It’s almost a rite of passage now for college football teams: spring football. Spring games have turned into made-for-TV events. Ohio State boasts the largest crowd to ever see a lacrosse game, only because they held that game right before the spring football game in Columbus.
(Side note: No news on whether or not free “I saw the spring game 2011” tattoos will be given away at the game while Jim Tressel, uh, well, “gets on it asap.”)
In early April, the OHSAA’s Board of Directors will vote on whether or not Ohio, a high school football hotbed, will adopt a “spring practice” policy. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported today that when the board meets on April 7th they will vote on whether or not to allow high schools to have the option of running 10 two-hour, non-contact practices during the final two weeks of May.
In Kentucky, schools are allowed to practice 10 times for two-hours. And the schools in the Bluegrass State can go full-contact. In fact, Highlands High School, in Fort Thomas, is holding an intrasquad scrimmage this evening.
Highlands head coach Dale Mueller believes that doing all the contact drills in the spring allows his team to stay healthy for the fall. Highlands is 58-2 in the past four seasons, and the Bluebirds captured the Class 5A State Title last year.
Rivals.com named the Highlands-Elder matchup in week nine of the upcoming season as one of the top interstate high school football games this year. Elder and Highlands last met in 2006, with the Panthers winning 21-18.
(Side note: No news on whether or not free “I saw the spring game 2011” tattoos will be given away at the game while Jim Tressel, uh, well, “gets on it asap.”)
In early April, the OHSAA’s Board of Directors will vote on whether or not Ohio, a high school football hotbed, will adopt a “spring practice” policy. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported today that when the board meets on April 7th they will vote on whether or not to allow high schools to have the option of running 10 two-hour, non-contact practices during the final two weeks of May.
In Kentucky, schools are allowed to practice 10 times for two-hours. And the schools in the Bluegrass State can go full-contact. In fact, Highlands High School, in Fort Thomas, is holding an intrasquad scrimmage this evening.
Highlands head coach Dale Mueller believes that doing all the contact drills in the spring allows his team to stay healthy for the fall. Highlands is 58-2 in the past four seasons, and the Bluebirds captured the Class 5A State Title last year.
Rivals.com named the Highlands-Elder matchup in week nine of the upcoming season as one of the top interstate high school football games this year. Elder and Highlands last met in 2006, with the Panthers winning 21-18.
In 2006, a then-Elder junior tight end, Kyle Rudolph made a touchdown catch against Highlands. You may know a guy in the background (not that you can see me because the background is blurry) Photo from EHSports.com, Sept. 2006
Mueller wonders just how much better teams like Elder, Moeller, St. Xavier and Colerain would be if they were given the opportunity to practice in the spring.
“If Elder, Moeller, St. X and Colerain had spring football, picture how they would compare to some of those dominant teams in Florida and other states that have spring practice,” he told the Enquirer.
While it’s all speculation right now, I’m interested to hear what certain coaches have to say about it. For the Enquirer’s story with comments from Mueller and Boone County coach Rick Thompson, along with Ohio’s coaches: St. X head coach Steve Specht, Moeller’s John Rodenberg, Lakota West’s Larry Cox and Wyoming athletic director Jim Barre, click here: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110310/SPT030101/103110370/A-step-toward-spring-football-?odyssey=tabtopnewstextSports
This was a topic I was going to pitch as a story idea for Fox19, so there’s no doubt I’ll keep an eye on this and perhaps have the opportunity to write another story about spring ball in high school within the next few weeks.
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Next week, while I'm busy studying for final exams, I will post a series of fun stories about Fox19's Ron "Rufus" Millennor with a lot of the information I gathered for a class feature story on him.
Rather than running one, long 3,000 to 5,000 word story on him, I'll break it up and find a few funny stories from Rufus (and other co-workers he's had) about his experiences in sports. Also, you might see a few memories from me. Hope to have you back next week, enjoy your weekend.
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