This won’t be a long post. Its a few minutes after 6 and I have to get into the shower soon. A virus forze up my lap top last week and was unable to write.

I was exhauted everyday I got home after football practice. Our Classic-sort of a dress rehersal- went well and I sense the coaches were pleased. The freshmen and JV squads get games this week. Luckily they’re at home. The opener is Friday against a local rival. It should prove to be quite the civic event.

My classes are smaller, less likley to act up. I’ve noticed a difference in atmosphere. Its been awhile since They were this small – range from 20 to 24.

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Its been a nice long summer – one of benefit in its personal renewal. I don’t quite have a handle on what exactly is different though, but maybe the long experinec of another school year will provide answers.

We have a community kick-off today at our stadium. Some Pop Warner teams will play followed my four middle schools. Our three teams – varsity, JV and freshmen will play this evening after being introduced. The band and cheerleders will be there, too. Small town football is a community event.

Like most teachers I didn’t get totally ready for the week. But the first couple of days will be administrative passing out textbook and workbooks, going over my syllabus, etc. The online gradebook system hasn’t been updated enough so I couldn’t do my seating chart yet. Thats best done the first day to help create a learning environment. Hopefully it will be up over the weekend. I might even go in for a little while tomorrow.

My son starts college Monday at a little Methodist school in Tennessee. He’s made himself into quite a good bowler and will do so there. His mom and step dad are taking him there today. Not being part of his life has been a regretful, lonely burden but I’m extremely grateful my ex-wife has done so much to foster our relationship.

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If I can keep this up, I know I’ll lose count. I think I’ll start counting weekend days as during the summer I forget how much of a lifestyle switch this is. I dream it, too.

Kids have been coming by my classroom to visit all week. Yup, its kept me from getting things done, but I’ve always felt that giving myself is one of those things I need to do. You never really get caught up anyhow. An anal retentive perfectionist would struggle as a teacher.

We seem to be getting a little better everyday at practice. We lost a DT yesterday to a hamstring strain. A very talented back-up quarterback has developed a throwing shoulder problem that I’m concerened about. It bothered him some during the spring and is flaring up now. His sister played soccer for me so his mom is somebody I already know. I left a message for her to call me last night. The back-up center with the sprained ankle has progressed to walking.

We have a two hour faculty meeting today that I’ll miss some of to take care of my injured players this morning. A Science Department Meeting will take place at noon. Not much time to work in my classroom. My back is starting to hurt and I’m grateful for some of the cheerleaders and JROTC cadets for doing all my heavy lifting.

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Tropical Storm Claudette didn’t wake me up during the night, but we have a windy, rainy and yes, dark morning. We don’t take these things lightly, but we’ve grown accustomed. School was closed for almost two weeks after Hurricane Ivan in 2004. I welcome the day as someone a warm sunny day doesn’t seem appropriate the first day teachers have to be back.

It’s been a nice long summer and its time to go back. I’ve enjoyed my little life of leisure and being able to spend so much time with my blogging. I really want to continue this and I’ll have to budget time for it somehow. When the JV and Freshman teams starts playing I’ll be getting home later two nights a week in addition to the traditional Fridays. Much of my waking time is taken grading papers and entering items into my online grading system. But it wouldn’t be a diary if I didn’t commit to it.

We’ll get one of our starting OL back today after his heat illness issues. Maybe another one whom bagged up his shoulder on Thursday. I’ll have to pad it first though. I’m putting on two groin wraps right now and everytime I do so, I can’t help but think that its likely to be similar hip pathology of players like Carlos Delgado. Most kids are wearing ankle braces these days and I have yet to tape one. That sure won’t last.

Another rain shower just came through. I wonder what it will be like at 5pm.

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We just worked out in the weight room in the morning. First day in pads started at 5pm. Its hat and mumid then, but it quickly seems to become a very pleasant afternoon here in the Florida panhandle. We found this out last spring and we found it was a really good bridge to the 3pm workouts that will occur when school begins.

Practice was spirited. Only one injury – a slightly sepretade shoulder. Naturally, it had to be an offensive lineman again. We’ve liklely lost one for the season. The back-up center is out for three to four weeks with a bad ankle sprain. I’m worried about one who has a bruised sternum. We’ll get one back Monday. He’s been out with a virus.

Its always a great debrief at the end of practice when the coaches get together to talk about practice. Terrific bonding occurs during those meetings when the good, the bad and ugly is shared with great humor and openness. No one’s opinion is ridiculed – a leasson the Mets should taken about Tony Bernazard in meetings. Our head coach has terrific organization skilsl, loves these meetings and does everything he can to foster such relationships.

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Three of the guys I work with have been coaching and teaching for over 30 years now. Most of the rest at least 15 years. We have three young, eager and talented guys. A great mix.

I never stop being amazed at the passion they put into what they do. They love the game and the kids. Sometimes I even feel out of place, but they’ve always treated me well and like one of them. Only in sports does a comraderie like this exist. It’s something I miss from baseball but have noticed gaining it back here.

We have to be back at school Monday, but I really need to get into my classroom to do some work before then. Time’s running out as its Thursday. They’re pretty good about not weighing down with lots of meetings unlike when I taught in South Carolina. Our district is rated #1 in the state. Its a greta community and the district has always had a lot of really good people working here. I’m glad I made the decision to return home in 2000.

We’ll put the pads on this afternoon for the first time. Two of our offensive linemen are already out – one with a severe knee injury and another with a badly sprained ankle. The later I recommeneded to his mother that we get it x-rayed. He came in yesterday morning with significant swelling and discoloration on the inside of the ankle. I had not expected to see that.

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I sent the day at the doctor with our injured offensive lineman, and its bad news. He’s likely to miss the season. It’s his senior year and he’s been playing football since he was 8. It’s sad being with a kid whe he has to face such news.

Another backup offensive lineman spraind his ankle in a drill yesterday. I imagine he’ll miss about a week to 10 days. The poor kid sprained it at the end of last season.

One of my main jobs in this role is to make contact with parents, many of who I already know. Naturally I spent alot of time at the home yesterday of the kid with the bad knee injury talking to his mom. Its a blessing to be in a small town in many ways as a personal touch like this can be applied. I spoke by phone with the other kid’s mom. We shared a laugh as she just had surgery on her own ankle. I wrapped him up in a pressure wrap and gave instructions. He’s one of our better students so he remembered previous instructions.

After being on my feet all afternoon, my couch and the remote were welcome friends. thank goodness for Campbell soup and $5 foot longs. They will be a dinner staple for the entire football season.

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Its 6:55. I have to pick up one of our best players who showed up yesterday with a badly injured knee that occurred while he played basketball. He has an appointment with the doctor at 800. It doesn’t look good at all. Its really swollen above the knee. That’s likely to be blood that’s coming from something that’s torn. He’s a senior and I’m afraid he’ll mis his senior year. I’ve reluctantly been preparing him for the worst.

We lifted weights first yesterday and went outside about 10am. It was hot and humid. Especially to me. I started getting dizzy. The trainer that visits from a local company told me she had the same problen at another school. Since she’s 25 years younger than me, I didn’t feel so bad. A downed 32 ounces of Gatorade on the way home and grabbed 2 large Sprite’s for the rest of the afternoon. I really felt like crap but a nap after lunch saved my ass.

The afternoon session started at five in just shorts and helmets. It was warn when we started but like last year it became very pleasant as the day advanced. The coaches did a terrific job of conditioning during the summer as all the kids in the program down to the incoming freshmen did well over a two-hour session.

One freshmen seemed to have some problem with his Osgood-Schlatters in his right knee, but its something he should be able to manage with exercises. The years after leaving baseball were productive for me in acquiring knowledge as I had the opportunity to work with alot of extremely capable people in lots of different settings.

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