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published: Friday, July 03, 2009
Setting a good example
Former South Lake High School standouts show current roster what it takes to be a champion
FRANK JOLLEY
Staff Writer
GROVELAND -- Jeff Demps and Bob Evans have enough jewelry to make Paris Hilton jealous.
Like many college students, the former South Lake High School running backs possess the usual assortment of necklaces and earrings that, by themselves, are not overly impressive.
Then, they unveil the heavy artillery.
In his hands, Demps bounces three large, diamond-encrusted rings -- one he earned after the University of Florida beat Alabama in the SEC championship game in December, and two that represent Florida's 24-14 win against Oklahoma in the most recent BCS championship game.
Evans, a rising junior at the University of the Cumberlands -- an NAIA school in Williamsburg, Ky. -- has a pair of title rings, symbolic of Cumberlands winning the last two Mid-South Conference championships.
The pair compare their collections and exchange good-natured barbs about whose is more impressive, but they aren't looking for others to pat them on the back. Instead, they hope the shining gold and glistening jewels provide the latest group of South Lake players with the motivation needed to reach the next level.
Demps and Evans are spending part of their summer vacations at South Lake High School, working out in the weight room and running through drills with members of the Eagles' 2009 squad. Evans arrived in Groveland in late-May and will stay until August, and Demps arrived Friday and will leave Sunday.
In addition to the sweat equity the pair are putting into their futures, lifting weights and running pass patterns in the stifling summer heat, they are spending time with young players, encouraging them to concentrate on academics and football instead of hanging out on street corners and getting into trouble.
"I don't know if people look at us as role models, but I try to act like one," Evans said. "I want young people who live in the neighborhood where I grew up in (the Parkwood neighborhood around Groveland Elementary School) to see what I've accomplished. I'm going to college and, hopefully, they will realize it's possible for them to do the same thing."
Demps, too, considers himself a role model and is happy to accept the responsibility that goes along with being someone people recognize. He knows that wherever he goes, someone likely knows who he is and watches how he conducts himself in public.
If he is out committing mischief, regardless of how harmless the act might seem, Demps believes his actions can send a message to others that it is OK for them to do the same thing.
The message he wants to relay is simple -- work hard and never be satisfied with a previous best.
"It's easy to achieve something and be happy with it," Demps said. "The hard part is moving on to the next goal. I was lucky enough to be part of a national championship team at Florida, but we're not satisfied. We want another championship and to do that, we have to make the sacrifices.
"Good players and teams do what their coaches ask them to do. Great players and teams do what they have to do -- and more."
That's what South Lake coach Walter Banks wants his current players to learn from Demps and Evans.
Banks' goal since taking over as head coach prior to the 2008 season has been to develop a family oriented program. He wants former players to come back to the school every summer and talk to his current roster.
The chance to see what Demps and Evans have accomplished is the spark that Banks believes will help South Lake grow into a Class 6A program and compete against teams like East Ridge and Apopka for district championships.
"I want to use football as way to teach life lessons to our student-athletes," Banks said. "There is more to life than football, but football is a great way to learn about things that will help young men succeed in life. I want to win football games while I'm here, but I also want these young men to be prepared for the next step in their lives when they graduate.
"Bob as an amazing example of what can come from football. A lot of kids in his neighborhood wind up involved with drugs and crime, but he avoided that trap. Football helped him to escape.
"When my players see where he's at now and where he's come from, it's inspires them to push themselves even harder when they're tired. They see what success is."
Apparently, some of Banks current players are getting the message.
"I see how hard Jeff and Bob work when they come out here and it makes me want to work harder," said Nick Waisome, a rising junior defensive back. Waisome already has generated interest from a number of major colleges, including Florida State and Miami.
"They talk to us about college life and tell us that it's not always easy, but it can be done if you want it bad enough," Waisome said. "There is always room for improvement, even when you get to the next level. Just watching them work out and seeing how they go about their business is inspiring for me."
For Demps and Evans, Waisome's words are worth more than any of the rings they have earned during their brief college careers. It means they are getting their points across and, hopefully, sharing the same drive and work ethic that was taught to them.
Both believe that if members of the current South Lake roster follows their lead, the list of Eagles playing college football will grow.
And so will the number of championship rings they earn.
