It didn’t take long for the Palm Bay High football stadium to find a replacement after the end of Florida Tech football. 

The Minor Football League is coming to fill the void, and Paul Knight, general manager of the Florida Bears, said it’s good news for young football players looking to extend their career.

Had it not been for the COVID-19 interruption, the developmental league franchise might have been wrapping up its season this month. Instead, it will open play in Brevard County next June for a three-month season with five home games and five away.

“This is going to give young men an opportunity when there is not enough room in the NFL,” Knight said. “They can play for us and hopefully show they can play.”

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The MFL has 16 teams across the United States and 16 teams in Africa.

Along with the opportunity itself, aspiring pros will find a regional touch to the Bears. Former UCF and NFL receiver Doug Gabriel will be the head coach, and the staff will include Brevard’s Melvin Byrd, a current Palm Bay assistant, along with former UCF and NFL tight end Mike Gaines.

If you’d like to take a shot at playing, you can learn more about the league and register at mflishere.com. And if you’re a coach looking for a new opportunity, the staff is about complete, but Knight said there could be spots for running backs or defensive backs coaches and volunteers.

“We want to let people know that we’re coming into the area and hoping to show some good football,” he said. “We want to break the ice. This is what we are. This is what we want to be in the community.”

Depending on how the needs for social distancing shape up over the coming months, there could be a combine for players to show their skills. Updates will be announced on the team’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Former Titusville baseball coach dies

The Titusville High sports family suffered a loss last week with the death of longtime coach Jeep Binderup.

Binderup became head baseball coach at the school in 1993, leading the Terriers to District 6-3A and Cape Coast Conference titles right off the bat. That year, he was named the CCC Baseball Coach of the Year and led team to the regional final round.

The Terriers were CCC co-champions in 1995, and Binderup remained at the helm through 1999. He later coached girls golf and junior varsity baseball, and assisted with football.

Binderup was a 1984 Titusville High and 1992 UCF graduate. He most recently taught at Challenger 7 Elementary.

Local pitcher signs with Hurricanes

Among the many things we all missed with the interruption to normal life was the signing of high school seniors with college sports programs. We have one to announce this week, as Bayside High and Eastern Florida State College product Andrew Walters signed to attend and play baseball for the University of Miami.

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In five pitching appearances for the Titans last season, he struck out 26 batters in 18 innings. 

Holy Trinity had three athletes sign in May via a virtual ceremony. Basketball player Jordan Blair signed with Lesley University of Massachusetts, Antwan Freeman signed with Spring Hill College (Alabama) track and field, and Carmen Zipf of Tigers volleyball signed with the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut.

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @321preps on Twitter and Instagram. Be sure to subscribe to FLORIDA TODAY, and listen to 321 Overtime on major podcast platforms.