The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Teams move toward the season, normalcy
Kirtland, North, South among area teams beginning practice
Maybe, just maybe, signs of a further step toward normalcy could be found Aug. 2 in the vigor accompanying even the most mundane tasks as high school football practice commenced in earnest across Ohio.
At South, the decibel level was seemingly a little higher as a field goal sailed through the uprights.
At Kirtland, each step seemingly carried more pep on a wind sprint.
And at North, the satisfaction of having Day 1 navigated and in the proverbial books was seemingly more palpable.
That’s what will naturally occur, of course, coming off a 2020 campaign in which the season and student-athletes’ lives in the process were ravaged by the effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“I think they’re definitely respectful of the fact we’re in a better place.” Rebels coach Matt Duffy said. “You see a lot more smiles than you see even in a regular year. They’re really communicating, because they’ve been shut down. I think socially, that’s the biggest aspect for the kids. It’s just the fact that the communication almost stopped, especially with adults. Being in the classroom and on the field. And so that’s changed.
“You definitely see there’s a little bit more laid back and having a little bit more fun. Sometimes, that’s good. You keep the right pace, they know when it’s time to get serious. But at the same time, just because things are more normal, they’re pretty excited about it.”
Duffy spent much of the time after practice concluded on the turf at Harry Winters Stadium answering questions from various players about logistics leading into the season, after a year in which the squad went 3-5.
Hornets coach Tiger LaVerde allotted much of his post-practice speech encouraging his players circled around to take an active role and have fun with a Kirtland youth football event the evening of Aug. 2.
And after a year in which such a concept wasn’t particularly feasible, Rangers coach Shawn Dodd, coming off a 3-4 season last fall, even had a whiteboard on the corner of the turf at Nick Carter Stadium for tutelage.
All aspects, big and small, resonate just a bit more.
“Oh definitely,” Kirtland junior Adam Knaak said. “Just as simple as not using locker rooms (in 2020), having that bonding experience of everyone in a locker room together and just messing around, being close to each other at practice and during games and stuff, it’s completely different.
Sometimes, not having all your family there at a game or not having everyone by you when you want them to be, it’s definitely appreciated more now.”
One aspect that made this day of commencement even better were perfect conditions, hovering in the 70s with little humidity.
“It’s very refreshing to come out here, and what a beautiful day,” LaVerde said. “I’m very thankful we get to do this. We don’t have to go through all the stuff we did last year.
“Last year, we did it, and every day, it was a little painful with the water and the masks and not being able to have meetings. It was tough, so I think they appreciate this just a little bit more, the normalcy.”
Kirtland practice assuredly sounded normal. As the three-time defending state champion Hornets, who were 11-0 a year ago and are 138-6 since 2011, ran a pass play toward the end of practice, for example, a lack of safety help over the top on the sequence was questioned and dissected, part of the fine-tuning that makes a gridiron powerhouse.
“The community loves it,” Knaak said of maintaining that standard. “We love everyone coming down to the games. I’m sure a lot of people like coming down to the games and seeing us. We want to perform our best for everyone. It’s just an amazing feeling.”
That’s quite the departure from a 2020 campaign in which uncertainty prevailed over whether there would be football at all. Even down to state final week, when the host site
had to be moved from suburban Columbus to Massillon due to a pandemic health order, there was never a time during which total comfort could be felt.
“I’d definitely say there’s more of an appreciation,” South junior Bryce Figler said. “Last year, we didn’t know what was going to happen, if we were even going to play. And just showing that we all stuck with it and played through all that, and now we’re all back and almost all back to normal, it’s really great.”
Keeping players not involved in direct play engaged.
Ensuring proper hydration is administered.
Even down to carrying pads and a helmet out of practice.
Albeit important, much of it may be mundane. But since 2020 was anything but mundane, it’s a welcome sight to be sure.
“I think they’re just excited to get back to normal,” Dodd said. “Last year, our kids were really excited about the week-to-week and get everything going and not running into any issues. We were fortunate to avoid all that. We didn’t have any positive tests or anything last year. The kids handled it really well.
“But this year, I think there is a little bit of an exhale, if you will, compared to last year. So you can kind of see it.”
Maybe, just maybe, signs of a further step toward normalcy are accumulating in a football-hungry state.
“It’s time for a new beginning,” North senior Dominick Marciante said. “Last year is in the past, and it’s time for the future.”