Switch on the Friday night lights
Somebody cue Bocephus, because we?re definitely ?ready for some football.?
The varsity Pioneers make the trip to Bradley Central tonight, in an attempt to open the 2006 campaign on a winning note.
Of course, Bradley Central is in the same position. They remember watching WCHS tear down its goalposts last year, and they?re not just hungry for payback ? they?re starving.
Bradley hasn?t won consistently in this century. Does that sound familiar?
The Bears also have seen more than their fair share of lengthy losing streaks. How about that? Does that ring any bells?
When public opinion about their head coach went south last year, Bradley officials opted to hire from within, selecting a BCHS alumnus, a former player, in fact to head up their program ? a move which has their community thinking good things are going to happen in 2006.
Maybe it?s just me, but I?m getting a feeling of d?ja vu.
Anyone that?s asked their friendly neighborhood sports editor for a prediction ? and there have been more than a handful of you ? has gone away sorely disappointed so far this summer. However, if you insist, I will offer my take ? half-educated as it may be ? on what Warren County fans might expect when they hit the field at Cleveland tonight.
? Heat, heat, heat: The forecast for Cleveland for tomorrow calls for highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s, and temperatures down on the field will be even hotter than that. Couple the August weather with the fact players will be wearing hot, heavy gear, and it?s not hard to imagine the heat being a factor.
And how do you beat the heat? By being in good enough shape to tough it out. Guys are going to cramp up, guys are going to get tired. But in the end, the team that worked harder over the summer will come out on top.
? Laundry, laundry, laundry: Up until tonight, with the exception of a scrimmage or two, both the Bears and the Pioneers have concentrated on running their plays, their routes and their assignments properly. They haven?t had to worry too much about running them legally.
But the zebras will be in full force tonight, and they?ll be on the lookout for holds, illegal blocks, offsides calls and false starts.
Guess what? They?ll find plenty of them. Penalties happen in the early part of the season. Don?t throw in the towel ??or be surprised ??when the yellow flags start flying.
? Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes: Right about now, the butterflies that were flapping in players? and coaches? stomachs earlier this week have turned into full-grown condors. They?re all nervous, and that will lead to fumbles, dropped passes and busted plays.
I know what you?re thinking: It sounds like this will be a pretty sloppy game. And at times, that?s exactly what it will be. But when it?s all said and done, tonight?s game ? and the other nine contests this season ? will be won by the team that?s faster, stronger, and more prepared.
How often will that team be wearing Warren County?s colors? Only time, and 10 Friday nights, will tell. But one thing?s for certain. The Pioneers, like me, you and everyone else, are ready for some football.