Football Preview Union Recorder 2020 | Página 4

Football Preview 2020 PUBLISHER Keith Barlow EDITOR Natalie Davis Linder DESIGN & CONTENT EDITOR Taylor Hembree SPORTS EDITOR Gil Pound CONTRIBUTING WRITER Leah S. Bethea ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Amy Budrys Terri Stewart Tiffany Watson CIRCULATION MANAGER Melissa Miller A publication of & 165 Garrett Way | Milledgeville www.unionrecorder.com www.lakeoconeebreeze.net don’t have to tell you how strange these last five-plus I months have been. The world has had to adapt in order to combat a foe it cannot see. The job isn’t finished, but strides have been made. We’ve worn masks, socially distanced and either foregone or postponed major life events. High school and college spring sports seasons were canceled just as they were really beginning to ramp up, and professional leagues are just now regaining their footing. During this summer of uncertainty, high school football players put in the work necessary to prepare for a full season knowing full-well there is a chance the entire thing could be shut down without them ever getting to play a snap. They have poured their sweat and blood into workouts and practices all for the chance to play a game. It just goes to show you how much high school football means to these kids, and that it’s more than just a game to them. For some, it’s their way to pay for a college education. For the vast majority though, football is an extracurricular activity that gives them the opportunity to be part of a team and hang out with their friends more. No matter what role the game plays in their lives, these kids need a return to some form of normalcy. They need to be under the Friday night lights with their best friends working towards a goal. Coaches need to coach. Cheerleaders need to hype up the crowd, and parents want to see their kids accomplish something they have worked hard for. Maybe the sport can help serve as that next big healing step for our country. Welcome back, football. You’re needed this year probably more than ever before. Gil GIl Pound Sports Editor 4 Football Preview 2020