“Rollins College football” is not a term that people hear very often. However, it is making a comeback on campus. Jeff Hoblick ’14, president of the Rollins College Tackle Football Club, gave The Sandspur the initial scoop on the new, upcoming club. The team had its first practice last Sunday and more than 20 of the 35 guys who signed up for the team turned out for the workout.
“We had a great time and are excited about where the club is going. One of the great things that we are doing as a part of the club is inspiring school spirit and encouraging people to come out to sporting events. We want to make people proud to be Tars again.”
Hoblick and other members of the club have been making great strides to further the standing of the club on campus. The Office of Student Involvement and Leadership and the Athletic Department have officially recognized the club.
The first step in getting the official football team together is finding a coach. The club is meeting with former Edgewater High School Football Coach Bill Gierke. Gierke, who has won 258 games at three schools and a share of a state title at Evans High School in 1991, is the ideal candidate for the head coach position, as he is no longer able to coach at the high school level because he entered Orange County’s five year Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) four years ago and is set to end his final year in June.
He has been a football coach in the state of Florida for 33 years, 28 of those as a head coach.
Gierke’s achievements also include coaching 11 young men who have gone on to play in the NFL as well as six high school All-Americans. With a career mark of 258- 73-1 at Edgewater (2000-10), Dr. Phillips (1998-99) and Evans (1982- 96), Gierke only trails former Winter Park coach Larry Gergley (274-109-2) in victories.
In an effort to garner interest in the club, members are planning a large event to act as its first public debut. The club has partnered with TKE, OSIL (Office of Student Involvement and Leadership) and OMA (Office of Multicultural Affairs) to have a large barbecue on Mills Lawn in celebration of the Super Bowl.
To learn more about the football club’s aims and goals, check out its Facebook page.
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