High school football programs excited to kick-off season
By FRED KRONER
Football is back.
“I wasn’t sure that we would get to this point,” St. Joseph-Ogden football coach Shawn Skinner said.
He has had plenty of company in the Doubters’ Club since the start of the 2020-21 school year began in August without the traditional fall sports such as football, boys‘ soccer and volleyball.
For nearly a year now, the coronavirus pandemic has altered life as we used to know it in the workplace, the school houses and our recreation centers.
Many things are still not back to normal, but changes are gradually being reintroduced.
On Wednesday, the Illinois High School Association permitted its members to begin practicing football – just in helmets as the athletes reacclimate – and begin preparations for a six-game season that will start across the state on Friday (March 19).
“There was a lot of positive energy and enthusiasm,” Skinner said. “All we saw were smiles and a genuine appreciation to be back out on the field and playing again.”
You won’t hear Mahomet-Seymour head coach Jon Adkins talking about disappointment in not having a full nine-game season or a chance to qualify for the playoffs.
“We can be frustrated by something we can’t control or we can relish the opportunity to go on the field six more times,” Adkins said. “Six games is better than nothing.”
For the first 10 days, football and basketball are going simultaneously. For some athletes, it means double duty.
“Yesterday (Wednesday), the boys came from basketball to football and we did some walk-through,” Oakwood football coach Al Craig said. “Basketball guys are pretty locked into football and basketball right now.
“It was nice. They are competitors. They want to win.”
There are some kinks to work out.
The first practice, Craig said, “was a little disjointed, but I’m confident that we will find our rhythm going forward.”
Basketball games are a priority for those who are dual-sport athletes.
“On days they don’t have games, they are joining us about 90 minutes after they have practiced for basketball,” Skinner said, “and get a little over 90 minutes with us.”
Villa Grove/Heritage football coach Heath Wilson greeted 41 footballers. Of those, 23 are also playing basketball.
“It’s really weird, but it’s a great weird,” Wilson said. “I look at it as learning what basketball coaches (typically) go through.”
In a normal season, for football programs that advance deep into the playoffs, the basketball coaches can find themselves short-handed when their season opens.
The IHSA did not eliminate any sports from its play list for this school year, though seasons have been shortened. Some boys could find themselves participating in basketball, football, and either track and field or baseball between March 1 and June 24, when all seasons will be completed.
“We’ll let the kids get to what they want to do,” Wilson said. “It’s important they will have memories that will last.”
The IHSA requires 12 football practices before student-athletes can play in a game. However, for those participating in basketball, the practice requirement was lowered to 10 days.
Some coaches find a need to be creative to make sure everyone will have enough workouts in by opening night.
“We’ll go this Sunday,” Adkins said. “It’s not ideal and is not something we’ve ever done, but we’ll do what we have to do.”
On Thursday, the Bulldogs had a morning workout to accommodate basketball after school.
Football coaches are needing to make other adjustments. There won’t be time for an intrasquad scrimmage this spring.
“We’ll dummy-down the offense and the defense since we won’t have as many practices before the first game,” Wilson said.
“It’s absolutely weird and different,” Adkins said. “We usually have June and July (for contact days and 7-on-7s) before we play. Now, we literally have 12 days.
“The kids are doing a great job of staying engaged.”
Craig said it’s important to get everyone up to speed quickly.
“There is a real sense of urgency because this is actual practice, not camp,” Craig said. “I would say the kids are just glad to get an opportunity.
“The attitudes are pretty good so far. For the most part, it is business as usual.”
Oakwood’s opener is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 20, at home against Oblong/Hutsonville/Palestine.
The obstacles faced by coaches are new, but not ones that can’t be cleared.
“It’s different for sure, but it’s not difficult,” Skinner said. “We’re working together in all programs and we are making it work.
“We miss some of the nuances that we haven’t had a chance to work on, but it’s going to be fine.”
Skinner said he and his players welcomed one element generally associated with the start of football not being a factor.
The first day, he said, “was typical of an August start and no one missed the 90-degree-plus heat index.”
What Skinner observed on Day 1 was, “a lot of energy and excitement, maybe a little more (than other years).”
For underclassmen, there will be two football seasons within the next nine months. Coaches are not only prepping for the upcoming season, but for fall when playoff berths are expected to be at stake again.
Wilson said the material “should be pretty fresh in August. We are preparing for the future, but these seniors are playing for their bragging rights.
“In their eyes this counts, too, and we’ll go in trying to win.”
At SJ-O, Skinner is working with 54 prospects. Just five are seniors. Among his upperclassmen, five are also playing basketball.
The numbers are similar for Adkins at M-S, where 11 seniors are among the 82 candidates.
“We are fairly young and fairly inexperienced,” Adkins said. “It will be great to get six games to gain experience and get ready for August.”
Skinner said he won’t be tempted to look ahead and overlook those who won’t be back in August.
“We are really focusing on doing everything we can to make this the best situation we can,” Skinner said. “We want them to enjoy this and realize that this is a great opportunity.
“We are focused on getting our seniors an opportunity to play and compete, and get our underclassmen as much real experience as we can. We will prepare as we normally would do.”
SJ-O’s opener will be on Saturday, March 20, at 2 p.m., at Chillicothe IVC.
For Wilson, preparation means continuing to take one game at a time.
“We will watch film of Cerro Gordo/Bement first and practice for Cerro Gordo/Bement,” he said, “and not anybody else.”
The Villa Grove/Heritage opener against the Broncos will be at home on Friday, March 19, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
Mahomet-Seymour will also open at home at 7 p.m. on March 19 against Effingham.
“We have great kids and they are focused and locked in,” Adkins said. “As far as game-planning, we’ll start with Effingham. We’ll prepare for them like we would any other game (in other years).
“Our staff has done a great job of keeping the kids positive.”
