Sports Fan

I read an article today about Michigan opening up for high school sports activities. I think it was in the Detroit Free Press. They can start activities next week if I remember correctly.

I think Western might be the favorite in the East. They are big up front and return their leading rusher for his Senior season. Replacing the QB will be the only issue. They played a ton of Juniors last year at the skilled positions and a few linemen. I expect them to be pretty good in the East. Much the same can be said about Tipton. They played a number of Juniors last year, so they bring back good experience. Now, I am not sure about their depth, so injuries could be a problem, but I expect them to challenge Western. I would agree with FootballFan15, 3 thru 5 is a toss up. Cass will have four Seniors back with significant experience (graduated a senior class of ten with most of them having played significant minutes since their sophomore year), and I only see about six seniors playing significant minutes this year. They could easily start five at the skilled positions and the other on the O-line. The big question mark is the O-line. Relatively no experience and only one junior with really any minutes from last year. I could see them starting two Sophomores there. They really need someone to step up to the challenge. And depth, I don't see much, so injuries could be a disaster. The senior class has some good athletes and are good leaders, just not a lot of them and even fewer in the junior class. This could be an interesting year for them with a new coach, but I expect them to overachieve simply because of the respect they have for Coach Clay Mannering, Coach Scott Mannering, and Coach Barr. The one thing you can count on with the Cass kids, they will give all out effort and will run through a brick wall for their coaches. Hamilton Heights could be decent. Injuries really hurt them last year. They played a lot of younger guys and took their lumps, but that could bode well for them for this year and next. I expect them to be better. Northwestern is a mystery to me. I played there and we had an identity. Right now, I still think they are trying to find theirs. I think the coach is trying to get the kids to play a certain way, but it is not what they are used to doing. If they find it, they have some good athletes and a little confidence with them will go a long way. I do not know as much about the West. I expect Westside, LCC, and the Bombers to be really tough teams to beat. Good luck to all of them, and let's play some Football!!

East Division predictions and West Division predictions. What are your thoughts?

I feel like we all want a plan we can support and agree on. The only problem with that is, we all have different opinions on what is the right way to get back to a "new" normal. That is being an American, living in the United States, where it is our right to express our opinion and vote for people who think like we do. But this gets into politics and that not an appropriate topic here. I really want to see Football at all levels this fall. But as of today, it appears very difficult seeing that happen. But, if things continue on the current plan of the Governor, we could see all sports back in business by July or August. That is, if the State Education Director also follows the current plan of the Governor. Now, the details of how all this happens, those are to be determined. The situation we are living in today will be changed again tomorrow, or next week, or two weeks from now. New developments are happening each and every day and we are just reacting. I think what we all want is to know what is going to happen in the future, so we can plan for it. And I don't know anyone who can predict the future.

How do you expect a kid who plays three sports to choose what to work on in July? I have one who plays Football, Basketball, and Baseball. Unless the IHSAA or the school administration steps in, my guess would be that he will be practicing a different sport every night of the week.

Interesting thoughts, some of which may be true, but at what point do we try to get back to a somewhat normal existence? My guess is we will experience a new normal. I think things are changing on a daily basis and will continue to change.

For Head Coaches and AD's, how often does your school replace/recondition shoulder pads?

I wish they had some of these a little later in the year.