Week 1 prep a little different
East Bernard’s opener had some Friday night lights hallmarks and some COVID-19 changes
EAST BERNARD — East Bernard’s COVID-19 checklist was long and extensive ahead of its season opener against Edna, but something inevitably would be missed.
It’d be something simple, too, such as how players run through the inflatable tunnel.
The customary entrance for every high school football team went smoothly at East Bernard, but it was at least worth thinking twice about, much like everything else during this unprecedented 2020 season.
East Bernard coach Wade Bosse felt fortunate by the end of Friday’s 49-20 win, calling it “ecstatic and a lot of fun to get out here.”
The Class 3A school feels the electricity of Week 1 a whole month before larger schools can. The University Interscholastic League’s fractured fall calendar is based on the virus not ravaging Texas’ small towns like it does major cities. Class 6A and 5A schools start football season Sept. 24.
East Bernard, 51 miles southwest of downtown Houston with a population of 2,387 people, is the picturesque small town dedicated to its Texas high school football. Nothing was ever going to stop the home crowd’s roar from packing extra gusto after Andrew Schmidt’s 46-yard touchdown catch-and-run.
Pairing that experience with the COVID-19 era will be a work in progress. It won’t be perfect, as scenes across the state indicated.
The UIL’s risk mitigation plan dictates everyone inside the venue 10 years of age and older wear face coverings outside of fans eating and drinking or players on the field of play. Spectators should social distance from anyone not in their household or group, too.
Those guidelines weren’t followed to a T at places such as Lampasas and Midlothian Heritage’s home games. Face coverings were ever-present at East Bernard inside a Memorial Stadium that was plenty crowded but probably could have added more spectators. The UIL is also capping stadium capacity at 50 percent. Both the home and away crowds at East Bernard social distanced as well as they could, considering the number of patrons.
East Bernard trainers kept masks and gloves on. Coaches had neck gaiters. Bosse flipped his gaiter over his mouth and nose when speaking to players in the postgame huddle. Players did not have masks but kept their helmets on nearly the whole night, even on the sideline.
There were other kinks elsewhere around the stadium — ones few think about when COVID-19 is involved.
Renee Thomas and Theresa Tobar, who both have nephews on the team, worked the visitors’ ticket gate, sitting at a white table with COVID-19-related signage and a large bottle of sanitizer on top. Both electronic and paper ticketing means were used. They called the initial rush of patrons hectic. Perhaps it would be even without a pandemic. It eventually smoothed out, though. They figure the process will be much easier to handle by season’s end.
East Bernard’s stadium seats just under 2,800. Ticketing might be a different challenge altogether at football cathedrals such as Legacy Stadium or Cy-Fair FCU Stadium.
Over at the visitors’ concessions stands, prepackaged bags of peanuts are sold in clear plastic Ziploc bags. Nachos used to come with hot cheese poured over the chips. The hot cheese comes prepackaged, warmed in individual cups. Chips come prepackaged, too. They used to sell pizza by the slice. Now it’s a personal pizza.
Popcorn is no longer sold.
“A lot of people are disappointed in the popcorn,” said Leah Boehnemann, who worked the stand.
The UIL includes guidelines on how concessions should be served in its risk mitigation plan. Boehnemann was fearful concessions would be done away with completely with COVID-19 running rampant. The revenue from the stands are vital to the school’s band. Her daughter is a member of the band at the junior high.
Referees aren’t exempt from changes, either. Robert Hubble, who’s been officiating games for 34 years, told his crew he wouldn’t hold it against them if they opted not to take part in Friday game.
There was little worry, though, for a crew that loves what they do and enjoys East Bernard fans. Hubble, a Rice graduate who played in the NFL in the 1980s, and his company distribute a waterbased disinfectant from Goldshield Technologies. He used it on his crew’s masks.
Bosse talked about kinks needing to be worked out after Friday’s win — a common claim after Week 1, but perhaps more pronounced considering the times. The residual effects of COVID-19’s impact on the UIL’s spring calendar could crop up during the fall.
Bosse’s team returned eight total starters from 2019’s 14-1 roster, but just two on defense. East Bernard perennially is one of the state’s best Class 3A teams. The Brahmas have a distinct playing style, and they stick to it. But even they could’ve used an offseason uninterrupted by the pandemic. Teams across the state may not look sharp out of the gate this year, especially ones with major roster turnover or even a new coach.
“We had no 7-on-7,” Bosse said. “We didn’t have a spring. For what we did have, I was very pleased with the way we handled tonight.”
Asked if the sport can coexist with COVID-19, Bosse said “You’re dang right it can be done. There are some hoops you have to jump through, but it can be done. I really think it can and how great for the kids and the community.”