Friday, August 01, 2008

Welcome!

It’s great to talk with high school coaches and players this time of the year. There is so much hope in their voice. Come October, they are not nearly as excited to talk. One of the reasons I decided to go into sports is tell the stories of high school athletes. In the professional ranks, it’s a job. And let’s be honest how many people do you know who like their jobs? But in high school the game, the atmosphere, the excitement, it’s still pure. So the first week of August, that energy is on full display.
Plenty of storylines headed into this season as well. The most obvious, can Carver repeat. A host of talented players have moved onto the next level, but they still have a certain linebacker that is getting major college attraction. But Jarvis Jones, will not be alone, one thing we have learned about Dell McGee, they don’t rebuild, they reload. And they have a preseason game with Central that is going to be televised by CSS. That is the impact of high school football in our area.
New coaches seem to be the norm. I cannot begin to tell you how the musical chairs of the coaching moves will shake down. Kendrick with Jerry Dukes, a former Carver assistant, Columbus High has Bryan Barnhill, Glenwood welcomes in Chris Holmes, and Smiths Station has a familiar face in Mark Rose. But that is just a few of the changes.
And it will be a swan song for Spence McCracken at Opelika. His final year, and I have a feeling he will not go quietly into the night.
The Prep Zone on WRBL-News 3 kicks off on Friday August 29th. What we will do is bring you into the game on Friday night. When we sign off on Friday night, we want you to have the total High School football experience. I will be checking in with this blog throughout the season and I appreciate your input on players to watch, and games that sould not missed. I look forward to you joining us on The Prep Zone.