By JOEY JOHNSTON
Tribune Sports Writer
(c) Tampa Bay Times. Originally published May 22, 1984.
TAMPA — Jesuit High School has had its share of good athletes.
Lou Piniella of the New York Yankees was a Tiger basketball-baseball star in the early 1960s. He still holds the school record for most points scored in a basketball game (57).
Running back Leonard George led the Tigers to a state football crown in 1968, then went on to play at the University of Florida.
David Magadan, a four-year standout, was the college baseball Player of the Year in 1983. He hit .583 and led the University of Alabama to second place in the College World Series.
Many others have contributed to Jesuit’s athletic success. But in the estimation of Athletic Director Bill Minahan, none have done more than Terry Rupp.
“Terry is the greatest athlete to come out of Jesuit High School,’’ Minahan said. “He probably received every athletic award possible. He was the great All-American boy.’’
Rupp, a 6-foot-6, 220-pounder, led the Tigers to the Class 3A State Basketball Championship. He was the third-leading scorer in the state (29.9 points per game). He was named to the All-State and All-South teams.
After basketball season, he joined the 7-7 baseball team. He hit .382 with six home runs. The Tigers won 16 of their last 19 games. He was named baseball’s Most Valuable Player.
Today, Rupp gets another honor. He is the Tampa Tribune Prep Athlete of the Year.
Statistics alone justify Rupp’s status. But there’s more.
There was a mania surrounding Rupp, a fan following unlike any other in the county high school ranks. Jesuit students packed into the gym to see him play, then proudly reveled in his accomplishments.
He was the player Tampa Catholic fans loved to hate (and boo).
“At times, he was treated almost as a professional athlete,’’ basketball coach John Szponar said. “Terry’s character allowed that to happen, but he never got carried away with it. Neither did the team.
“Around Christmas time, the students began wearing buttons to the games (that read ‘Jesuit Basketball Is E-Rupp-ting’) and the team loved it. There was no jealousy.
“They all respected Terry as the leader. He could keep the team loose at the right time. But he was able to stop that at the right time and be intense. I’ve never had an individual who could do that.’’
Rupp’s athletic career is all the more outstanding when considering Jesuit’s sink-or-swim academic atmosphere. A hefty stack of press clippings didn’t provide any advantages in the classroom.
Rupp tenaciously attacked the books, much like he would a collapsing zone defense or a fastball. He earned a 3.2 grade-point average.
“Whenever he had some free time — and that wasn’t very often — I would see him back studying in the coaches’ office,’’ Minahan said. “He wasn’t that brilliant of a student, but he worked hard and made good grades.’’
“Terry Rupp exemplifies what Jesuit High School is all about,’’ baseball coach David Kent said. “He’s the ideal student-athlete.’’
Rupp will leave that legacy behind and head for Davidson College, a Division I school in Davidson, N.C. It might not be the Kentucky Wildcats or North Carolina Tar Heels, but Rupp is happy with the choice. Davidson offers a strong academic program and the opportunity to play two sports.
Surely, we’ll hear more from Rupp at Davidson. But his days at Jesuit won’t soon be forgotten.
“Terry proved you can do well in sports and excel in academics,’’ said the Rev. Douglas Hypolite, Jesuit’s principal. “He has contributed a lot in bringing our school to the community. Winning the state basketball championship gave our students a lot of self-confidence. Terry had a lot to do with all of it.
“A strong mind and a solid body — Terry lived up to that old motto. We’re very proud of him.’’
