Sounds of football fill the air

Although teams work through the summer to get in shape and memorize plays, the first day of high school practice still is compelling. Former players, some lean and fast and young and some bald and thick and old, return to see the new stars or offer sage and helpful advice.

   At Independence High Monday, the grass was as short as a buzz cut, the white lines faded, the plastic cones plentiful.

   But you didn't have to look to know where you were. Close your eyes and listen. Where else could you be?

   Here's some of what I heard:

   "Tuck your jerseys in!"

   "Look, listen, think!"

   "Feet down, feet down, push up, let's go!"

   "Get your butts down!"

   "Explode off that line!"

   "There you go, great catch!"

   "Let's go, let's go, go, go, go, go, go, go!"

   To the defense: "Stop playing like offensive guys!"

   To the defense four plays later: "Hey, you guys are getting smart!"

   "You just look scared right now!"

   "I told you this is going to be hard!"

   And my favorite: "Summer's over. Time to go to work!"

   As a guy that just came off two weeks of vacation, I can relate.

   But if you have to work, the first day of high school practice, especially one led by the Independence staff, is a fine place to start.

Comments

[Glenda Thompson]

Here we go again. Independece gets all the publicity. There's not a high school in Charlotte that couldn't win 7 state championships if they recruited all their players the way Independence does. The Observer and CMS continue to ignore that fact because you all love having a state championship team. Everybody knows Tom Knotts is a great coach. But let's see what he can do with kids who legitimately live in the Independence district for a change.

[Big Fan]

To I heard the Big I got a transfer #4 from South Meck that is so good that he is playing both ways. At Indy? If so, who is this kid and maybe he should be wearing #8. Can you look into this?

Big Fan

[Jeff]

You are talking about Raquan Wooden. I watched him at practice and at a 7 on 7. This guy is amazing. I heard he is also a big track star. I heard he is playing offense and defense at INDY! Now that's a first. Is Coach holding out on his new secret weapon! With Chilsom, Carrothers and now Wooden, Indy is gonna rock this year! Why is this guy not all over Scout.Com Tom be the first to do a piece on this one. We want to know who he is.

[Garrett]

To everyone who is "tired" of hearing about Indy. You want everyone to shut up about Indy? Then you're sorry school needs to go out and a)beat them b) win 108 in a row and 7 state titles or c)quit caring about what the charlotte press write about. Why do you care if they fall over Independence? Worry about your school and your team. I will tell you right now that they (IHS) do not care what is written about them or anyone else for that matter. Thet concern themselves with football and winning. Which is exactly what the other programs in the city, state, and nation need to do.

[Nike Lebron 5 Shoes]

To everyone prehaps you are a person, then again to a single individual you're likely to be everything. [url=http://nikelebron55.com/]Nike Lebron 5 Shoes[/url] Nike Lebron 5 Shoes