By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
PITTSBURG, Kan. — There’s a different feeling this year as high schools in southeast Kansas prepare for the start of football season.
School starts for most area schools next week, but under KSHSAA guidelines, the first allowable day of fall sports practice isn’t until Monday, Aug. 18.
“It is what it is,” Riverton head coach Cory White. “We’ll still get the same amount of practice time in. We’ll worry about the things we can control. They say we can start on the 18th, that’s when we’re going to start.
“We would have liked to had some two-a-days. We would have liked to get some more work in, as everyone would have. We won’t bring them in before school. We’ll try to make the best use of our time.”
A sign that football season is near — the fourth annual ESPN 1340 Preseason Luncheon — was held Thursday at Watco. Preseason coaches polls in the Southeast Kansas League and the CNC League were announced.
St. Mary’s-Colgan, the defending CNC champion, received seven first-place votes and topped the poll with 63 points, followed by Girard with 59 points. Those two teams collide in the season opener Sept. 4 at Hutchinson Field in Pittsburg.
“I was a little bit surprised (at being picked No. 1),” Panthers head coach Chuck Smith said. “I don’t mind it. I think it’s a nice honor that they think of you that way. But we only have two starters on both sides of the ball coming back. I think every game is going to be a big challenge for us.”
Riverton landed third in the poll with 48 points, and Galena was fourth with 39.
Defending SEK champion Pittsburg was picked to repeat as league champion. The Purple Dragons had seven first-place votes and 63 points, and Fort Scott was next with 57. Chanute was third with 47, two more than Columbus.
“I’m honored to be picked at the top, but polls are basically for the kids and the fans,” Pittsburg head coach Merle Clark said. “I don’t take a lot of stock in where you start. The reason for my not understanding totally why we’re picked first is we have three starters back on offense and five back on defense.
“We have a lot of holes to plug. For the first time since I’ve been (head coach) — this is my 10th year — we don’t know who our tailback is going to be. And when you’re an I team, that’s not a real good situation. ... We’ve been through camp, and we don’t know. We still have a few guys to look at and see who wants to step up and take charge.”
The delayed start to practice won’t prevent Baxter Springs from having two-a-day workouts.
“I like two-a-days, yes,” Lions head coach Brett Hartley said. “Since the state only allows so many days, you might as well try to get as much accomplished as we can.
“We’ll go at 6 (a.m.), then again in the evening, depending on the heat index. I think it’s supposed to get pretty hot again. That’s what we did last year. For us, it’s not really a major change.
“I’m sure some of the teachers as the day goes on are going to be wishing that week was over. The players might be a little tired by the end of the week.”
“We’re still planning on having some two-a-days,” Frontenac head coach John Palumbo said. “The kids usually got to go home and rest in between. Now they are going to have to go to school. The kids will not be used to starting school before practice. It will be a little different, but they’ll adjust.”
At Galena, the Bulldogs will practice once daily, just as they have in the past.
“I can’t remember the last time we had two-a-days,” head coach Beau Sarwinski said. “We’ll go two hours and work them. We always try to get our kids in shape beforehand. We tell our kids I’d rather work hard for two hours then go for four and not work very hard.”
Phil Hobbs, the new head coach at Northeast, pointed out an advantage to starting school first.
“It gives you a couple of days to beat the halls and maybe pick up a kid or two,” he said.
Sports
School, in Kansas, starts before football
Colgan, Dragons selected as conference favorites
- Sports
-
-
Kickapoo girls race past Joplin
Annie Armstrong poured in 21 points to lead the Kickapoo girls to a 65-28 victory over Joplin on Thursday night in an Ozark Conference basketball game at Missouri Southern’s Young Gymnasium.
-
Cheever is ultimate blue-collar snowboarder
As a World Cup snowboardcross racer, Jonathan Cheever has taken his share of spills over the years.
-
District wrestling tournaments begin tonight
Neosho’s wrestling lineup will have a different look when the Class 3 district wrestling tournament begins at 6 p.m. today at Carthage.
-
Late board work carries Lions past Pittsburg State
Pittsburg State displayed its offensive rebounding muscle during Wednesday night’s game at Missouri Southern.
-
Pitching holds key for softball Lions
Pitching is the main question Missouri Southern must answer as the Lions open their softball season today in Abilene, Texas.
-
Quapaw completes 12-0 run through Lucky '7' Conference
Quapaw High School girls basketball coach Rod Graves expected the 2011-12 Wildcats to compile another successful season.
They haven’t been a disappointment. -
Hillsdale women stop OCC
Visiting Hillsdale Free Will Baptist handed Ozark Christian a 68-47 loss in women’s college basketball on Thursday night.
-
Tomlin, Steelers welcome Haley as new coordinator
Throughout the 16 minutes that followed him glowingly introducing former Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley as his new offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stood proudly in the corner of the second-floor media room at the team’s facility.
-
Rangers, Cruz strike $16M, 2-year deal
Two-time defending AL champion Texas has avoided arbitration with another of its core players, agreeing Thursday to a $16 million, two-year contract with AL championship series MVP Nelson Cruz.
-
Auburn’s Ward adapts game after injury at Texas
Auburn’s Varez Ward can’t take to the air quite like he used to. The onetime Texas starter is still trying to regain strength and explosiveness more than two years after rupturing his right quadriceps tendon while dunking during pre-game warmups.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
