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20 AUG 04: START ME UP
The calendar says mid-August, yet the high school football season began in Columbus and LaGrange Thursday night. Who knows - if year-round school expands, maybe we'll have high school arena football during June.
Shaw shelled Columbus 50-7 in the earliest football opener ever at Kinnett Stadium. It IS still called Kinnett, isn't it? I mean, Best Buy hasn't taken that over, too??
Based on the highlights I saw, the bleachers at Kinnett Stadium were quite empty for the Columbus-Shaw game. In fact, for a second I mistakenly thought I was watching the Olympics....
Tonight's big high school game is the Carver-Spencer showdown at McClung Memorial Stadium. WRBL reported Thursday night security will be increased for this game, because of concerns about possible violence. They'd better do this for the Pacelli-Brookstone game, or the protest marches will start.
For the first time, Columbus Police will have metal detectors set up at the gate for the Carver-Spencer game. This will change the strategy for some fans - from sneaking in cans of soda, to sneaking in 20-ounce bottles.
The Georgia High School Association decided to move up the start of football season two weeks this season. It DOES reflect the earlier start of the school year in many districts. But shouldn't the GHSA be consistent about this - and move the
end of baseball season up to mid-May, like most other states?
Where I grew up in Kansas, the high school football season was rather compact. Games started in September, there was a nine-week regular season, and the state finals were held Thanksgiving weekend. Our idea of a "bye week" was when the
team took a 50-mile road trip.
So before you ask me that annoyingly-cliched Hank Williams Jr. question, "Are you ready for some football?" - no, I'm really not. For one thing, the Atlanta Falcons haven't even played two pre-season games yet.
(And can it really be football season when hardware stores aren't offering special prices on rakes yet?)
Doesn't it seem weird to you that high school football is underway in mid-August? After all, you know it's August in Columbus when....
+ You go for a morning jog outside - and 36 hours later your sweaty T-shirt still isn't dry.
+ Clothing stores hold summer clearance sales - and you giggle, because you know it stays warm around here for two more months.
+ The temperature still can hit 100 degrees F., but the TV stations have run out of "coping with the heat" news stories.
+ Drug stores have sales on chocolate bars - but you don't dare take advantage of them, because you know the bars will melt in the car before you get home.
+ If it wasn't for the Olympics, you'd HAVE to watch reality shows on television.
Of course, any time is a good time to send Instant Messages....
+ To Columbus Councilor Nathan Suber: I think I've waited long enough. When do you plan to make a statement about your daughter's arrest last month? Not even Sheriff Ralph Johnson waited this long, after his son was arrested.
+ To all Republicans in Georgia: Aren't you quietly a little nervous about the upcoming convention, now that Senator Zell Miller is the keynote speaker? He could be pulling the sneakiest political con job in years....
+ To the "Celebrate Phenix City" organizers: How many people showed up to watch the "Phenix City Story" movie Thursday night? And how many times did audience members laugh, when they weren't supposed to do it?
+ To Reggie Foster of Sunny 100 FM: Obviously this wasn't explained to you properly. The cycling event downtown this weekend is called "In MOTION X." The stationary bike you pedalled for charity Thursday probably isn't going to win.
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