- November 23, 2024
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Having served three years in the military, where “attention to detail” is one of the more popular mottos, I feel a little shame for never noticing Bob, after covering the Lady Bulldogs for nearly two years. They’ve been trotting Bob out with them to the bench for three years.
When Flagler Palm Coast athletic trainer Grace Iorio took over the position, she found Bob, a life-sized CPR mannequin while cleaning out a closet. Ready to throw him away, the FPC girls basketball team picked him up and revived his life. Bob has actually become a significant part of the team.
“We first used him to scare and play jokes on people,” coach Javier Bevacqua said. “That’s when the girls named him Bob. One day they put clothes on him and sat him on the end of our bench at a game. The other team walked by and saw him, and they freaked out,” he laughed.
Since his first game, Bob has traveled with the team to most places they go; they even bought him a travel suit and Nikes. He gone bowling with the team, participated in some of the girls’ college signings, watched as the girls won their regional championship for the first time in history, last season, and there was even a conversation to take him to Lakeland to the Final Four.
“We were afraid we would get a bench technical foul, because we didn’t know if we could sit him on the bench,” Bevacqua said.
Bob can be seen either holding a clipboard at games or guarding the Gatorade with his arm. Sometimes, sleepiness gets the best of him, so he may fold his arms and nap at game.
No longer is he lying on some dirt floor, awaiting a meeting with a garbage truck. The Lady Dawgs have returned the favor to Bob and saved his life, which was primarily used to help others save lives.
So, when was the last time you attended a girls basketball game? Did you see Bob? Be honest. If you haven’t, I bet you’ll be more attentive to their bench at the next game.
And, if you introduce yourself, just remember that he’s extremely shy, so he never says much, and he’s no coach or anything; he’s just Bob.
