It just occurred to me that my Friday nights are now officially booked from now until (hopefully) December. For months the question has been "Damn, how many more Fridays must I endure before it's football time in Hickory again? But it slipped my mind Friday night that it was the last time for a long time that I won't have Hickory High football to enjoy. In five days the Tornadoes hit the road to Waynesville for the Border Bash. The following Friday Hickory's "Hardest Hits" tour makes a stop in Boiling Springs for the Cleveland County Jamboree. After that there will be a Tornado warning in effect for the Statesville area. Awesome!
This pre-season is unlike any other in Hickory High's long history. For the first time the Red Tornadoes will be involved in not one but two "event scimmages" which is my terminology for showcase jamborees such as the Cleveland County Jamboree and the Border Bash. In years past Hickory would have a couple of casual scrimmages against local teams and a joint practice with Freedom that involved some scrimmage action. Hardly anybody but the players, coaches and family members even paid attention.
Not quite ten years ago Hickory got involved with the Cleveland County Jamboree and has been playing in it ever since. I think it's a great thing and very valuable to the growth of the kids as football players and the program as a whole. When most teams around the state are having their season openers the Red Tornadoes are honing their skills in a 2-quarter game situation against one of the best teams in the state. Lately Hickory has been paired with Crest. Before that it was Shelby. Going up against the Cleveland County schools is always great preparation for Hickory's season opener against Statesville.
Now with the addition of the Border Bash to Hickory pre-season schedule time is fleeting because while the outcome has no official bearing on the 2008 season it is a contest that Hickory would love to win. So suddenly it's like the season is already upon us after only one week of practice. But that's what makes it exciting!
This pre-season is unlike any other in Hickory High's long history. For the first time the Red Tornadoes will be involved in not one but two "event scimmages" which is my terminology for showcase jamborees such as the Cleveland County Jamboree and the Border Bash. In years past Hickory would have a couple of casual scrimmages against local teams and a joint practice with Freedom that involved some scrimmage action. Hardly anybody but the players, coaches and family members even paid attention.
Not quite ten years ago Hickory got involved with the Cleveland County Jamboree and has been playing in it ever since. I think it's a great thing and very valuable to the growth of the kids as football players and the program as a whole. When most teams around the state are having their season openers the Red Tornadoes are honing their skills in a 2-quarter game situation against one of the best teams in the state. Lately Hickory has been paired with Crest. Before that it was Shelby. Going up against the Cleveland County schools is always great preparation for Hickory's season opener against Statesville.
Now with the addition of the Border Bash to Hickory pre-season schedule time is fleeting because while the outcome has no official bearing on the 2008 season it is a contest that Hickory would love to win. So suddenly it's like the season is already upon us after only one week of practice. But that's what makes it exciting!
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