High school football has returned to the State of Texas with the first day of practice on Monday. Back were the crack of the pads, the drills, and the sprints and all of the rest that make the sport something special.
But like so many other things in our world today, football has a new look.
I can’t imagine how it must feel to our coaches on the field, as they try to go about the business of getting a new squad of players ready for another season. It is different out there. There is a presence looming around the field giving the coaches, and the players, a sense of unease.
Picture a world where this scenario plays out.
A coach is on the practice field trying to teach his boys a new play. They run it over and over with no success. Hands are still soft and untrained, and the coach can’t find anyone it seems that can catch the ball. His quarterback has skills. He gets the pass to where it is supposed to go, but nobody can catch the pigskin. Then, it happens.
The receiver runs his route, the QB throws a perfect toss, and instead of yet another drop, the receiver makes the catch, and the coach’s new play is executed perfectly.
On practice fields all over the country, this would usually be met by a coach yelling out an “atta boy” or maybe a slap on the butt ( a football tradition I must add) or maybe even a coach running over to the sure handed tight end to congratulate him on a job well done.
But not this year. This year, things are different.
No, this year, the coach jumps and heads toward his tight end and about mid step he realizes, he can’t finish his trip. He pulls back, leaving he and his player at a loss.
This year, there are masks. There are social distancing rules, hand washing stations, and the impacts of a virus are seen everywhere you look. Players have to be six feet apart during drills. All of the coaches have masks on. It is surreal.
But, there is still football.
