Page 33 - Florida Sentinel 2-12-16

Local Sports
Former Coach Leaves Message Of ‘Dignity’ With Players
DETECTIVE SGT. REGINALD ROBERTS, SR. Former Head Football Coach of Zephyrhills High School
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
For six years, Detective Sgt. Reginald Roberts, Sr., served a dual role in the Zephyrhills community. He was the head coach of the Zephyrhills High School football team and a member of the Zephyrhills Police De- partment.
Last year, Roberts was named the 2015 Sunshine Athletic Conference East Coach of the Year. However, last month, Detective Sgt. Roberts was terminated as the head coach. Principal Angie Stone said she needed a full time coach on campus.
But, instead of becoming angry or bitter, Detective Sgt. Roberts said while speaking at Macedonia Mis- sionary Baptist Church (in Zephyrhills) that he taught the team members to handle disappointments with re- spect and dignity.
“But, I’m not going to talk
about that,” Detective Sgt. Roberts said.
Instead, he led the spiri- tual, “Trouble Don’t Last Always,” and addressed the relationship between law enforcement and the com- munity.
Detective Sgt. Roberts said the commu- nity should work towards unity and building relation- ships. However, he pointed out that when things go wrong, there is enough blame to go around.
Outlining cast members in law enforcement and in the community during ex- plosive situations, Detec- tive Sgt. Roberts talked about the instigator, the per- son who can stop something from happening, but who will not let it go, the person who turns his back to what is happening, and the unifier.
“We are so separated. All lives matter. We can talk about things, get to know each other, and build re- spect,” he said.
And, as a final warning,
Detective Sgt. Roberts
advised the audience, with special emphasis on the youth, to comply with com- mands made by an officer and not to resist.
A native of Zephyrhills,
Detective Sgt. Roberts
attended the schools of Pasco County. After obtain- ing his degree from Bethune-Cookman Univer- sity, he entered law enforce- ment.
During his six years of leadership, he guided the Bulldogs to back-to-back- playoffs and a 39-23 record.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 13-A