EXHIBIT 5.1

                   OPINION OF MALIZIA SPIDI & FISCH, PC AS TO
                THE VALIDITY OF THE COMMON STOCK BEING REGISTERED




                           MALIZIA SPIDI & FISCH, PC
                                ATTORNEYS AT LAW

1100 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W.                                      637 KENNARD ROAD
SUITE 340 WEST                                 STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA 16801
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005                                            (814) 466-6625
(202) 434-4660                                         FACSIMILE: (814) 466-6703
FACSIMILE: (202) 434-4661


March 2, 2001

Board of Directors
FloridaFirst Bancorp, Inc.
205 East Orange Street
Lakeland, Florida 33801-4611

            RE:            Registration Statement on Form S-8:
                           ----------------------------------
                           FloridaFirst Bancorp, Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan
                           FloridaFirst Bank Restricted Stock Plan

 Gentlemen:

         We have  acted as special  counsel to  FloridaFirst  Bancorp,  Inc.,  a
Florida  corporation (the "Company"),  in connection with the preparation of the
Registration  Statement on Form S-8 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the  "Registration  Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended,  relating to 390,514  shares of common stock,  par value $.10 per share
(the "Common Stock") of the Company which may be issued (i) upon the exercise of
options  for  279,065  shares of Common  Stock  granted  under the  FloridaFirst
Bancorp,  Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan, and (ii) upon the award of 111,449 shares
of Common Stock under the FloridaFirst Bank Restricted Stock Plan (collectively,
the "Plans"),  as more fully described in the Registration  Statement.  You have
requested  the opinion of this firm with respect to certain legal aspects of the
proposed offering.

         We have examined such documents, records, and matters of law as we have
deemed  necessary for purposes of this opinion and based thereon,  we are of the
opinion that the Common Stock when issued  pursuant to the stock awards  granted
under and in  accordance  with the terms of the Plans  will be duly and  validly
issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.

         We hereby  consent to the  filing of this  opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement on Form S-8.

                                                 Sincerely,



                                                 /s/Malizia Spidi & Fisch, PC
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Malizia Spidi & Fisch, PC