursday that he is transferring to USF. He will be eligible to play immediately because of the sanctions the NCAA has leveled on PSU in the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

Bench, who played behind Matt McGloin last season completing two of eight passes for 12 yards, will have three years of eligibility. He was considering North Carolina State and Mississippi State, but decided to forego visits to those two schools after visiting USF this week.

The 6-2, 225 pound Bench appeared to have a good spring game for the Nittany Lions completing 9 of 15 passes for 99 yards and a 27 yard touchdown. However, it was reported that he was behind junior college transfer Tyler Ferguson.

Bench was a Rivals.com three star recruit out of Cairo High School (2012) in Georgia. He originally committed to Rice and then switched to Penn State. He reportedly had a 3.86 GPA.

Bench will be competing against Matt Floyd and Bobby Eveld for the Bulls quarterback job. After the Bulls spring game, Taggart said he had not decided on his quarterback.

 

  

 

 

 

 

Lakewood Ranch looks confident

Lakewood Ranch looks confident in warmups though head coach Tony Cummins showing signs of worry here in class 6A state softball semifinal at Vero Beach; reports of bad weather circulating this could be a long day

Warren Sapp will join Bucs Ring of Honor and have number retired

The Tampa Bay Bucs announced today that Warren Sapp would become the fifth member of the team’s highly prestigious Ring of Honor.

Sapp follows Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon, former head coach John McKay, tight end Jimmie Giles and long time left tackle Paul Gruber.

Sapp was selected in the first round (12th player overall) by Tampa Bay in 1996 and was named to the All-Rookie Team. During his career Sapp amassed 96.5 career sacks

The defensive tackle became a first ballot NFL Hall of Famer last February and will be inducted into the HOF on August 3d in Canton, Ohio. He will also have his famous number 99 retired when the Bucs play host to the Miami Dolphins in a Monday night game next season.

Sapp was an NFL All Decade Player for the 1990s and 2000s and seven time Pro Bowl selectee. He ranks second in the NFL for defensive tackles.

 

Braden River looking at retiring Courtney Mirabella's number; girl who hit homer was 0 for 13 against her

There is serious talk that Braden River High will retire Courtney Mirabella's number. An announcement that her #3 will go up in the gym rafters could be forthcoming soon.

The flame throwing senior softball pitcher set a bevy of school records with her arm that very well could stand the test of time. She gave the Pirates a four year run that was the best in the history of the program.

By the way Alysaa Price, the Sarasota sophomore who hit the homer off a 3-2 pitch with two outs in the top of the seventh to send Tuesday night's region semifinal into extra innings, was 0 for 13 against Mirabella.

It led to the Sailors 2-1 upset. Sarasota had lost three times to Braden River, but all the games were close. 1-0, 2-0 and 4-2.

Mirabella finished her season with 288 strikeouts in 146.2 innings while compiling a 16-4 record with a 0.24 ERA. She hit an even .300 and was second on the team with 14 RBIs.