Bayshore Christian Starts Football

There's a new kid on the block in South Tampa who wants to play with the big boys. And by the looks of things, Bayshore Christian School is putting together a football program that some day will do just that.

Under the leadership of new head coach Sal Guagliardo, a graduate of Tampa Jesuit and Youngstown University, the equipment to outfit a 7 on 7 twenty-two-man tackle football roster is already on campus awaiting the beginning of football camp in mid-August.The Faith Warriors will commence play in the forty-member FCAPPS (Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools) sanctioned conference with the first game scheduled for Friday at 7:00 pm, August 30th, at Skyway Field just off the Veterans Expressway by Tampa Airport.

Coach Guagliardo has assembled a coaching staff including Kevin Diaz of Gaither High School who will act as offensive coordinator. "My experience as a graduate assistant at Youngstown State University was on the defensive side of the ball so that is where I'll concentrate my efforts," commented the new coach. "We are putting the final touches on getting a very competent staff together which will not only be proficient in the X's and O's of the game but will truly reflect the school's commitment to making the student-athletes the best they can be both inside and outside the classroom."

7 on 7 tackle football is an excellent way for smaller enrollment schools to start a football program. The game is generally a passing oriented offense with two down linemen, a quarterback and four receivers played on a 80 x 40 yard field with no roster exceeding twenty-two players. All other rules of play are the same as tackle football.

Athletic Director Broderick Day is enthusiastic about the new sport joining the roster of award winning state championship teams already in place. "We heard loud and clear from our students, parents, alumni and friends that football should be a part of student life," said Day. A retired twenty-year member of the Air Force and teacher of math and science at the school as well as its basketball coach, he sees the value of football in the mix. "I think we have the right man in Coach Guagliardo leading our program and even though as a first-year school we cannot compete in post-season play, keep an eye on these Faith Warriors in coming season to become winners playing at a state championship level," added Day.

As is their custom, Beef O'Brady's will be partnering up in providing support and encouragement to the football team at Bayshore Christian School. "We have school memorabilia at our MacDill restaurant and we look forward to welcoming football related fans, parents, friends, and supporters of Faith Warrior football," stated owner Aaron Carricato. "We are a neighborhood institution and what better way to support the community than through support of our schools? They are our future."