With athletics getting ready to once again begin for the first time in more than two months across the state, the AHSAA has released a set of “Best Practices” guidelines for return. Those include everything from sanitation guidelines, a set of pre-screening questions and suggestions for main…
Although Lindsey Smith, Jake Adams and I have remained close in the three-plus years since I left Pennsylvania, it’s still hard to get a sense of what’s going on for them on a day-to-day basis.
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, countless people, businesses and organizations have been affected. Lives have changed, likely forever.
This time a year ago, Dadeville’s boys track and field team was still basking in the glory of its third-place finish at the AHSAA Class 2A Track and Field Championships.
What felt like an eternity for sports fans, coaches and players alike finally is coming to an end.
Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. is hosting a “Virtual Senior Night.”
“This is another one of those ultimate ‘not fairs’ due to the coronavirus.”
The sports world may look a little different but things seem to be starting to return to as normal as possible. Alabama state superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey announced Thursday schools could reopen beginning June 1, and the AHSAA followed suit.
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Inside the Lines Podcast
Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. is hosting a “Virtual Senior Night.”
The end of a season is good for two reasons. The first is teams are typically vying for state — or in some cases national — championships, and the other is those who have put in a ton of hard work start to be recognized.
The AHSAA North-South all-stars are always full of great competition for fans and even better opportunities for players, who are hoping at an extra chance at recruitment.
I knew this time was going to be tough.
Every football coach treats summer a little differently. Some want to focus solely on their squads while others like to get out there and test the waters with 7-on-7s and OTAs.
While there have been so many questions surrounding how football will get played this season and when practice and workouts can begin, teams on the gridiron aren’t the only ones facing the unknowns.
The entire AHSAA staff has been hard at work coming up with contingency plans for what high school sports will look like in Alabama moving forward in wake of the coronavirus pandemic. While there is still a bit of waiting game, officials are getting closer to making some set plans.
Finding a way to win is something a team always strives for. Whether it’s up by 10 or down by 10, a team never wants to lose that competitive edge.
Just two short years ago, Benjamin Russell football coach Kevin Smith was getting his first look at his new team in an intrasquad scrimmage back in 2018. Since then, Smith has become a staple at the helm of the Wildcats, and he isn’t the only first-year head coach who got a taste of success …
In a new reclassification cycle, a shakeup is always expected and that was certainly the case for local teams this year. Previously it had been announced Reeltown will be making a jump to Class 3A, changing things up quite drastically, and that continued as the AHSAA recently announced its s…
Every football team across the state of Alabama — and even beyond — is struggling with how to make things work during the coronavirus pandemic. Questions still remain about when coaches will be allowed to work with their players in person and what that will actually look like when they can. …
Sports fanatics are going to have to wait at least a while longer for the return of high school sports in Alabama.
When most people think about Kyle Caldwell, they think of the career he had at Dadeville as a successful three-sport athlete. Or they might think about the record-breaking stats he had at the University of West Alabama on the football field.
The best part about the typical spring sports season is there’s so much to go around. Youth teams are usually starting up while high school and college squads are gearing up for potential playoff runs. Plus, spring football is in full swing, so there’s plenty of sports to choose from.
As the great Tom Petty once sang — and Roger McDonald likes to quote — “Waiting is the hardest part.”
In a room in Tuscaloosa on Friday night, the Jennings family waited with bated breath. It seemed certain the call they were all waiting for was going to happen but it was impossible to predict when.
Given the current situation of the coronavirus pandemic, there’s a lot of uncertainty swirling around what’s going to happen to the high school football season.
Here are a few assorted thoughts from the NFL Draft.
After several months of anticipation, Roger McDonald has officially been named the head football coach and athletic director at Dadeville, effective June 1.
Another local's dreams have come true as Dadeville graduate Anfernee Jennings is going to the NFL. He was selected 87th overall by the New England Patriots on Friday in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Caleb and Lizi are back talking about actual sporting events as some major news stories happened over the last two weeks.
Dreams came true for several locals during this week in history as many area football players were selected by NFL teams during the draft.
Apparently this was the week of the home run, especially back in 2005.
FIRST TEAM
Winning a state championship doesn’t happen overnight.
PJ Eason, Dadeville junior
It’s always a big deal to break a school record.
Caleb is once again joined by co-host Lizi to discuss the possible long-term effects on high school sports as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
Although many senior student-athletes are frustrated by the season’s end, especially if their recruiting dreams were hinging on their final seasons, others already have a plan for next year. And just because their high school seasons are over doesn’t mean they can stop now.
As the official end of the spring season came Thursday afternoon when schools were closed for the remainder of the school year, there were also a lot of questions that still needed answered.
Clearly there have been more pressing things going on for Tallapoosa County Schools superintendent Joe Windle.
I’ve managed to get through all my interviews about the coronavirus without shedding a tear.
Benjamin Russell coach Richy Brooks has been in this business a long time. He’s been the head of the Wildcat baseball program for longer than his current players have been alive.
Spring sports for 2020 are officially over for Alabama high schools.
With most of the sports world still being shut down, Caleb and Lizi turn their attention to the football world.
The Alabama Sports Writers Association released its weekly softball and baseball rankings earlier this week.
For the second year in a row, Dadeville’s boys basketball team will be represented at the AHSAA North-South All-Star game, which is scheduled to be played this summer.
It’s not just sports games and events that’ve been put on hold by the AHSAA due to the coronavirus outbreak; it’s also practices that’ve been disallowed.
For so many people, sports are a solace.
Benjamin Russell used a four-run third inning to get past Opelika on Thursday as the Wildcats improved to 2-0 in Class 6A Area 6 softball play. Chloe Davis had a three-run single in the third to put Benjamin Russell ahead and it never looked back.
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