Fort Lauderdale Hurricanes focused on another strong season
The Fort Lauderdale Hurricanes hope to continue last season’s success as they tackle another campaign in the Florida Youth Football League (FYFL). The organization that saw four teams make it to the Super Bowl — winning two of those championships — is back with high aspirations.
The Hurricanes are especially bolstered by recent news involving their 13-Under Division club, which has earned the number one ranking in the nation by Generation Nexxt. That particular squad swept four games against some of the top teams in that age group in the country in the National Preseason Youth Football Kickoff in Orlando.
The team was ranked as the number one team in the nation at the end of last season and will be shooting to duplicate that feat this year.
Coach Chris McGonigal, who joined the Hurricanes program last year after a very successful run with the Pembroke Pines Optimist Bengals, already has his team in midseason form after posting an opening-day 49-0 victory over the Lions at the Lauderhill Sports Complex.
The lopsided score mandated that the game be called in the third quarter. Overall, the slate of eight games against the Lions program produced a 6-2 record in favor of the Hurricanes.
While most youth football programs are searching for players, the success of the Hurricanes program has attracted so many participants that tryouts to make the teams have become a necessity. The league has approximately 350 players on eight teams ranging in age from 4-14. There are also six cheerleading teams.
For the Hurricanes, the expectation is the Super Bowl for every team and the program has not experienced a real down year or a rebuilding year since joining the FYFL in 2004.
One reason for the winning consistency is the feeder system from the younger teams in the organization. The youngest of that group is the Super Pee Wee division squad which includes players ages 4-5.
Jamal Gaines, who presides over the Hurricanes organization, is back for another year. Gaines coached the 12-Under Division team that was ranked tops in the nation last year and he is back to help the same age group this season.
“They got me back on the sideline again,” Gaines said, smiling. “The FYFL is very competitive with a few nationally ranked teams. It’s not easy getting through our league. Our hope is to have six teams make it to the Super Bowl and have four win it.”
Gaines is a big advocate of the Super Pee Wee division.
“I think this is the foundation of the program,” Gaines said. “We’ve solidified the older teams with winning Super Bowls and national championships, but the success of the program will eventually come from your 4-5 year olds.” — Jamal Gaines, president of
Gaines feels so stronly about that youngest group that he has volunteered his the Hurricanes organization
time to help guide them through the fundamentals.
“It’s very challenging and is why I volunteered to go down and help that division. It’s tough, but so rewarding and so much fun.” Futurevest@aol.com