The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, a football team in the Canadian Football League, is adding a 15th member to their Ring of Honor. This inductee has connections to DeLand, as he was an athlete at DeLand High School, where he played football and baseball, while also running track.
This is none other than James Murphy, who grew up in DeLand and still has family here. He will be inducted into the Ring of Honor when the Blue Bombers host Saskatchewan in the Banjo Bowl Saturday, Sept. 9.
Murphy played his college football at Utah State, and was a 10th-round selection by the Minnesota Vikings in 1981.
In 1982, he began his career as a player for the Blue Bombers, playing for them for nine seasons, where he had 573 receptions for 9,036 yards, and 61 touchdowns. Of the nine seasons, six of them saw him receiving more than 1,000 yards per season. He holds to this day the Blue Bomber single-season mark of 116 catches during the 1986 season.
Other honors earned by “Murph” included being the MVP Offensive Player of Winnipeg’s Grey Cup in 1988 (the equivalent of the Super Bowl in the USA), as well as the Canadian Football League’s Most Outstanding Player in 1986.
He was also inducted into the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame in 1995 and 2000, respectively.
The Blue Bombers also won the Grey Cup three times while Murphy played for the team in 1984, 1988 and 1990.
Volusia County Schools has a student cellphone policy that most need to be aware of. As a reminder and pursuant to HB 309, a student may not use a wireless communication device during instructional time, except when expressly directed by a teacher solely for educational purposes. A teacher shall designate an area for wireless communication devices during instructional time. This includes cellphones, smartwatches, tablets and earbuds.
Students who violate the law will be disciplined in accordance with the procedures implemented in the school’s code of conduct.
Blue Lake Elementary School
Blue Lake Elementary School in DeLand says thank you to Huggins Law Firm, which presented the school with new front-office furniture; to Florida Credit Union, which donated Sonny’s BBQ to the school staff; and to Tijuana Flats in DeLand for a donation to the school.
Freedom Elementary School
Freedom Elementary School in DeLand reminds parents to look at the parent pickup and drop-off guidelines found on the school’s website, as well as the morning lineup procedures.
The school will have its first general PTA meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29.
Friendship Elementary School
Friendship Elementary School in Deltona offers a thank you to Sage Power Wash for prepping some of the school’s sidewalks prior to the start of school.
McInnis Elementary School
McInnis Elementary School in DeLeon Springs thanks Florida Credit Union for their donation of a delicious breakfast for the teachers on the teachers’ first day back after summer vacation.
Orange City Elementary School
Orange City Elementary School will have health screenings for students in kindergarten through third grade Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 28 and 29.
Osteen Elementary School
Osteen Elementary School has been adopted by Laura Clark of Unc’s Ice Cream Treats Inc.
Deltona Middle School
Deltona Middle School would like to thank Cracker Barrel for the catered breakfast for teachers and staff.
Galaxy Middle School
Galaxy Middle School in Deltona will have a band parents meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29.
West Volusia high-school football
On Friday, Aug. 25, DeLand greets Mainland, Deltona hosts Merritt Island, Pine Ridge of Deltona faces Winter Springs, and Orange City University matches up with Hagerty, while Deltona Trinity Christian goes to American Collegiate Academy in Clearwater and Pierson Taylor goes to Winter Park Trinity Prep. All games are at 7 p.m.
On Friday, Sept. 1, DeLand travels to Centennial High in Port St. Lucie, Deltona goes to Spruce Creek, Pine Ridge of Deltona goes to St. Cloud, Orange City University is at Oviedo, Pierson Taylor goes to St. Francis Catholic in Gainesville, and Deltona Trinity Christian greets Warner Christian Academy of Daytona Beach. All games are at 7 p.m., except that Pine Ridge plays at 7:30 p.m.
DeLand High School
DeLand High School reminds all students that they need to bring their student ID daily. The first and second ID are free, but after that, they will cost $10 to be reprinted. Any student who has obligations (including ID reprints) won’t be able to attend any campus events such as Homecoming, prom, etc.
All seniors and their families, please note that senior ads for the yearbook are available at yearbookordercenter.com. Save $50 off a full page and $25 off all others if you order and submit before Sept. 1. All senior ads are due by Wednesday, Nov. 1.
DeLand High Century Club
Now that high-school football is back on the scene, it is time for those loyal and supportive of DeLand High football to join the Century Club. The purpose of the DeLand High Century Club is to raise money to facilitate the football program in areas that the school cannot fund.
The DeLand High Century Club is an organization dedicated specifically to the football program, with an understanding that a successful program provides much-needed revenue for other programs.
Many people believe that the dues are $100, but that is not true. The yearly dues are $25, which makes you a member without any benefits.
There are pass benefits for all regular-season home football games; these passes can also be used for all other DeLand High School regular-season home sporting events.
These pass programs have different price ranges. Go to delandfootball.org to discover the different packages and their costs, and sign up online. There is a form available on the website that you can fill out and submit, along with a mailing address.
For more, call Jimmy Sieg at 386-804-0881 or email delandcenturyclub@yahoo.com.
DeLand High School Athletics
The DeLand High School athletic calendar for the upcoming week includes the cross-country team at the Flagler Palm Coast Invitational at 7:15 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, and the volleyball team greeting Windermere at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29.
On Wednesday, Aug. 30, the girls’ golf team plays at Lake Brantley at 3:30 p.m., and the boys’ golf team plays at Mainland at 3:30 p.m. On that same day, the swim team hosts Flagler Palm Coast at 4 p.m. at the DeLand Family YMCA pool.
Thursday, Aug. 31, brings the junior-varsity football team to Sperling Sports Complex to face University at 6 p.m.
Always check the calendar before traveling out of town, as schedules change due to weather or other conditions.
Deltona High School
Deltona High School is seeking any old guitars that can be donated to the school’s new guitar class. Call the school if interested.
The Class of 2024 senior portrait timeline is as follows: 1. Book a photo session. 2. Get photographed. 3. View proofs, and select a yearbook photo. 4. Order senior prints. Cap-and-gown portraits are available to view in the spring, closer to graduation. Senior Portraits With Cady Studios will be on campus for yearbook photos only on Sept. 12 and Dec. 1 this year, and on Jan. 3, 2024.
Congratulations to Deltona High teacher Chandler Orlowsky, who was presented with a free cruise. She won a $1,000 gift card to local cruise company Ahoy Cruises.
Orlowsky was selected by the DeWitt Law Firm, who chose her from more than 300 nominations submitted across Florida as the most-deserving teacher. She was nominated by a fellow teacher, who wrote about her dedication as a teacher, track coach and single mother.
Deltona High graduate Blake Hinson, who now attends and plays basketball for the University of Pittsburgh, has been on a basketball-team tour of the Canary Islands and Barcelona, Spain, where the Pittsburgh Panthers played several games.
In the first game, Pitt defeated the Tenerife All-Stars, 86-80, and in the second game, they downed the Sant Julia All-Stars, 83-66. Hinson was the leading scorer in both games, with 24 points and 27 points, respectively.
Taylor Middle-High School
Taylor Middle-High School in Pierson will have its first School Advisory Council meeting at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, in the cafe.
DeLand Dawgs
The DeLand Dawgs are a youth football program in DeLand. The program’s elite team goes to the Azalea Bulldogs Saturday, Aug. 26, and goes to the Orlando Outlaws Saturday, Sept. 2.
Stetson University Athletics
Stetson University has announced the retirement of Athletic Director Jeff Altier, effective April 1, 2024. Altier has served in this position at Stetson for 27 years, after being a student-athlete at the university.
Anna Brethauer has been named the captain of the Lady Hatter soccer team. It is also noted that Chloe Washington has been named as a preseason All-ASUN player. The Lady Hatter team has been selected to finish eighth in the Coaches Preseason Poll.
The Stetson football team opens its 2023 season Saturday, Sept. 2, when the Hatters play host to St. Thomas (Florida) University at 6 p.m. in Spec Martin Memorial Stadium. The following week, on Saturday, Sept. 9, the team greets Webber International University at 7 p.m.
On Friday, Aug. 25, the Lady Hatter volleyball team travels to the University of North Carolina – Wilmington tournament, where they will face the host school, Presbyterian and Fordham over two days.
Saturday, Aug. 26, has the men’s soccer team at UCF at 7 p.m.; then on Sunday, Aug. 27, the women’s soccer team plays at Florida at 6 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 31, sends the women’s soccer team to FIU in Miami at 6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 1, is a busy day for Stetson athletics, as the men’s soccer team greets St. Thomas at 7 p.m. on the campus field. That same day, the cross-country teams go to FAU at 6 p.m. for women and at 6:30 p.m. for men. The volleyball team heads to the College of Charleston Invitational, with the Lady Hats facing the home team, along with playing George Washington and Georgia Southern.
— Send school news to Tony Tussing via email: at flacoach43@hotmail.com.
