“Almost like Christmas Eve”: Coaches welcome return of autumn football

Friday is a milestone for high school sports in Southwest Virginia.

The day is VHSL’s official first football training day.

Just like volleyball, cross-country skiing and golf, the pandemic robbed both players and coaches of the fall 2020 fall football season.

The spring had a shortened run. While most were happy to have some sort of season, it wasn’t the same as fall football.

The Southwest Virginia Regular Series begins Aug. 26 with Ridgeview’s visit to JI Burton.

All other Mountain 7 and Cumberland District schools begin their season on August 27th.

Here are some ideas for football coaches from around the area to return to the more familiar grid season.

Garrett Amburgey, Abingdon

Our football team learned not to take anything for granted.

We were very hungry to play football in the spring because we didn’t get a chance to compete in the fall.

Now the challenge is a quick turn from the end of the season in mid-April to the transition to our offseason training. We are looking forward to football again that fall evening.

Jacob Caudill, JI Burton

It feels good to return to a normal operating environment, a normal schedule, a normal practice.

Last year was tough. We were allowed to lift all summer and fall, but we couldn’t use the ball, and all the different restrictions made it hard.

It made it difficult for the kids because all they could do was practice and run. But they couldn’t do any football for the field, so they had started to lose interest.

I think it has shifted this year.

Spring wasn’t just a fun season, everything was full of a short season with other sports overlapping. This year is fun and different, and we are grateful for that.

Jeremy Houseright, Gate City

It is good to return to normal.

It’s nice for these kids to have the full experience of high school football after they haven’t had that experience in the spring.

Nick Johnson, Thomas Walker

I think it’s awesome that the kids are back to normal.

Last year was difficult for these children, more mentally than anything else. I think everyone is excited to get ahead.

Cheyenne Osborne, Ruis Cove

It’s so great to go back to your normal schedule.

It’s great that our workouts are in a normal environment, with plans for a full schedule and some real Friday night lights.

Last year, it was a heartache for all athletes.

Gives us a reason to keep things in perspective and don’t take the time we now take for granted.

Mike Rhodes, Eastside

It has been a huge relief to return to normal as much as possible.

For the first time, we were able to do a few 7 vs. 7 and it was fun because some sophomore students had never competed together and didn’t know what to expect.

The stress on COVID and its instructions was real.

It’s good to relax and be just for the kids and football.

While we have always cleaned our facilities and equipment, I think COVID has helped us improve these aspects with the new cleaning equipment we got from our county.

The numbers are good, and I think the kids are quite ready to go and be with each other.

It’s almost like Christmas Eve as we wait to be full at Carl McConnell Stadium again for the first time. It makes you exhausted to think.

I would say fans will come in troops this year to watch football in person this season.

Bradley Rickey, John Battle

Just felt very fast with a quick turn. It is a pleasure to return to start in the fall.

Todd Tiller, Ridgeview

The kids and coaches have been so excited that things are at least reminiscent of normal.

I am sure there are still some protocols and procedures that we need to follow. And who knows, it may become the new norm in a couple of seasons.

At least the kids get to play for the full fall season and the cheerleaders, band and all the fans can take part in all the games and provide the Friday night environment we missed last year.

Travis Turner, Union

It’s great to go back to it without restrictions.

Our kids are excited about the competition, and our community is excited to pack the park this year.

With an abbreviated off-summer season program, our athletes who participated in spring sports missed some of the early days of strength and care. In high school in the Union, that is a good thing.

We want our athletes, who practice every sport they can, to help the school be competitive in everything.

We still need to emphasize the in-season lifting program to get some of our athletes up to the weight room. We are excited that football is here and our children are excited to be able to play.