I will tell it to you straight….I love high school football.  I spent most years of my radio broadcasting career doing play-by-play and commentary on football and basketball at the high school level, and some small college games.

When you are so close to sports, you either stop doing it or you love it even more.  My love for sports only grew through my younger years.  I got to know many players, their families, coaches and athletic directors.

I found most people drawn to sports as a profession are good people.  There are always exceptions, but if you don’t learn to love coaching kids and getting to know their families, you don’t stay in coaching for long.

When I first received a tip last Wednesday evening that a Fishers High School football player had tested positive for COVID-19 after only a few days of practice, my heart sank.  For this to happen so soon was a big setback to the upcoming high school football season.

But, it should be noted, based on what I gleaned from a podcast conversation Friday morning with local Superintendent Allen Bourff, the young man testing positive was doing well with few, if any, symptoms.

The Fishers High School athletic staff should be credited with following all the protocols from the IHSAA and Fishers Health Department.  Practice is set to begin again Monday for the Tigers, but the local health department will be providing advice on players working in the same group as the player testing positive.

Even though I no longer sit in the press box or watch the game from the sidelines as I once did, I still enjoy watching high school football from the stands.  I don’t care if I need to arrive early to social distance and I certainly do not object to wearing a mask to keep people around me safe.  I just want to be there and enjoy the game.

Classes begin for students at the local Hamilton Southeastern School District, the 4th largest in the state, August 5th.  Local school officials are doing everything possible to provide the safest place for students to learn in their respective school buildings.  The football player’s positive test is only the first challenge for local educators.  There will be more and officials know that.

I look forward to classes beginning and sports being played in August.  There are risks, to be sure, but let’s give our local leaders in education the chance to show what they can do.

Let’s just say I’m planning to see as much Royals and Tigers football as possible this year.