Gowin glows about success of Sean Taylor Classic

Nov/10/08 07:23 AM Filed in: Sean Taylor
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For 37 years, the Greater Miami Pop Warner Football League has been putting the Pop Warner Bowl together.

But, as everyone who attended the two-day event at the University of Miami's Cobb Stadium would agree, this year's version was special.

On Saturday, the Pop Warner Bowl was officially renamed after former Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, who died Nov. 27, 2007, from a gunshot wound inflicted during a break-in at his Palmetto Bay home.

Taylor wasn't just a two-time Pro Bowler, he was one of Miami's proudest sons.

In the same league in which South Florida's future stars played this weekend, Taylor got his start with the South Dade Rams before making a name for himself at Gulliver Prep and UM.

As most of the dust settled and the two remaining classifications battled it out for their respective championships Sunday, Greater Miami Pop Warner president Frank Gowin thought back to Saturday, when the outlining track around the field was filled to capacity, and Taylor's father, Pete, received a plaque in his son's honor.

''There was definitely a different buzz and more excitement [this year],'' said Gowin, who received a $1,000 donation from Joe Gibbs, Taylor's coach in Washington, $5,000 from Pete Taylor and an additional $1,000 from Gregg Williams, Taylor's defensive coach in Washington.

``It just all seemed to fit.''

KEEPING KIDS ON TRACK
The value of Pop Warner has never changed. As most of the younger kids at Cobb Stadium tended to run the wrong way on handoffs and, sometimes, just not know the rules, it was clear that the program's main goal is to serve as a way of introducing youngsters to the game.
Also, it's a way to keep them busy and off the streets.

''This is one of the best dropout-prevention programs,'' said Tim Harris, the former coach at Booker T. Washington who now is with UM.

(miamiherald.com)