High school football coaches around the state of Michigan received a much-needed glimmer of hope when the Michigan High School Athletic Association announced on Friday its plan to proceed with fall sports as usual starting in August. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, fall sports – especially a high-contact sport like football – were unsure if a season was going to happen or not.
Although there remains uncertainty moving forward, the MHSAA’s plan to start official football practice on the originally planned date of Aug. 10 was well-received by the sport’s coaches far and wide.
“I was ecstatic to hear that we’re going to play,” said Ithaca athletic director and head football coach Terry Hessbrook. “At least there’s some hope. We’re going to do whatever we have to do to play, jump through whatever hoops we need to jump through.”
Currently, football coaches have had more hoops to jump through than most high school sports when it comes to following coronavirus guidelines. On top health questionnaires, temperature checks and equipment sanitization requirements, football teams have yet to take part in any contact, and as a result, cannot take part in 7-on-7 practices to help prepare for the upcoming season.
Clinton Township Chippewa Valley coach Scott Merchant recently said his football practices closely resemble fitness club gatherings rather than football practices. Averaging between 120 to 140 kids over different sessions spread throughout the day, Merchant finds himself managing coronavirus protocols just as much as he gives workout instructions.
Despite the restrictions in place, Merchant was pleased to see the MHSAA commit to giving football a chance at being played this fall.
“I’ll just say I’m cautiously optimistic,” Merchant said. “I’ve seen the state of Virginia and the state of New Mexico, I believe, already cancel their (football) seasons. To me, it’s a positive thing that they’re saying we’re going to have it. I guess I’m just interested to see what the specifics are in terms of how we are going to make that happen and make sure it’s safe. To me, it’s a positive thing that they didn’t come out and say, ‘We’re done and we’re shutting down. We’re not having a fall season.’”
The Virginia High School League announced earlier this week it was considering three models for high school sports moving forward, none of which included football in the fall. The New York State Public High School Athletic Association governs public school sports outside of New York City and it opted to push back the start of its fall season to Sept. 21.
With the MHSAA avoiding those scenarios, Bay City All Saints football coach Eric Gust shared in the optimism held by his coaching peers.
“Obviously, we needed to hear something good, and that’s what we’ve been waiting for. It’s been a struggle to think about not playing – and that was something that was in the cards,” Gust said. “When we got the notice today, I started getting texts from the captains and the coaches … they were all excited.
“Hearing that news today, it’s something that the state as a whole can be excited about, knowing we can move in a positive direction.”
Detroit King football head coach Tyrone Spencer talks to his team against Muskegon at Detroit King on Friday, Sept. 6, 2019. Muskegon won 41-18. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse | MLive.com
No Flip, No Problem
One of the possible solutions the MHSAA considered was flipping fall sports and spring sports. However, the MHSAA’s added in its announcement today that its representative council elected to not pursue the idea.
“Additionally, the Council considered a concept that would swap traditional Fall and Spring sports, but determined that was not a feasible plan,” the MHSAA stated. “Football, girls volleyball, girls swimming & diving and boys soccer during the Fall are considered moderate or high-risk sports because they include athletes in close contact or are played indoors; they were considered the impetus for potentially switching all Fall sports to Spring. But traditional Spring sports – girls soccer and girls and boys lacrosse – carry similar risk, negating the value of making that full season switch. Moving only selected Spring sports, like all low-risk to Fall, was not considered sound because it would force student-athletes to pick between sports they’ve previously played.”
Coaches from various sports around the state, including many football coaches, were not supportive of the idea of swapping the seasons. With that model no longer considered, it added extra relief to the MHSAA’s announcement.
“If we’re going to have a season, I think they did it the right way,” Detroit King coach Tyrone Spencer said. “I don’t think that flipping the sports was going to suffice … I think they made a good call. We just have to be safe.”
The idea gained steam on June 30 when Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer asked the MHSAA to consider the possible swap. Since then, coaches have been waiting to see when they might get a chance to play during the upcoming school year.
“I’ve kind of been waiting on pins and needles,” Merchant said. “Especially after I saw Virginia and New Mexico … It was nice news to hear. It was some positive news and I think we could all use some positive news.”
Bay City All Saints Central head coach Eric Gust guides players as they run drills during the first day of high school football practice on Monday, Aug. 12, 2019.Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com
Much Still Needs to Happen
Over the last few months, the state of Michigan has been able to slow the spread of the virus far better than other states, dropping its daily numbers from as high as 1,953 new cases on April 3 to just 74 new cases on June 14. However, the recent nationwide surge in positive COVID-19 tests has not spared Michigan.
For the first time since mid-May, Michigan is averaging over 600 confirmed cases per day after Friday’s total of 660 new cases raised the average to 601.
On top of the recent surge, various football programs across the state have had to suspend workouts because of players or coaches testing positive for the virus. Meanwhile, other teams have suspended workouts because of possible exposures. Football teams at Dearborn, Clarkston, South Lyon, Rochester Adams, Saginaw Heritage and Midland Bullock Creek all suspended workouts during the week of July 12. Some of them will not resume workouts until July 27.
Although football coaches are glad to have a chance to play football this fall, coaches are still aware of the risks involved. No coach wants to put their players or staff in harm’s way.
“That’s my number one priority and my number one concern,” Merchant said. “That’s what I worry about every day and every night. I haven’t really coached any football at this point. All I’ve done is try to manage the protocols and things like that and check on our kids to see how they’re doing. If we have a player not show up, it’s not like past years where it’s no big deal. If they don’t show up now, and they have been showing up, an alarm goes off … Are they sick? Is there a problem?”
With the fluidity of the coronavirus’ effect on everyday life, coaches have no choice but to face the uncertainty head on.
“Do we know it’s going to work out? We don’t,” Gust said. “It’s going to be a challenge. But hopefully with the plans in place, we can do it safely and effectively and move forward with it. I’m sure all the programs are going to take as many precautionary measures as possible and work through this so we can play on.”
Coaches also expressed a general understanding that the season could be delayed or postponed if necessary in order to make sure conditions are safe for everyone involved. Gust has even gone as far as ordering face shields for his players as a proactive measure.
“If we have to have a delay in-season, that’s something I’d rather deal with than a complete stoppage or not even starting in the first place,” Gust said.
Davison head coach Jake Weingartz shouts out at a referee during the Division 1 state football championship game on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019 at Ford Field in Detroit. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Outside Cooperation Needed
Perhaps the most important piece of the puzzle moving forward is the full cooperation of players, family and the general public when it comes to social distancing guidelines, hygiene guidelines and mask orders. Many football coaches have told MLive within the last week how crucial it is for everyone to follow guidelines in order to avoid a potential sports shutdown in the fall.
“Obviously, it’s still day-to-day and week-to-week,” Hessbrook said. “It’s a fluid situation and changing all the time. I just hope people are responsible and do what they’re supposed to do so we can do what we’re supposed to do.”
While the coaches do their best to enforce proper social distancing and mask-wearing measures during workouts, they hope parents and family members follow through with proper enforcement at home.
Spencer said he has communicated with his players and their families about being cautious and using an abundance of caution when it comes to players attending workouts. Spencer said he holds nothing against parents who are not comfortable with sending their children to workouts.
“We’ve really partnered with the parents and just put it out there and talked about it,” Spencer said. “If you can’t be out there (on the field), you can’t be out there. If you can, you can. That’s what it’s been. We haven’t suspended a whole practice, and nothing has spread. We haven’t had multiple guys getting sick or anything like that.”
After Clarkston shutdown its football workouts for the rest of the week, Wolves coach Kurt Richardson said athletes and parents need to choose between sports or partying, adding they can’t have both. North Farmington coach Jon Herstein has echoed that logic to his players.
“Ultimately, people have got to be up front and honest about their health,” Herstein said. “They also have to make smart decisions when they’re not in football. That’s probably the area that you have the least amount of control of … The question is, what are they doing when they’re not with the program? What are they doing at home with mom and dad or aunt and uncle or grandma and grandpa? Those are the areas where people have got to make the decisions.”
Herstein has encouraged his players to shrink their social circles as much as possible, requesting they refrain from visiting out-of-state family while also staying away from large social gatherings like house parties.
“They’ve got to be willing to make those sacrifices of possibly not seeing their friends from a different school or different community in order to keep their teammates safe and keep their coaches safe, to be honest,” Herstein said.
Outside of proper social distancing measures, coaches know things could still change at any moment based on Gov. Whitmer’s orders. Still, today’s decision from the MHSAA has at least started to point the high school sports compass in a knowable direction.
“Obviously, it’s all going to be predicated on the governor and what she wants to do but it’s good to see the MHSAA came out and said, here’s what our plan is, we’re going to start on Aug. 10,” Davison coach Jake Weingartz said. “For the kids, it’s going to give them a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel and boost their morale. We’re working out every day but you don’t know if you’re going to play. It gives them something to look forward to and it gives us a ray of hope.”
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MHSAA proceeding toward Michigan fall sports season, rules out potential full-season swaps
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