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Time to refocus

Although it was great to get away for some rest and relaxation on vacation, it’s also good to be back to the grind so to speak here at the office.

It’s hard to believe we’re already approaching the midway point of July. School will be back in session before long and sports like golf, soccer, volleyball and football will be going full tilt.

I thought the weather was supposed to clear up soon, but Mother Nature is still having its way like we’re in a tropical wet season.

I’m looking forward to watching some American Legion baseball action this afternoon when Parkersburg Post 15 plays host to Potomac Valley Post 64 in a 1 p.m. twinbill at Bennett Stump Field, weather permitting of course.

It’s always weird when I return from vacation and try to get back into the groove of things. Thursday was no exception.

Since I had a few ideas and a couple leads I wanted to work on for stories, I started making phone calls and sending out emails. As often times happen in the workings at a sports department, sometimes the scribe just has to play the waiting game. After all, one can only leave so many voice mail messages.

Before it got to be too late on Thursday evening, though, I finally got a return call. Fellow sports writer Kerry Patrick guessed correctly who it was when he said Tom Hardman.

I had contacted the former Roane County head football coach to check in and see how things were going in Spencer and what the situation was on his son Derek, who is entering his fourth year in the National Football League.

Hardman, who has retired from teaching but can still substitute if he so chooses, is always a fun guy to talk with.

After he gave me Derek’s contact information, he informed me he’s back in the coaching business again.

Not only is he back coaching, but he actually is an assistant to Roane County head football coach Paul Burdette, who once worked with Hardman as an assistant himself.

Talk about things coming full circle.

However, since coach Burdette had a couple of openings and Hardman had the itch to get back into the game, it was a situation he ultimately decided he couldn’t pass up.

“I’m glad to be back on his team. I really am,” stated Tom Hardman. “I’ve just been hanging out doing my thing. We’re in the weight room now. We’re always in there.

“I got back with him (Burdette), I think it was in March. I was working with the new Cabela’s down in Charleston. It’s not that I didn’t like it, but it was a lot of travel time from where I live.”

  • Anyone who might be interested in being considered for a spot as a potential pigskin guest picker at some point during the upcoming football season should send me your information via email as soon as possible. There should be a few spots available.

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com

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