“Don’t give Manatee a second chance …”
Those words resonated with Coach Joe Kinnan’s 1985 Hurricanes, who are among Thursday’s inductees at Manatee High’s 2025 Athletic Hall of Honor Banquet, 6 p.m. at the Bradenton Country Club, 4646 Ninth Ave. W.
Having lost to Sarasota, but beaten Riverview in district play, Manatee needed the Rams to upset the Sailors in their late-season showdown to force a three-way tiebreaker playoff and keep the ‘Canes playoff hopes alive.
“Sarasota wins and they’re in,” Kinnan said.
But Sarasota lost and Manatee seized that second chance with a vengeance. The ‘Canes won the subsequent tiebreaker, stormed through the playoffs and blew out defending state champion Pensacola Woodham, 50-22, at jam-packed Hawkins Stadium for the Class 5A state championship, their second title in three years.
“What a game,” Kinnan said. “What a night.”
Other HOH honorees include:
· Pat Cline (Class of 1993): All-state as a lineman on the ‘92 state champions, and as a baseball outfielder-catcher, the Cubs’ sixth-round pick played eight seasons in the minors, rising as high as Triple A. He is a Cox Chevrolet estimator.
· Ray Gault(‘74): All conference in football and baseball, he was a first-round pick out of Manatee Junior College by Cleveland in 1976 and pitched four seasons in the minors, rising as high as Triple A. He’s director of private wealth at Capital Financial.
· Austin Jensen (‘07): An all-state linebacker in 2005-6, he was a multi-talented athlete in baseball, wrestling and track, too. An auto accident cut short his playing career at FAU. He is a physical therapist.
· Prince Matt (’80): A three-sport athlete (football, wrestling, track), all-state running back and ’79 co-captain and class officer, he was a three-year starting linebacker at FSU and played in the dramatic 1981 Orange Bowl national championship game won 18-17 by Oklahoma. He works for Everglades Farm Equipment.
· Floyd McPherson Jr. (’81): Played football and basketball for the ‘Canes and starred as an all-state small forward for MJC and is in its Ring of Honor. He was all conference at Virginia’s Shorter University. A foreman for PGT Innovations, he has mentored many area athletes.
· Mayor Gene Brown: Though not an MHS graduate, he was Booster Club president 15 years and been an outstanding contributor to Hurricane athletics, raising more than $2M in the last 30 years, funds that helped upgrade Hawkins Stadium. Brown has also been with the football radio team 30 years.
For event details, visit manateehighalumni.com/class-events.
· Speaking of Manatee High, Tanner White, a percussionist in the marching band, is 2025 Mr. Sugar ‘Cane, the top honor in the dance team’s annual show and fundraiser. Canes’ quarterback Logan Rogers was runner-up and defensive lineman Jeremiah Brown and linebacker Storm Hense shared Mr. Sugar ‘Cane Choice.
· Say it ain’t so! Shea Giltner is one year shy of the Big 4-0!
· And the Honorable (retired) Judge Doug Henderson is 74 years young.
· Well done to Manatee Mustang Pop Warner All-American Scholars Sa’riyah McCown, Whalen Otremba, Jahkari Steele, Reginald Green III, Dominick Sanders and Mako Savage.
· Valerie Bliss is 39. Again.
· Shawna Kerley, too.
· The PKD Foundation, in continued partnership with Karyn and Jerry Waxman, hosts the Annual PKD Applied Underwriters Invitational Golf Tournament Oct. 27 at Lakewood National Golf Club in Sarasota. Proceeds benefit the PKD Foundation, the nation’s only organization solely dedicated to finding treatments and a cure for polycystic kidney disease.
To register, visit Annual PKD Applied Underwriters Invitational Golf Tournament.
· And Alan Bellittera is 47. Sheesh, a kid.
Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com. Or call 941-962-5944.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: VIN MANNIX: Manatee’s 1985 state football champs headline Hall of Honor
