Football practice underway at county schools

By DAVE COX/Staff
Monday brought dreams and hopes of returning to the Virginia state championship football game to some 67 Richlands High School athletes as they started their quest under clear, hot August morning skies in the first of two-a-day practices on the field adjacent to the brand new artificial turf that now adorns Ernie Hicks Stadium, a facility that will forevermore be known now as Ernie Hicks Stadium/EMATS Field.
RHS head football coach Greg Mance and his assistants were busy guiding their potential players through their various routines early Monday morning. Mance took a few minutes to break away from practice to talk a little about the upcoming 2008 season, a season that will feature many changes for his current team, including a longer season that stretches from two August games until November and possibly even into December if the Blues can make it to the state championship game for the fourth straight year, a new playing surface, scoreboard and maybe a new field house for at least part of the season if it can be completed in time.
“It’s a good number,” he said about the 67 athletes that showed up for the first day of practice. “Of the 67 kids, we’ve only got four juniors. We’ve got a bunch of sophomores, a bunch of freshmen and a bunch of seniors.”
Mance indicated that he had 22 seniors trying out for football this season, a number that should bode well for the prospects of reaching deep into the post-season once again.
As for playing and practicing on artificial turf, Mance was ecstatic. “It would be a nice field for practicing on today, but I think we can wait a week,” he said. “It’s going to be nice. You’ve got your landmarks, hashes and we are going to make better use of our video equipment. It’s just going to be so much nicer to be able to get on that turf.”
A new practice field is also in the works behind the Richlands Elementary School that will consist of the dirt removed from the old Ernie Hicks grass field to make it possible to place down the artificial surface. “They’re going to level that out and grade it and I think EMATS is going to hydro seed it. It’s got going to happen this year, but we’re going to practice our JV (with our varsity) on the turf and our eighth grade will be over here on the grass and we’ll move back and forth depending on whether we’re on the grass or the turf that particular week.”
Mance gave his opinion of the longer season that is facing him and his program this year. “If they’d do away from the open dates, Id like it because your season doesn’t drag out until the second week in December (if your team makes it to the state finals),” he said. But, when you start in July (with practice) and you’re playing in December, that’s a long time. It wears the kids down and makes for a long season, so you’ve got to stay healthy. That’s why our summer conditioning is so important. It keeps our kids healthy and keeps them from getting injured.”
Like many other area schools, Richlands will have two scrimmages (August 8 and August 15). The Blues will open their regular season at Gate City (August 22) and will play their first game on the new artificial turf when they host Honaker on August 29.
Tornado fans will get to meet the RHS players up close and personal if they attend the Blue and White game and barbecue to be held at Ernie Hicks Stadium/EMATS Field on Monday, August 4, starting at 6:00 p.m.
TAZEWELL - It is football time in Tazewell and the Bulldogs are hoping bark louder and bite harder than last season.
Coach Bobby Wyatt had 46 in practice July 28 and was expecting a few more as the week drug on. Wyatt is hoping for 50 by the first of next week and said he knew a few kids were out of town for the opening of practice.
The Bulldogs added eight players to the roster from the Pocahontas area this season and Wyatt iss hoping for a few more in the coming days. Scott Louthan, who was the head coach at Pocahontas the last two seasons, is now a member of the Tazewell staff.
The Bulldogs have a veteran team this season with 9 of 11 offensive starters returning from last year’s squad. Wake Forest bound Matt Muncy is among a large group of seniors on this year’s team.
Tazewell hits the field for its first scrimmage Aug. 8 at 10 am when the Pulaski County Cougars come to Bulldog Stadium. Tazewell returns the favor the following Friday Friday with a trip to Pulaski.
The Bulldogs are taking part in the Cougar Classic and will likely face Pulaski and Brookeville in the event. The season opens for real Aug. 22 when Tazewell makes the trip to George Wythe.
Gate City comes to town for the first home game Aug. 29. Wyatt said this is the first time he can remember playing two games in August.