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A Florida Teacher Has Been “Removed From The Classroom” After Reports She Hosted A White Supremacist Podcast

Citrus County School District

A Florida middle school teacher is being investigated by her employer after reports she hosted a white supremacist podcast and used Twitter to share anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and suggest that Muslims be eradicated from the planet.

HuffPost first reported Saturday that Dayanna Volitich, a social studies teacher at Crystal River Middle School, used the pseudonym "Tiana Dalichov" to secretly host a podcast titled Unapologetic, in which she recently argued that some races are smarter than others.

The Citrus County School District issued a statement that Volitich "has been removed from the classroom" while its human resources department conducts an investigation.

According to the description of Unapologetic’s pilot episode on TuneIn, an online audio-streaming service, the podcast aims to cut "through the myths and misconceptions of the modern cultural and political jungle" and "covers taboo topics that will take you on a ride you’ll ever be able to forget."

In a recent episode of the podcast, Dalichov identified herself as a public schoolteacher and prided herself on bringing her beliefs into the classroom.

In the Feb. 26 episode, she said she "had a couple of instances where parents were concerned," including a parent who emailed her school’s principal to express worry that she was "injecting political bias" in her teaching.

She said on the podcast that when the principal confronted her about the parent’s email, she lied, saying it was untrue.

"She believed me and backed off," she said.

tunein.com

On the same episode, Dalichov agreed with a guest who dismissed the idea that "a kid from Nigeria and a kid who came from Sweden are supposed to learn exactly the same." She went on to say that "science" has shown some races are smarter than others.

She also agreed with a guest who said that more white supremacists need to become teachers in public schools.

"They don’t have to be vocal about their views, but get in there," a guest said on the show. "Be more covert and just start taking over those places."

"Right," Dalichov said. "I’m absolutely one of them."

Volitich also reportedly used a Twitter handle with the same pseudonym. The account has since been deleted, but HuffPost took screenshots of its tweets, which include the statements that Islam "legitimizes" terrorist behavior and that terrorist attacks will continue "until we eradicate [Muslims] from the face of the earth."

Other tweets say that "it isn’t supremacist or hateful to prefer your own people over others," and that "systemic racism and white privilege aren’t real."

The account has praised and retweeted neo-Nazis and white supremacists on Twitter, including David Duke, the former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.

In its statement, the Citrus County School District said it was "made aware of a concerning podcast by a Huffington Post reporter" on Friday, March 2.

"The Human Resources department was notified and an investigation was initiated immediately," the statement continues. "The teacher has been removed from the classroom and the investigation is ongoing. Pursuant to Florida Statute an open investigation and materials related to it are exempt from public record and cannot be discussed until the investigation is complete."

Volitich did not immediately respond to BuzzFeed News’ request for comment. BuzzFeed News has not been able to independently confirm HuffPost’s report.

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Auburn’s Mustapha Heron will play vs. Florida.

Auburn guard Mustapha Heron (5) celebrates a 3-point shot over Vanderbilt Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018, during the first half in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)(

Coming off consecutive losses, Alabama faces a critical game at 5 p.m. CT game with Arkansas. With three games left, the Crimson Tide is in position for an NCAA tournament bid but the margin for error isn’t quite where it was a week ago.

Alabama (17-11, 8-7 SEC) is part of a six-way tie for third in the league entering play Saturday. Arkansas is in that group with a 19-9 overall record.

Collin Sexton warmed up and there doesn’t appear to be any change to his status. The point guard is listed as a starter. Refresh the page for the latest all afternoon and evening.

SECOND HALF

— Alabama 51, Arkansas 49 (10:42): It’s been a little sloppy, leads going back and forth. John Petty hit his second 3 of the game a minute ago. Had a few bad lobs before that. Just wild pace to this. Refs letting them play.

— Alabama 41, Arkansas 37 (16:11): Alabama tied it at 36 with a Dazon Ingram 3. A Braxton Key 3 with 16:52 left gave Alabama its first lead of the game. Tide on a 10-2 run to open the half. Arkansas 0-for-7 from the field this half. Key has 7 of the 10 Alabama points this half.

FIRST HALF

— Arkansas 35, Alabama 31 (halftime): After the Hogs had a 10-2 post-technical foul, Alabama hit consecutive 3s from Reese and Johnson Jr. to cut the deficit to four at halftime. Sexton’s 7 leads Alabama scorers as the team shot 40.0 percent from the field.

— Arkansas 31, Alabama 23 (3:00): The Hogs scored five straight after Dazon Ingram was hit for a technical. Collin Sexton has 7 for the Tide. Team is shooting 38.1 percent. Alabama still hasn’t led but it’s been tied twice.

–Arkansas 19, Alabama 16 (8:00): Arkansas had gone 4:30 without points. The 9-0 Alabama run tied the game before a 3 put the Hogs back up. Dazon Ingram had six straight in the run. The crowd liked the shot-clock violation on an Arkansas team that likes to score quickly.

— Arkansas 16, Alabama 12 (11:55): The Tide has a little momentum after scoring the last five points and getting a turnover. A nice backdoor cut pushed it to 13-5 Hogs. A 3 then made it 16-7. Alex Reese hit a much-needed 3 when the Hogs went up 9.

— Arkansas 11, Alabama 4 (15:01): The Razorbacks are getting it in the paint and scoring quickly. Everything coming inside early for the visitors outside of one 3-pointer. Crowd is frustrated by a few bad hands plays from the Tide that gave away two possessions. Tide is 0-for-3 from long range and 1-for-4 overall.

— Arkansas jumped to a 7-0 lead. Not much energy in the building to start things off. Just flat in Coleman Coliseum.

—

Florida forward/center Kevarrius Hayes (13) fouls Auburn guard Jared Harper (1) Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017, during an NCAA basketball game at Auburn Arena in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

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Stormy Daniels does Tampa: 10 minutes of dancing, then $20 a photo

An ad on a television inside the Tampa strip club Thee Doll House advertises the appearance Friday and Saturday by adult entertainer Stormy Daniels – real name Stephanie Clifford – who had an alleged affair with President Donald Trump at a casino hotel in Lake Tahoe in 2006. [JONATHAN CAPRIEL | Times]

TAMPA — Well, that was fast.

Adult film actress Stormy Daniels made her first appearance at Thee Dollhouse on Friday evening, the first of several shows planned this weekend at the Tampa strip club.

She took the stage about 7 p.m. dressed in a pink, floor-length gown.

She was wearing considerably less by the end of her performance, just a white feather boa and a single item of underwear.

She did not use the pole.

After about 10 minutes, Stephanie Clifford, as she’s legally known, departed the stage to sign autographs and pose for pictures.

RELATED: Perfect (political) storm: The porn star, the president and a Tampa strip club

That’s why Clifford was at Thee Dollhouse, after all, to take advantage of the notoriety from her reported affair with Donald Trump — which is also why the strip club booked her.

"That was quick," said Pete, who would only identify himself as a 69-year-old retiree from New Jersey. "I guess it’s all about the money. It was really raining on her. But she is beautiful though."

He meant it was raining dollar bills from the crowd. A security guard scooped them up, the cash filling about half a bucket.

Others were less generous in assessing Clifford’s show.

"The show was boring and outdated," said a dancer who declined to identify herself.

A reporter counted about 60 people in the audience for the matinee. Management said more than 100 people attended the first show. The club was about half-full.

Clifford’s visit to Tampa comes as her purported relationship with Trump before he was president took a new turn this week. Trump’s personal attorney, Michael Cohen, said he paid $130,000 to Clifford during the 2016 presidential campaign in a settlement that barred her from discussing the encounter.

But by disclosing that, Clifford’s manager said the performer need no longer obey the nondisclosure agreement that prevented her from talking about the purported affair she had with Trump at a Lake Tahoe casino hotel in 2006.

That’s why Thee Dollhouse general manager Warren Colazzo booked Clifford’s "Make America Horny Again" tour.

"Timing is everything," he told the Tampa Bay Times earlier this week. The club even had about 800 red hats that say "Make Thee Dollhouse Great Again" made to sell for $20 apiece.

And speaking of timing: The New Yorker magazine published a report Friday that former Playboy Playmate and model Karen McDougal had a nine-month affair with Trump from 2006-07.

The White House has denied the allegations of both affairs.

Politics is what brought Sean Davis, 47, of Valrico to the show. He said he does not like the president and did not come to the strip club for the adult entertainment.

"I really didn’t want to see her dance," he said. "I was hoping she would just sit on stage and spill the beans about Trump."

He paid $20 to pose for a photo with Clifford and shared it with the Times.

There were others, however, who just wanted to go to a strip club.

A man who would only identify himself as "David," for example, who said he is a 55-year-old business owner, said he didn’t even know the performer known as Stormy would be there.

"If I was her, though," he said, "I would bring a blowup Trump on stage."

He said he did not vote in 2016.

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MLBPA to open spring training camp for free agents Tuesday in Florida

A spring training site for dozens of unsigned free agents and hosted by the Major League Baseball players’ union will open Tuesday at the IMG Baseball Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

Citing as rationale an “unprecedented” number of free agents still available, and as 30 team camps commence across Florida and Arizona, the union has invited its players to a facility it says would “replicate a professional training environment.” Beyond that, the union said, it would, “Continue to identify ways to generally support, provide ongoing information, and increase the visibility of unsigned players.”

Bo Porter, the former manager of the Houston Astros and a longtime major league player and coach, will head the camp. Attending players will be housed and insured by the union. They also will receive a per diem. The camp is scheduled to run through the first week in March, though it could go longer or shorter depending on participation.

It is unclear how many players will attend.

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SpaceX rocket launched from Florida with satellite for NATO surveillance

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Jan 31 (Reuters) – A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Florida on Wednesday carrying a Luxembourg-made communications satellite designed to expand NATO’s surveillance reach and its capability to deter cyber attacks on alliance members.

The liftoff at 4:25 p.m. EST (2125 GMT) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station followed a technical glitch that prompted a 24-hour flight delay. It marked the second rocket launch this year for billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and his privately owned Space Exploration Technologies.

It comes a week before the California-based company is slated to conduct its highly anticipated first test flight of the much larger and more powerful Falcon Heavy rocket, which packs three times the thrust of the Falcon 9.

Wednesday’s payload is a communications satellite built for LuxGovSat S.A., a public-private joint venture between the Luxembourg government and Luxembourg-based telecommunications company SES, in part to fulfill that nation’s growing defense obligations to NATO.

The so-called GovSat-1 satellite will provide, among other things, greater cyber protection for Luxembourg’s European Union partners and NATO allies, including the United States, Luxembourg Defense Minister Etienne Schneider told a news conference on Tuesday.

A spokesman for Schneider said the $279 million satellite is part of a broader policy of doubling the country’s contributions to NATO.

Citing new security threats, a senior NATO official told Reuters in March that the alliance planned to spend more than $3 billion on defense technology, a third of which would go toward satellite communications.

Unlike many recent SpaceX launches, no attempt was made to retrieve the rocket’s reusable main-stage because the SES satellite had to be carried to a higher Earth orbit, leaving the booster without sufficient fuel to fly back to Earth for a return landing.

The same Falcon 9 booster was used last year in a mission to launch a top-secret payload into space for the U.S. government. (Editing by Steve Gorman and Sandra Maler)

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Border Patrol agents spark anger after boarding bus in Florida to ask passengers for proof of citizenship

The two uniformed U.S. Border Patrol agents clambered aboard a Greyhound bus in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and instructed passengers to show proof of citizenship.

"This is new?" a woman on the bus from Orlando to Miami asked fellow passengers as agents questioned another woman several seats in front of them. "You ridden on the bus before?"

"Yeah," another passenger replied. "A police officer is not even allowed to ask for immigration papers.… You have no right to stop me and ask me for ID."

Video of the encounter Friday spread on social media over the last few days, generating fierce criticism from rights advocates who question the legality of such searches.

"Proof of citizenship is NOT required to ride a bus!" the Florida Immigrant Coalition said in a statement when it shared the video on Twitter.

Though immigration inspections on Greyhound buses are not widely publicized, they are not new. Border Patrol agents routinely conduct such inspections at transportation centers across Florida, the Customs and Border Protection’s Miami sector said in a statement Tuesday.

Over the years, activists have voiced concern in cities from Miami to Spokane, Wash.

Some activists say that such enforcement actions violate the U.S. Constitution’s Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

The ACLU of Florida said it was investigating what happened at the Fort Lauderdale bus station. "We are extremely concerned with the contents of this video," it said in a statement.

"Immigration raids yield to unconstitutional practices that can violate the right to equal protection and the Fourth Amendment by coercing vulnerable individuals to submit to interrogations about their citizenship and immigration status, conducting unreasonable searches and seizure and targeting people of color," the statement said.

Customs and Border Protection officials say they are following federal regulations. The Immigration and Nationality Act allows immigration officers to conduct searches, without a warrant, within 100 miles of any U.S. border. The entire state of Florida is within 100 miles of the coast.

With tickets from Orlando to Miami selling from as little as $28, Greyhound is a popular means of travel for many poor, working people, including immigrants. Many do not have driver’s licenses.

Border Patrol agents should not be allowed to board private Greyhound buses to question travelers without a judicial warrant, said Isabel Sousa-Rodriguez, membership director for the Florida Immigrant Coalition.

"This creates terrifying concerns for our community," she said. "Are Border Patrol officers going to be stopping us and asking us for our citizenship when we are at public parks, when we go to get groceries, when our kids are walking to school?"

While Customs and Border Protection officials say such inspections are vital to national security, activists counter that they erode public trust in police, breed fear and threaten public safety.

Sousa-Rodriguez said there was a need for stricter limits and parameters to the 100-mile rule, as well as more accountability and training of officers.

"Is there anywhere in our state that we are safe from the harassment and invasion and infringement upon our civil liberties?" she said. "Do we have any protections in this country anymore?"

The video, which as of Tuesday afternoon had amassed 2.3 million views since it was posted Saturday, shows two uniformed officers, with "POLICE U.S. BORDER PATROL" emblazoned on the back of their shirts, walking through the bus.

As the video rolls, passengers near the back of the bus lift up their cellphones to shoot videos. Among themselves, some question the agents’ right to demand identification.

After questioning the woman near the middle of the bus and inspecting her identification, an agent asks: "Where’s your luggage?"

The woman was heading to a friend’s house in Miami after visiting family in Virginia and meeting her granddaughter for the first time, Sousa-Rodriguez said.

In statement Saturday shared by the coalition, the woman’s daughter-in-law said she was concerned about the officers questioning the woman without a lawyer present.

The Border Patrol’s Miami sector said Tuesday that agents arrested a Jamaican woman at the Fort Lauderdale bus station. Officials said the woman had overstayed her visa and was transported to the Dania Beach Border Patrol station and then turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation proceedings.

Activists in Florida say they have long heard regular complaints from immigrants using Greyhound, but the number of calls appears to have gone up in recent months.

"We’ve gotten calls from people who have seen immigration officers on their buses in Tallahassee, in Gainesville, in Tampa, in Orlando," Sousa-Rodriguez said. "It’s really a pervasive problem."

With mounting criticism of its practice of allowing Border Patrol agents on its buses, Greyhound released a statement saying it was required to follow all local, state and federal laws and cooperate with enforcement agencies.

"We hear you, and we are listening," the statement said. "Unfortunately, even routine transportation checks negatively impact our operations and some customers directly.

"We encourage anyone with concerns about what happened to reach out directly to these agencies," the statement said. "Greyhound will also reach out to the agencies to see if there is anything we can do on our end to minimize any negative effect of this process."

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Florida prisoners plan Martin Luther King Day strike over ‘slavery’

Inmates of Florida’s prisons are planning to use Monday’s Martin Luther King Day holiday to launch a statewide strike over conditions they say amount to modern-day slavery.

The unusual protest has been called by inmates angry at being used as unpaid clean-up crews for storm debris in sweltering temperatures last September, after Hurricane Irma struck the state.

But organisers cite a number of other long-standing grievances for the planned month-long action, in which prisoners will refuse to take part in work assignments and forego purchasing “overpriced” luxury items such as snacks and toiletries, in an attempt to hit the state’s department of corrections in the pocket.

“Our goal is to make the governor realise that it will cost the state of Florida millions of dollars daily to contract outside companies to come and cook, clean and handle the maintenance,” the unnamed prisoners said in a statement posted on the website of the inmates’ advocacy group Fight Toxic Prisons.

“This will cause a total breakdown. We must use everything we have to show that we mean business.”

Florida has the nation’s third-largest prison system with 97,000 inmates, according to state figures. It is also one of the most troubled and violent such systems, with allegations of abuse of inmates rife.

In 2017, officers were cleared of blame for the death of a mentally ill patient they left in a scalding shower for two hours as punishment. In-depth investigations by the Miami Herald uncovered large numbers of rapes, beatings and cover-ups in the state’s non-air-conditioned jails.

The prisoners have dubbed their protest Operation Push, after civil rights leader Jesse Jackson’s 1970s campaign to improve economic conditions for African Americans. Almost a third of Florida inmates are black, compared to fewer than 17% in the general population.

One key demand is a reasonable wage for the labour inmates provide.

“They force them to work at gunpoint and they pay them nothing,” said Paul Wright, executive director of the Florida-based Human Rights Defense Cener.

“There’s a word for that, it’s called slavery.

“Florida is one of the few states in the country that doesn’t pretend to pay even a nominal wage. Some states might say they pay 10 cents a day, or 15 cents an hour, or whatever, but here they make it pretty clear they don’t pay prisoners anything, they’re not going to, and prisoners are totally enslaved at every level.

“There’s no legal way for Florida’s prisoners to earn money in the prison system.”

The inmates also want the return of parole as an incentive for those with long-term sentences and an end to what they see as price gouging on food and other necessities.

“One case of soup on the street cost $4, it costs us $17 on the inside,” the prisoners said in their statement. “This is highway robbery without a gun. It’s not just us that they’re taking from. It’s our families who struggle to make ends meet and send us money, they are the real victims.”

Advocacy groups and friends and families of inmates have organised solidarity rallies outside several prisons and department of corrections offices on Monday, including in Miami and Tallahassee.

According to the Tallahassee Democrat, officials sent an email to employees at department headquarters urging them to lock doors and stay inside during the protests.

Tensions are running high in the Florida prison system. Last August, all facilities were placed on a three-day lockdown after unspecific threats of rioting.

In an emailed statement to the Guardian and other media outlets, department of corrections communications director Michelle Glady did not address detailed questions about the planned response to Monday’s planned protests.

“The department will continue to ensure the safe operation of our correctional facilities,” she said.

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90-year-old Tampa man missing, cold prompts safety concerns

TAMPA, Fla. – Investigators searching for a missing 90-year-old man are concerned for his safety due to the cold weather.

Sebastian Francis was last seen at about 11:15 a.m. outside the Winn Dixie supermarket at 2525 N. Dale Mabry Highway. He waited in a vehicle while a family member went inside the store, but when they returned, Francis and the vehicle was gone, Tampa police said.

Francis does not have a phone, does not drive and lives several miles away from the supermarket, police said.

"Tampa Police have been searching for him for several hours and are now asking for help from the public, especially given Mr. Francis’ advanced age and the prospects of a very cold night," the department said in a statement.

Francis is described as a black male, approximately 5 feet 2 inches tall, 130 pounds with gray hair. He was last seen wearing a heavy black jacket and dark pants.

Anyone with information regarding Francis’ whereabouts is asked to contact Tampa police at 813-231-6130.

© 2018 WTSP-TV

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U.S. Rep. Darren Soto launches task force on Puerto Rican arrivals to Central Florida

U.S. Rep. Darren Soto (Steve Cannon / AP)

U.S Rep. Darren Soto announced the formation of a regional task force to address the needs of displaced Puerto Rican evacuees who have arrived in Central Florida since the island was bombarded by Hurricane Maria.

The task force met for the first time Thursday in Kissimmee. It also includes U.S. Rep. Val Demings, state Sen. Vic Torres and state Reps. Amy Mercado, John Cortes and Carlos Guillermo Smith, all of whom are Democrats, as well as several officials from Osceola and Seminole counties.

Soto, D-Orlando, recently visited Puerto Rico with fellow Democrat Sen. Bill Nelson.

In a statement, Soto’s office said the group will seek “effective ways to tackle the housing, educational, employment and healthcare challenges facing new Puerto Ricans in the area.” More than 280,000 people have arrived in Florida from Puerto Rico since Oct. 3, according to state figures.

Seminole tax collector asks Scott to allow pre-payment of 2018 property taxes »

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Criminal Charges Recommended in Florida State Student’s Fraternity Hazing Death

A grand jury on Tuesday recommended that prosecutors pursue criminal charges in the death of Florida State University fraternity pledge Andrew Coffey, who died on Nov. 3 after a Pi Kappa Phi “big brother” ritual.

Coffey, 20, passed out after drinking a bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon at the off-campus party and had to be carried by members of the fraternity, according to the grand jury finding. The next morning, he was found without a pulse by another pledge. An autopsy determined that he had a blood alcohol level of .447 — which Dr. Lisa Flannagan characterized as “abusive alcohol intake” in her testimony.

“We do see evidence that will support criminal charges and we leave the decision as to specific charging up to the State Attorney or a future Grand Jury,” the grand jury wrote. An investigation into Coffey’s death is still ongoing.

In an attachment to the report, Coffey’s parents called for more “accountability” from members of the fraternity, describing Coffey as a hard-working “friend to everyone” who planned to enlist in the Navy.

“Even as we are heartbroken, we are also troubled. Troubled that our son died alone in a room full of people,” they wrote. “Troubled that no one stood up and said ‘stop,’ ‘no,’ ‘enough.’ Troubled that a group of young people saw someone in crisis and didn’t act. And troubled that this continues to happen, again and again.”

“When young people continue to die senselessly due to indifference, reckless conduct and irresponsibilty, it is clear that change is not only necessary but crucial,” they added.

Coffey is one of several fraternity pledges who have died this year after alleged hazing rituals, leading many universities — including Florida State — to suspend Greek life and consider reforms to combat a dangerous drinking culture.

“While alcohol abuse is pervasive throughout our community, the scale on which it is embraced within the FSU chapter of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity is alarming,” the grand jury’s presentment said. “The Grand Jury finds that while Andrew Coffey’s alcohol consumption was not physically forced, the acts that culminated in his death occurred within an environment of hazing.”

“Willingness of the pledges to engage in life-threatening behavior in no way absolves fraternity members of their criminal culpability if they did anything to incite or encourage the behavior,” the report stated.

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What Florida is saying about Doug Jones’ defeat of Roy Moore in Alabama | Miami Herald

Florida is reacting to Doug Jones’ victory over Roy Moore in the U.S. Senate race in Alabama. Here is what leaders are saying on Twitter:

God Bless America! https://t.co/3ahIcK0BLE

— US Rep Kathy Castor (@USRepKCastor) December 13, 2017

Steve Bannon is a cancer. Good people in Alabama were the first dose of chemo.

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) December 13, 2017

It’s a good night folks. A very, very good night.Congratulations Senator-elect @GDouglasJones.

— David Jolly (@DavidJollyFL) December 13, 2017 Never miss a local story.

Sign up today for a free 30 day free trial of unlimited digital access.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Roy Moore lost. Steve Bannon lost. Donald Trump lost.Pedophilia lost.Bigotry lost.Homophobia lost.Racism lost.Doug Jones won.Mitch McConnell won.African-Americans won.Women won.Victims won.Justice won.Morality won.Values won.Sanity won. Decency won.America won.

— Ana Navarro (@ananavarro) December 13, 2017

I do not pray as much as I should. In fact, I seldom do. But when I saw Jerry Falwell, Jr. praying on line today for a Roy Moore victory, I decided to post up on him. I prayed on and off all day that Moore would be defeated. Jerry, who’s your daddy?

— Mac Stipanovich (@MacStipanovich) December 13, 2017

The people of #Alabama put country first tonight by rejecting the disgusting Roy Moore. Congratulations to the Bannon wing of the @GOP for gifting a seat to @SenateDems in one of the reddest states. You have no future in our country’s politics. #AlabamaElection

— Carlos Curbelo (@carloslcurbelo) December 13, 2017

Good wins over evil. Congratulations to Senator-Elect @GDouglasJones (D-AL). A victory for women and a strong message about what America won’t stand for. Look out @realDonaldTrump, @GOP, this is only the beginning.

— D Wasserman Schultz (@DWStweets) December 13, 2017

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Find An Apartment Quickly In Tampa

Do you need an apartment in Tampa quickly? There are always going to be a lot to choose from, so you don’t have to worry about there not being something out there for you. Here’s a little more so you can find what you need.

You’re going to want to look at listings regularly so you can see what people put up online that they have for rent. If you don’t see something you like today, then you can look again the next day or even in a few hours after you first check and chances are there will be more apartments. This is a large city and people move into and out of apartments all the time. Contact people that have listings up you’re interested in ASAP if you want to be first in line or close to it so you have a chance at getting the apartment if you like it.

Go look at reviews for the apartment complex you’re thinking of moving to. You need to know what people thought of it when they lived there, and you may even find some current reviews from residents that live there now. If all you hear are negative things about the place, then you know that it’s not worth your time to try and live there. It’s better to go with what people like because that means that you have a better chance at enjoying your time while you live there. Bad reviews are going to come up for many apartments, but if they outweigh the good then you know to avoid that place.

An apartment in Tampa is easy to find if you use the tips you were just given. Just make sure you are careful about what you pick out. That way, you don’t get stuck with a place that you are not going to like and want to move out of.

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After Taggart meets with Florida State, Oregon Ducks left to wait

On a trip to Arizona on Monday, Oregon coach Willie Taggart went recruiting, then got recruited himself.

Taggart, along with co-offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo, visited four-star quarterback commit Tyler Shough in the Phoenix area before Taggart met with Florida State officials nearby.

Taggart was reportedly set to return to Eugene that night to meet with UO officials, who worked late into the night. But it remained unclear as of Monday evening whether Taggart is still committed to UO or Florida State, the program from Taggart’s home state seeking a replacement for new Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher.

The Orlando Sentinel reported Monday that FSU and Taggart’s agent were negotiating a contract with a goal of announcing him as the coach of the Seminoles on Tuesday.

If Taggart leaves after a lone 7-5 season in Eugene, he would owe Oregon $4.5 million — the $3 million buyout his contract stipulates plus the repayment of an additional $1.5 million that UO covered for his South Florida buyout last year.

Taggart is scheduled to earn $2.9 million in the first year of his contract but prior to UO’s Civil War rout on Nov. 25 was offered an extension worth more than $20 million over five seasons.

Unlike lengthy coaching searches in past years, time is precious now because, for the first time, football recruits can now sign earlier than the first Wednesday in February. An early signing period runs from Dec. 20-22, and many programs, such as Oregon, are expected to ink the bulk of their recruiting class then.

That looming 72-hour signing period has accelerated the pace with which Florida State wants to wrap up its first coaching search in Taggart’s lifetime — 41 years.

Jimbo Fisher’s successor in Tallahassee must quickly attempt to revive interest in the program that flagged during the team’s 6-6 season, after FSU opened ranked third nationally. With seven decommitments in the past week, Florida State’s 2018 recruiting class currently has 11 members and ranks 31st.

The Ducks, meanwhile, have the nation’s seventh-best class, which remains on pace to be the highest-ranked in history. But one recruit — Tre’Shaun Harrison, a four-star athlete from Seattle — has already decommitted, citing "uncertainty" surrounding Taggart’s future in Eugene, and the Ducks are losing a critical weekend of visits on Dec. 15, because the program will instead be in Las Vegas preparing for a Dec. 16 bowl game against Boise State.

Whether Taggart ultimately chooses to hold together his current class or add to a new one in Florida, the quick turnaround before the early signing period is why many expect a quick resolution.

"Coach Taggart was a big part of my commitment," Madison High School linebacker and 2018 UO commit M.J. Cunningham told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Monday. "I was closer to him than my position coach. If he leaves, I’d definitely consider Oregon and stay committed for awhile to see how things go, but I’m going to see what’s out there for me. Oregon was always a dream school, so they’ll always be in the discussion. If he leaves, I won’t decommit right away."

Cunningham said he spoke with defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt on Monday and that while he didn’t offer any hints as to Taggart’s decision, Leavitt "was pretty much saying if Taggart leaves, he’ll still be there."

Shough, the quarterback who hosted Taggart Monday morning, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that the meeting was "great" though there was "no real news about an update between the schools. He talked about Oregon most of the time, and us."

Oregon later canceled Taggart’s meeting Monday evening with four-star receiver commit Miles Battle in Houston. Battle tweeted that no make-up date has been set with meet with Taggart.

— Andrew Greif @andrewgreif

Madison linebacker and Oregon Ducks pledge M.J. Cunningham

Texas four-star WR Miles Battle will no longer be visited Monday evening by Willie Taggart.

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Driver tries to cut into Trump’s motorcade in Florida

An angry motorist tried to cut his van into President Trump’s motorcade in Florida Saturday afternoon and made obscene gestures as he was pulled over by police.

A White House pool report said the red van "attempted to cut into the motorcade. Local law enforcement pulled over the vehicle, where the driver made obscene gestures and screamed several expletives."

The incident happened as the president was returning to Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach after a round of golf at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. The Associated Press reported that the president was spotted playing a round with 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus and Nicklaus’ son Gerry.

Saturday marked the fourth day in a row in which Trump visited one of his golf courses. On Friday, Trump played with Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson and Brad Faxon at another of his courses, in nearby Jupiter.

The president is spending the Thanksgiving holiday in Florida and is due to return to Washington Sunday evening.

The incident with the van driver was not the first time Trump’s motorcade has drawn obscene gestures from passers-by. Last month, a Virginia woman flipped off the motorcade as it drove by her. The woman was later fired from her job at a government contractor.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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With Florida and Tennessee jobs open, who will end up where?

The news that Tennessee parted ways with coach Butch Jones on Sunday afternoon pushed the college football carousel into overdrive. But the fundamental problem with the Tennessee job – and a strong reason why athletic director John Currie was queasy about firing Jones until it became obvious he had to – is that Florida is set to dictate the market. The rest of the SEC – Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas A&M and Ole Miss – can line up behind the Gators in their upcoming searches.

Tennessee has been a second-tier program essentially since the decline of Phil Fulmer in the mid-2000s. The emergence of Alabama as the SEC’s alpha dog, the SEC West’s push to dominance and losing 12 of 13 to Florida on the field have solidified Tennessee into SEC also-ran status. To figure out who Tennessee will hire, it’s necessary to start by peeking at how Scott Stricklin’s first major search as Florida’s athletic director is going. Since firing Jim McElwain on Oct. 29, Florida has started to research candidates behind the scenes.

We wrote the day after the firing that the three prime candidates for that position will be UCF’s Scott Frost, Chip Kelly and Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen. That trio still remains in focus, with sources indicating that a thorough vetting of Kelly has begun. That includes calls to NFL executives to do general background on Kelly and exploration of his NCAA issues at Oregon.

The timeline of the search may offer the most clues as to how Stricklin will play his hand. Don’t expect Florida to formally reach out or attempt to interview Frost until after the American Athletic Conference title game on Dec. 2. Central Florida (9-0) is blitzing through an undefeated season, and neither side has any interest breaking the sanctity of that run.

Frost, who became a father last week, is locked in on finishing this UCF season. He and his family are genuinely happy in Orlando and like everything about UCF.

When UCF’s season ends, he’ll evaluate his options through the prism of where he’s most likely be able to win a national title. The answer to that would still leave Florida as the most likely option, as the soon-to-be open job at Nebraska, his alma mater, simply doesn’t have the same recruiting base as Florida. Frost has developed a good reputation among high school coaches in the state in a short period, which could lead to a smooth transition to Gainesville.

Will Chip Kelly end up at Florida? Tennessee? The next few weeks will be telling. (AP)

But who is the first choice? The timeline will likely tell us sooner than later. That’s because Kelly doesn’t have obligations to anyone other than his weekly appearances on ESPN. With sources saying Stricklin is doing his due diligence, the timeline could well unfold this way. If UF has zeroed in on Kelly as its top choice, and he’s reciprocated interest, it’s likely that a deal would come before the AAC title game.

Kelly is a proven commodity, as going 46-7 in four seasons at Oregon established him as one of college football’s most innovative minds of this generation. He’s the surest bet on the board to rejuvenate a program.

There are some quirks to Kelly, many of which revolve around his stated preference of being locked in on coaching his team. Kelly isn’t keen on the booster glad-handing, rubber-chicken banquet speeches and general day-to-day hysteria that come with high-profile coaching jobs. Kelly has a low-key personality off the field, and he’s reiterated to friends that “fit and people” will be the ultimate determinations of where he coaches next.

Kelly wasn’t thought to be intrigued by SEC jobs, but Florida presents a different dynamic as it has more of Kelly’s preferred East Coast vibe. For now, it’s not known if each party is completely sold on each other. But the mutual exploration process is underway.

There’s the sticky matter of a new SEC rule that basically states that any coach with significant NCAA issues in their past stop will require a phone call from the university president to the SEC commissioner to make the hire. In other words, there’d be another layer in the hiring process. Hypothetically speaking, this may give a university pause and perhaps prevent serial cheaters from being hired and running another program that has wound up in the crosshairs of an FBI investigation.

The early read on how administrators at Florida and the SEC perceive the recruiting transgressions during Kelly’s tenure at Oregon is positive for the coach. A safe way to view Kelly’s NCAA issues is that not all show causes are created equally, and his issues at Oregon don’t appear to be a significant hindrance to his potential hiring at Florida. If there were a pattern of misbehavior, it would likely be a bigger issue.

What’s unknown here is where Kelly’s head is. He’s famously reclusive, even to those close to him. He’s been speculatively linked to UCLA, a place where he could potentially hide in plain sight amid the din of Los Angeles. But for now, Jim Mora’s job appears safe, as UCLA is 5-5 with games against USC and California left to qualify for a bowl. There’s little institutional momentum to fire Mora, as he’d be owed nearly $12 million. That’s a lot of money for a cash-strapped school that just hit up its major donors for its recently opened $65 million football facility.

Then there’s the Mullen conundrum. Stricklin is a Mississippi State graduate and just left the school to become Florida’s athletic director a few months ago. He and Mullen had a good working relationship that’s proven mutually beneficial for both. Mullen is one of the country’s top-paid coaches at $4.5 million per year, golden handcuffs that have perhaps kept him in Starkville longer than a coach of his caliber would normally stay. It’s a difficult place to win, as no coach has left MSU without being dismissed since Darrell Royal in 1956.

Mississippi State played Alabama toe-to-toe on Saturday night, losing 31-24 after Alabama scored the winning touchdown with 25 seconds left. State will likely return 18 starters next year and could compete for the league title, which means Mullen will be judicious. (Why go to Tennessee or Texas A&M if he can win the SEC where he is at?) There’s a general feeling among the senior Florida staff that they’ve bungled the past two hires (Will Muschamp and Jim McElwain), which includes regret of not engaging with Mullen. Stricklin and Mullen had a solid working relationship in Starkville, but Mullen-to-Florida still seems an unlikely marriage because of all the complicated relationships and cross-pollination involved.

Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen will likely be courted by several schools, but he may stand the best chance of winning by staying pat at MSU. (Getty)

So that brings us to Tennessee, and the early read on the Vols’ search is that they’re not going to be able to lure a big name. Cross off the above three names as candidates, as they can all do better or have better situations. (Playing Alabama in a crossover game every year hurts the perception of this job nationally).

So who is realistic at Tennessee? Anyone who mentions Jon Gruden in any capacity should be charged with journalistic negligence. The best window into how Currie thinks may be to study his last major search at Kansas State. Currie hired Bruce Weber, a generally successful and solid X’s-and-O’s coach who’d been fired at Illinois.

Weber wasn’t a splashy hire, but Currie wanted a coach who wouldn’t be overmatched or intimidated looking down the sideline at veteran coaches like Bob Huggins, Bill Self or Rick Barnes. Who fits the category of not being afraid to stare down Nick Saban? Well, it’s a short list. Let’s start by crossing off Iowa State’s Matt Campbell ($9 million) and Virginia Tech’s Justin Fuente ($6 million) because of the size of their buyouts. Neither appear eager to leave, either.

The first grouping that should be considered are veteran, successful coaches that fit the mold of Weber. TCU’s Gary Patterson, Utah’s Kyle Whittingham and Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano all have enough experience. All would need a detailed offensive plan, as none bring expertise on that side of the ball. Washington State’s Mike Leach falls into this category as well, but would the straight-laced Currie welcome the relentless quirkiness of Leach? That feels like an unlikely pairing.

As for sound younger coaches, Purdue’s Jeff Brohm and Memphis’ Mike Norvell would be the best fits. Brohm’s buyout is $4 million after Dec. 5 and he has the offensive acumen that’s been desperately missing in Knoxville for the past decade. Norvell has Memphis on track for the AAC title game, and his wide-open offense would be a salve to the dreary units Tennessee has trotted out in recent years.

As has been proven on the field for the past decade, Florida is well ahead of Tennessee. And in their searches, that’s going to remain the case.

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Is Florida State’s biggest issue actually on defense?

Florida State’s struggles on offense are well-documented and come with a good explanation: the quarterback.

As Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said earlier this week, the Seminoles lost a potential Heisman Trophy candidate when Deondre Francois got hurt — just a bit of Swinney’s rhetorical praise for FSU — and the result has been a unit that has failed to top 28 points in any game this season.

But what about the other side of the ball? That’s the real head-scratcher.

It has not been an outright disaster on defense, of course. Florida State ranks 28th nationally in yards per play (just behind Notre Dame) and allows 24.3 points per game, better than a year ago.

Look a little deeper, though, and there are red flags that help explain the 3-5 record FSU currently sports. The Noles rank 96th in sacks, despite a blue-chip defensive front that was among the nation’s best a year ago. Opponents are converting more than 37 percent of their third downs, 60th nationally, including nine conversions on third-and-5 or longer by Syracuse last week. And perhaps most befuddling, the Noles have just six takeaways, the fewest by any Power 5 team and 128th overall.

The explanation, Florida State safety Derwin James said, is in the game plan, which has played it safe in a long series of close games, knowing the offense might not be able to put many points on the board.

"That’s the mindset," James said. "Everybody wants to do their job. We do a great job of preparing, knowing situations. We play a lot of man. Sometimes, you have to just get the guy on the ground or knock the ball down. We know the scheme we’re playing and we want to follow our identity."

SeasonPressure percentageTurnovers per drive201225.2 percent10.8 percent201325.0 percent18.6 percent201424.3 percent14.0 percent201527.6 percent9.1 percent201632.5 percent13.2 percent201719.6 percent5.7 percent

This argument does seem reasonable. FSU ranks in the middle of the pack among Power 5 defenses in percentage of dropbacks disrupted (sacks, interceptions and pass breakups) but 60th among Power 5 teams in interception rate.

Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher, however, chalks it up less to scheme than to execution. The problem, he said, is finishing plays.

"You’ve got to make turnovers, you’ve got to create pressure, you’ve got to hit your quarterback and when you get opportunities to catch a ball or strip a ball or get on a fumble," Fisher said. "We’ve had a couple opportunities, which we haven’t [taken advantage of], and we’ve got to create some more situations where we pressure them, where guys make bad decisions."

This too is a legitimate concern. Florida State’s highly regarded front ranks 59th among Power 5 teams in pressure rate, down nearly 40 percent from last year, despite returning the bulk of its starting lineup.

Fisher also suggested the quarterbacks that Florida State has faced play a part in the low rate of takeaways, and here he also has a point. Four opposing QBs rank among the best in the nation in interception rate, but others — Miami’s Malik Rosier, Duke’s Daniel Jones, Boston College’s Anthony Brown — have been turnover-prone at times. Just not against Florida State.

All of that adds up to a defense that has been … well, fine. Not great, not awful and certainly not enough to overcome the offensive woes.

"We haven’t been playing Florida State football, but we still have more to play for," James said.

So for James, this Saturday’s showdown with Clemson (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN and the ESPN App) isn’t so much a chance to play spoiler against the No. 4 team in the country, but rather an opportunity to showcase what the defense really can be.

"You get that chip on your shoulder being an underdog," he said. "We’ll come out and play hard. It should be a good game."

Fighting Irish eyeing big runs

Miami’s defense is tough, that much is clear. But that doesn’t mean Notre Dame doesn’t have an opportunity to make a few big plays on the ground when the two top-10 teams meet Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

The Hurricanes’ D allows 4.8 yards per carry (not counting sacks), which ranks just 54th nationally, but even that number is a bit deceptive. The Canes are 20th nationally in stopping nearly 24 percent of run plays at or behind the line of scrimmage. The flip side, however, is that they’ve also surrendered 52 runs of 10 yards or more, 16.3 percent of runs faced — good for 102nd nationally. Meanwhile, the Irish have had 20.2 percent of their runs go for 10 yards or more, fourth best nationally.

So while this might not be a typically big day for the Irish ground game, expect a few big plays to prove critical for running back Josh Adams & Co.

Fitzgerald for the win?

Mississippi State QB Nick Fitzgerald has racked up 817 yards on the ground this year — not counting sacks — which puts him among the most productive mobile QBs in the country. That could be critical against No. 2 Alabama this week.

Since 2008, Alabama has dominated everyone, but the defense has been just a bit less dominant against mobile quarterbacks.

Of the Crimson Tide’s 105 Power 5 opponents since 2008, just 25 have had QBs rush 10 times or more against them (again, not counting sacks). Those 25 teams are a relatively impressive 7-18 against Alabama in that span. Comparatively, teams whose QBs run less than 10 times in a game are a woeful 5-75.

The funny thing is, it doesn’t much matter how successful those QBs are running the ball. Just the attempts make a difference. When the QB runs at least 10 times, the Tide surrender 20.6 points per game and 5.13 yards per play — both big increases as compared to when the QB runs less (12.9 points per game, 4.18 yards per play).

Four downs

There’s an interesting debate between UCF and Wisconsin when it comes to the playoff committee’s rankings. The Knights and Badgers are both undefeated, but committee chairman Kirby Hocutt noted that Wisconsin has the worst strength of schedule of any team the committee ranked this week. UCF, meanwhile, has a larger margin of victory, higher opponent win percentage and a roughly equivalent strength of record (per ESPN). And yet, the Knights are ranked 18th and Wisconsin is eighth.

Kenny Hill’s accuracy is key for TCU. In games in which he has completed at least 70 percent of his attempts, the Frogs average 37.3 points per game and 6.2 yards per play. When he doesn’t, those numbers drop to 27.5 points and 5.5 yards.

Georgia’s defense has faced, on average, 60 plays per game this season, the seventh fewest in the country. Auburn, on the other hand, averages 73 plays per game. Notre Dame is the only Georgia opponent this season to run that many in a game.

The only Power 5 QBs to rack up at least 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns while coughing up five or fewer turnovers this season are Heisman favorite Baker Mayfield and Wake Forest’s John Wolford.

Coach speak

All week Adam Rittenberg has been chatting with head and assistant coaches around the country. Here is the best of those conversations.

Before the season, Washington’s secondary looked like a major stumbling block to its quest to repeat as Pac-12 champions. The Huskies had three defensive backs — safety Budda Baker and cornerbacks Kevin King and Sidney Jones — all selected in the second round of the NFL draft. While safety Taylor Rapp, the Pac-12’s top freshman defender in 2016, and veteran safety JoJo McIntosh returned, there were questions elsewhere. No more. Entering the stretch run, Washington leads the Pac-12 and ranks third nationally in pass yards allowed (149.8 ypg). The Huskies lead the nation in net yards per pass attempt (4.33) and percentage of pass attempts resulting in a touchdown (1.9). Co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach Jimmy Lake attributes the sustained success to leadership from safeties Rapp, McIntosh and senior Ezekiel Turner. Younger players like sophomore cornerback Myles Bryant (six pass breakups, four tackles for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery) have blossomed. "It’s a desire to uphold the standard that was built by the ones before them," Lake said.

When Missouri had several young players beat out veterans for starting spots in preseason camp, offensive coordinator Josh Heupel grew optimistic about a strong start. It didn’t come, but the Tigers are poised to finish strong after averaging 45.4 points in their last five games, with three winnable contests (Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Arkansas) remaining. Heupel has a better grasp of how to use personnel, especially some of Missouri’s young offensive linemen, three of whom are only 19. "It’s really subtle things," Heupel said, "what position you might put this left guard in in the run game. How will you handle protections against the personnel you see?" Heupel also can rely more on junior quarterback Drew Lock, who has 23 touchdown passes and only five interception the past five games. "He’s got a lot more on his plate than he did a year ago," Heupel said. "He may check from pass to run or run to pass based on the box, or based on numbers and techniques and schemes. As much tempo as we play, he’s still got a fair amount of command of the offense."

Michigan State had a leadership problem last season. Everyone could see it. Any chance for a Spartans turnaround would require a better locker room. MSU coaches credit sophomore quarterback Brian Lewerke for helping to foster a better atmosphere. It doesn’t hurt that Lewerke is playing his best football lately, recording back-to-back 400-yard passing performances with six touchdowns and two interceptions. "The quarterback becomes the leader as he’s productive as a player," Spartans quarterbacks coach Brad Salem said. "He was put in that position, and his personality, he captures the people around him. People have played very well and responded to him." Salem also has seen growth in Lewerke’s schematic knowledge by the questions he asks in meetings. "He’ll ask more, ‘Should we do this or could we do that?" he said. "He’s more intrigued by the design of what the defense is giving and some opportunities we can take as an offense."

Despite an offensive-minded coach in Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia has relied more on its defense in recent years. It happened again last week against Iowa State after the offense provided a 20-0 lead but didn’t score for the final two and a half quarters. The Mountaineers defense, down four starters, allowed only one touchdown and forced two short field goals to hold off Iowa State’s comeback. Led by cornerback Hakeem Bailey (3), seven WVU defenders recorded a pass breakup. "We challenged them and whoever was going to play needed to get in there and play with relentless effort and as much physicality as we possibly can," Holgorsen told me, Ivan Maisel and Chris Low on Tuesday’s Campus Conversation podcast. "We basically shut them down in the first half and knew those guys are going to come back. … But we did a great job of holding those guys to field goals, which is what we’ve been doing defensively around here for the last couple of years. I’m really proud of the whole unit."

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Hooper: Tampa Pig Jig expands its recipe for success

TAMPA

Start with various forms of barbecue, add some heaping helpings of spirited competition, toss in a few cups of trash talking and mix vigorously with college football, live music, friendship and a good cause.

It’s a recipe that’s yielded some tremendous results for the Tampa Pig Jig, so much so that organizers have decided not to limit the fun to one day in October.

Of course, they had me at barbecue.

But maybe truffles are another ingredient because the annual Tampa Pig Jig has mushroomed from a humble beginning to an amazing event since it launched in the back yard of Vince Chillura in 2011.

In an effort to help friend Will Wellman, Chillura, Wellman and some of their other childhood friends brought the list of fun together. The aim was to help Wellman, who had been diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, or FSGS, a debilitating kidney disease.

The turnout proved substantial. The love proved palpable. I’d say the food proved terrific, but I didn’t get an invite to the inaugural Pig Jig. No worries. You’re forgiven.

"People had such a good time, we thought we were on to something," Chillura said. "A lot of folks wanted to know if they could compete in the competition the next year. We could tell we had a good idea. We just needed to tweak it and hone it."

So they added more cooks, more sponsors and shifted to a bigger event space — the old Tampa Armature Works field now being converted into a food hall. It eventually outgrew that area and found itself in need of Tampa’s top outdoor venue, where it’s been since 2014.

All the success of the recipe was on display last week at Curtis Hixon Park. Even under overcast skies that eventually gave way to a fall storm, more than 8,000 people strolled the pit, sampling all forms of barbecue — the bacon-wrapped, stuffed chicken was a surprising favorite — while bands performed on a stage and people under tents tuned in to football on big-screen televisions.

But again, why stop at one day?

Chillura said local Realtor and CPA Jamie Whitney, wife of co-founder Chris Whitney, teamed with EventFest senior vice president Maiken Stefany and hit upon an idea that would bring together individual supporters of the Pig Jig on a more regular basis. Now the Smoke Show Social Club.

"We were trying to make it a year-long event and bring in a membership component so we could get more individuals involved as sponsors," Jamie Whitney said.

For $500 for individuals or $1,000 for a couple, people can reap the event benefits that typically go to corporate sponsors — all-you-can-eat access at the Pig Jig — and attend related events during the year.

I know what I want for Christmas.

"We have several events planned to, ‘Get the band back together,’ and get people excited for the next Pig Jig," Chris Whitney explained.

Yet it’s more than a social club, because the mission of supporting NephCure Kidney International and raising awareness of FSGS is never far away. One event earlier this year brought together members for a "summer supper" not only to break bread but to learn more about FSGS research advancements from an expert.

"It’s a fine line between too much information and too little information," Jamie Whitney said, "But we had an entertaining speaker who could get across the key points during that time frame and still leave room for members to socialize.

"It’s a good formula."

Maybe the best aspect of the formula is it’s not only raising awareness, but it’s bringing together families impacted by FSGS. It’s fairly rare disease so families can sense they’re all alone. HIPAA laws prevent doctors from connecting patients, but the Pig Jig cooks up a support network where the medical community couldn’t.

More than 20 families met at this year’s event and enjoyed good food while comparing notes, sharing contact information and leaning on each other.

"I think getting together 20-plus families was a huge win for us," Chillura said. "We’re looking to continue and expand that and hopefully double the amount."

Chillura and Whitney and really everyone involved agree it’s amazing how far the Pig Jig has come since its simple inception. The results are more often found in smaller cities, but the success of these dedicated community leaders is one of the reasons I call Tampa the biggest small town in America.

That’s all I’m saying.

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