INSIDE ALL ISSUES OF WEST 10 MEDIA PUBLICATIONS THIS WEEK WILL BE THE 2020 GRIDIRON GLORY…
By Thomas Sellers Jr.
Normally about this time of the year, the West 10 Media annual Gridiron Glory issue has been on newsstands since late August.
Area football teams have played nearly half of their schedule and coaches are starting to focus on their Regional games coming up. But as we all know, there is nothing normal about the year 2020.
While schools across America and our coverage areas are adjusting to new academic norms daily, there was no chance of us having a completely normal football season.
The West 10 Media sports staff made the decision for a post Labor Day release of Gridiron Glory to try to be as transparent about the changing climate surrounding the game.
Since mid-August, the schedules have changed for all 17 teams in our coverage area. Three of our schools, Bolton, Cordova and Germantown, are Shelby County Schools. Those schools and all of the other SCS high schools having any type of season is in jeopardy.
Out in Collierville, the Dragons hosted Briarcrest in Week One. Then a couple of positive COVID-19 test postponed any activities for the Dragon players until Sept. 11.
So the Munford Cougars, already using Collierville as a replacement game for Sept. 4, had to pencil in the St. Benedict Eagles for a contest that night.
Take a trip out to Millington, the Trojans were about to have Week One off when schools in Jackson decided to move back the start of sports to after Labor Day.
Instead Trojans Head Coach Chris Michael got on the horn and was able to get Ripley to move up the Week Nine contest to the start of the 2020 season.
Then over at Tipton-Rosemark Academy, the Rebels will try to get in a nine-game season after their Mississippi opponent canceled the season opener.
By now you get the point. Over on our 2020 schedule page, we have “To Be Announce” across each one of our teams. You will have to visit our websites: Bartlett-Express.com, Millington-News.com, Collierville-News.com or Shelby-News.com for the latest updates.
If there is a game, we’re going to get out there and give these hard-working student/athletes, coaches and staff the proper coverage they have grown accustomed to.
We still have a ton of talent out there dreaming of going to the next level and securing funds for his higher education. Coaches are still investing time to give these young men structure, disciple and tools of teamwork.
And from those who clean these stadium, to those who work as administrators, a lot of behind the scenes work goes into a Friday night in 2020.
Things we took for granted in the past, we now see clearly and give our appreciation for those who do those jobs.
While the players wear their face masks, we need to wear our masks, keep our hands washed and do all the things necessary to help these student/athletes have a 2020 season.
