Keeping head on a swivel

August 27, 2020

I’ve always joked the only goal after covering a high school football game on the sideline is to walk off the field without getting trucked. If one doesn’t know what getting trucked is, it’s basically when you get gobbled up and knocked to the ground after you get smashed by one or more players. Knock on wood, I’ve been really lucky on more than one occasion. Several years ago while at Morris Stadium there was a real close call during a Glenville State College tilt. One needs to remember even on the Division II level the action usually happens a lot quicker than on the ...

Tricking the brain

August 13, 2020

It's hard times for a lot of folks at the moment and I'm not just talking about the sports world. Basically five months into this COVID-19 pandemic, national health official experts have been warning of the dreaded possible second wave. I'm not going to get into the stats of things, but if someone wants to talk numbers I'd suggest getting with Eastern High School head football coach Pat Newland. I've had a few conversations with coach Newland and was able to make it out to the Eagles' media day this week. As fun and impressive as he is to talk with on the phone, it's even better ...

There’s ‘no playbook’ for 2020

August 4, 2020

Andy Waddle’s been involved with football for a long time, but he’s never had to deal with anything like this. Nobody has. “It’s a strange time for sure,” said Waddle, entering his eighth season as the Marietta College head football coach. “Everything just continues to be unprecedented, no matter what you’re talking about. There’s no playbook for how to deal with what we’re going through right now. You have to be thoughtful and creative.” Last week, Marietta College’s conference, the Ohio Athletic Conference, shut down intercollegiate athletics through Jan. 1. ...

Best laid plans may not work

July 30, 2020

New Parkersburg South athletic director Jennifer Null and first-year Paden City head football coach Zach Heasley might have two entirely different jobs, but they’re trying to put in all the necessary work to be as successful as possible. Indeed, Null has a plethora of things to concern herself with when it comes to running everything in the athletic department. For Heasley, a dream job and opportunity is finally at hand but he and his coaching staff are trying to get enough players to field a team and avoid the fate of not having football in 2020 like Parkersburg ...

Trying to figure out next move

July 23, 2020

Each day folks are hoping for more clarity about what the future in the sports world will hold. When I was at Parkersburg Country Club on Monday to cover the Callaway Junior Tour playoff series event, I had several interesting conversations. One of those was with St. Marys High School head boys basketball coach Mark Barnhart, who like myself wonders if it’s just a matter of when, not if, the hammer will drop to end sports until who knows when in 2021. The coach was more than pleased just to have the opportunity to conduct the three-week summer period with his ...

ALBRIGHT: Maybe it is time to brace ourselves, just in case

July 22, 2020

Friday nights without the lights and empty stadiums? Sounds like horrible no-good very-bad days, doesn’t it? But the scenario may soon come to pass. Sadly, 2020’s firm grasp tightens daily on the award for the most horrible no-good very-bad year. COVID-19’s rampage continues to leave nothing but broken plans and lost promises in its wake. Around the nation, states face the increasing liklihood of another lost sporting season for seniors. Texas, yes, Texas recently announced delays of one month for the start of the football and volleyball seasons. Virginia’s three proposals ...