FORMER BELLEVIEW STAR EXCELS IN MAINE: The Florida sun peeked beyond the leftover clouds after an afternoon thunderstorm, and

as the temperatures crept toward the low 90s, Darryl Edwards welcomed the steamy warmth. When you've grown up in Ocala and then spend a year in Maine, you appreciate tropical weather.

"I like it," Edwards said Thursday after finishing up a shift at Wendy's. "Maine is cold. Way too cold. Too cold for me."

Edwards, a former star tailback from Belleview High School, transferred to Fryeburg Academy last fall. He is back in town after a year of prep school and it seems a change in lattitude yielded a change in attitude.

"Actually it put me a step ahead of people graduating now," Edwards said. "It got me used to living without the parents around. It helps me out a lot. As far learning, it helped a lot. No distractions. When you're at home, you know where everyone is and what's going on. When you're somewhere else, you don't have all that, so you have more of an opportunity to do your work."

His biggest area of personal growth stemmed from self-reliance. Life alone forces accountability.

"You're there by yourself, then you realize you can't just ask your mother for something," Edwards said. "You have to get things done yourself and live with it."

Boarding school, he said, forced him to develop discipline. Study hours were from 7:30 until 9:30. He misses the structure, even two weeks after graduation.

"I believe it made a difference," Edwards said. "When that 7:30 comes, I'm ready to study. It's not mandatory. I do it, even though it's not mandatory. I still do it, because these days you have to have some kind of degree to get through life."

In two months, Edwards will roll with the changes when he enrolls in another prep school with even more structure. Say hello to Fork Union Military Academy in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia.

Thing is, he could have enrolled in a four-year school. Massachusetts and other Northeastern schools were interested in the all-state selection, but Edwards said he believes a year of postgraduate academics and athletics will open more doors.

"Anything that will make me better physically or mentally, I'm all for," Edwards said. "That's like taking it another level to make myself better, physically and mentally. I like challenges, too. Say for example I look like a star playing for that team. I don't really like that. If I know somebody will take my position if I don't get it done, that's what I like — the competition."

Fork Union is known as the nation's best prep schools. FUMA counts Eddie George (Ohio State/Tennessee Titans) and Mike Quick (N.C. State/Philadelphia Eagles) among its influential alumni. This season's Fork Union squad produced 20 Division I signees. Another dozen or so landed at I-AA-level programs.

Those who have seen Edwards play recently say his slashing style will complement any backfield. At Fryeburg, he rushed for 1,514 yards.

"He had a great year for us," Fryeburg coach Jim Thurston said. "I've been coaching 14 years and he's the best I've ever had. If he had played four years for us, I think he would have been the best in Maine. I think he was. Most of the time he was a man among boys."

Edwards, 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, rushed for 804 yards on 100 carries for an average of 8.4 yards a try, tops in Marion County two years ago. As a senior, he was projected to share time with Nick D'Andrea, then a transfer from St. John, who earned all-area honors. The two backs succeeded Lamar Rembert, now in the backfield at Furman.

Edwards, however, may be the most talented running back ever to have played at Belleview.

"He's got all the physical ability in the world," former Belleview coach Brent Hall said. "He can run well and catch the football. He can do all those things."

Even with Edwards gone, Belleview still won 11 games, earning district and regional titles on the way to an appearance in the 4A state semifinals, but what if the Rattlers' star tailback had stayed?

"I didn't think about it because he was gone from the beginnning," Hall said. "We had to play the hand we were dealt. In retrospect, there's an added dimension he would have given us against the big boys."

At Fryeburg, few could compete with Edwards' athleticism. In fact, he remembers being the only player who lifted weights.

"It's not like the football here," Edwards said. "I love the sport, though, regardless of how it went. It's just not as physical as it is down here."

His goal is to play for a Southeastern Conference-caliber school. Don't be surprised if the University of Florida recruits him. After all, the Gators' coaching staff recommended Edwards to FUMA.

"I"m not going to turn down a challenge," Edwards said. "I know if I go to this school, big stuff can happen for me. I'm down for it all. I don't like to just sit around."

(MIKE HODGE – OCALA STAR BANNER)

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**WINSTON DAVIS RETURNS TO COACH TAMPA BLAKE: Thirty years ago, desegregation forced Winston Davis to play basketball at Plant High instead of Blake.

Now, he finally has another opportunity to represent the Yellow Jackets.

Davis has been named Blake's boys basketball coach, replacing Dennis Donaldson, who accepted the same position at Alonso High. He also will teach physical education.

``It's a dream come true,'' Davis said. ``I've always had a place in my heart for Blake. I was able to start my career there and hopefully I can finish my career there.''

Davis spent 24 years coaching at East Bay before he was fired in April, only six years from retirement. He never enjoyed a winning season coaching girls basketball (1980-84) or boys basketball (1984-2001). His first three boys teams went 9-57, and were 1-45 the last two years.

East Bay went to the playoffs four years ago. The Indians (10-18) upset Armwood, finished as district runner-up, then lost in the first round of regionals to Port Charlotte.

Davis was fired from East Bay in 1987 by former principal Vince Thompson. Davis appealed that firing and, with help from a Classroom Teachers Association representative, won his job back.

``I don't hold any hard feelings against East Bay,'' Davis said. ``That is over now and I have a new future. I will miss the players and faculty, but life goes on and I have to go on.''

Davis played for Blake as a junior in the 1969-70 season and was Hillsborough County's leading scorer. The following season, desegregation forced Davis to transfer.

In the 1970-71 season, the Panthers finished the regular season 8-12 but Coach Richard Dyer changed his offense from half-court to a fast break. Plant won a district title and was two games away from the state championship, but was defeated 85-77 in the region final by a Winter Haven team led by future NBA star Otis Birdsong.

``This is great news,'' Dyer said. ``He's always been a super kid to me. I'm so happy for him and I hope he can revive the regime that Coach Chuck White once had over there.''

(ANWAR S. RICHARDSON – TAMPA TRIBUNE)