Rogers High senior Chris Francisco admitted he had trouble sleeping, knowing he’d get to put on a helmet Monday morning and go forward with football practice.
“I woke up several times during the night thinking, ‘Is it time to go yet?’ ” said Francisco, a two-way starter last year who will likely play quarterback for the Mounties this season.
“It’s been awesome just being out here again, getting the full team is really special. Before we had been more focused on working out, running, conditioning and lifting. We had a lot more football stuff (Monday).”
Gov. Asa Hutchinson gave the go-ahead on Friday, giving players and coaches hope there will be a football season despite the covid-19 pandemic.
Teams will be allowed to wear helmets only Monday and today, then can use shoulder pads along with helmets beginning Wednesday, according to the Arkansas Activities Association.
The AAA sent a letter to coaches Friday afternoon detailing the association’s guidelines for safety and practice.
Locker rooms can be used but must be sanitized after each use. Masks must be worn by players when they’re not actively participating and social distancing guidelines of at least 6 feet are still in place when possible.
Bentonville West Coach Bryan Pratt acknowledged he was unsure how the decision would go.
“I was getting calls saying it was gonna happen or some said it was gonna be delayed or this or that,” Pratt said. “‘But it’s fun to jump into the next phase and have something to look forward to.”
Rogers Coach Mike Loyd, who is beginning his final season in coaching and his fifth decade as a head coach, said the situation is probably the most challenging of his long career but it’s up to coaches to help keep players safe and give them the opportunity to have a football season.
“They can’t see us not wearing the mask or hear us complaining,” Loyd said. “We’re trying to create a positive situation for our kids.
“The ball’s in our hands, so to speak. Let’s have some common sense and be intelligent in our approach. Our choice is how do we respond to the challenge. Are we stepping up and doing our part? It’s a different challenge but they’re trying to give us a chance.”
It’s a bit of a different experience for new Fort Smith Southside coach Kim Dameron, who spent the past 30-plus years as a college coach. But some things have not changed at all, he said.
“I sent a letter to all our parents, basically wanting them to know that the health and safety of their sons are the number one priority to me,” Dameron said. “Everything we do. Whatever decision we make is always based on that first.”
Dameron, who played at Arkansas, credited players who have worked hard all summer to prepare for the season despite the uncertainty.
“If I’m 17 or 18 years old, it woulda bothered me not knowing anything specific,” Dameron said. “We planned just like we were going to start on August 3. I believe coaches feel a responsibility to these kids to do everything possible to give them a season.
“These kids are craving some normalcy in their life, what we’ve done for a lot of years. It’s not normal but at least it’s a little closer.”
Pratt said he felt like his young Wolverines are a little behind because they were not able to go through regular workouts in the spring and having no 7-on-7 in the summer.
“Two weeks from today we have a benefit game schedule against (Fort Smith) Northside and we play Broken Arrow in three or four weeks,” Pratt said. “We’re gonna learn quick.”
Shiloh Christian Coach Jeff Conaway’s Saints are in a similar position, returning just two starters on offense from a 14-1 team that finished as the Class 4A state runner-up.
But he echoed some of the other comments that the governor’s decision gave players hope, which can’t be underestimated.
“Just being able to put on a helmet and start practicing football is a big motivator,” Conaway said. “Football practice is difficult when you don’t really know what you’re going to be doing in four weeks.
“Now we have a goal. We’re planning on kicking off against Pea Ridge on the 28th of this month and we’ve got 11 or so practices to make sure we’re ready. It just feels like football season is back.”
“I was getting calls saying it was gonna happen or some said it was gonna be delayed or this or that. But it’s fun to jump into the next phase and have something to look forward to.”
Paul Boyd can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAPaulb.