By Staff
Lindsay Vaught, Sports Columnist
I've been watching the countdown clock for several weeks now.
You know, the one that tells the days, hours, and minutes until the big event. And no I'm not talking about the vote on Gov. Riley's Tax and Accountability Plan.
I'm talking about the kickoff to another season of high school football.
Fans don't have to wait any longer because teams can play jamboree games starting tonight.
After three weeks of practice I know the players are ready to see some live action against someone other than the second team. The coaches will use the game action to determine the progress of key positions, mainly quarterbacks.
One of area's biggest jamborees will kickoff tonight at 6 at West Morgan High School.
Brewer and Priceville will finally get their wish and be on the same field together, except they won't be playing each other.
Priceville will play two quarters against tiny 1A Speake in the first game.
Next, in a good match-up, West Morgan will play 4A Haleyville, and the final pairing will have 5A Brewer against 2A Tanner.
Priceville is one of several teams throughout the state who are waiting on realignment from the AHSAA that will place them in a region. It will happen after this school year.
In the meantime, the Bulldogs will again play a hodge-podge of private schools, B-teams, even a school from Mississippi.
Another team without a region this season is the new Paul Bryant High in Tuscaloosa.
They requested the nickname "Bears" but were denied because another school in the county had the name. They will be the Herd.
Also tonight, Austin hosts Oak Mountain at Ogle Stadium, while Friday night Hartselle will get a return visit from 4A North Jackson.
The Chiefs feature the versatile Blake Schrader, who has committed to Auburn, at quarterback and defensive back. Talk about disappointment, North Jackson has been in the state championship game two of the last three years only to lose to UMS Wright of Mobile.
As for me, my wishes for the upcoming season are much less lofty.
I want to see less laundry, as in penalty flags, on the field this year.
I don't want to see a timekeeper run a clock continuously through the second half like I did at the Cullman-Brewer game last year, no matter what the score is.
I hope not to see players go down with serious injuries. I hope to see a season when Hoover and Homewood get knocked off by some teams from North Alabama.
I hope the players and coaches appreciate, as much as I do, the hard work marching bands and cheerleaders do to get ready for the games and support the teams.
I hope we all remember the servicemen and women in desolate Iraq who would love to be home and going to a football game like we will be.
And finally, I hope that everyone has safe trips to and from the games.