From what I saw in the first week of football and in talking with peers out covering games, there were a whole lot of players suffering with cramps and a whole lot of penalty flags.
OK, yeah, it was the first weekend, but coaches can only do so much harping about the cramps. And it certainly wasn't the kind of heat, or really humidity for that matter, that one has come to associate with August football.
One can only hope players will learn that hydration needs to begin mid-week at the latest. (And maybe a couple of pre-game swigs of pickle juice would be helpful.)
I did hear one Baylor coach threatening to run the post-practice hound out of players he saw without a water bottle in their hands during the days leading up to game days.
The Red Raiders, who lack experienced depth, had several players going both ways. Ditto for South Pittsburg, which had three players go down with cramps on the same play.
As for refereeing, there were a handful of holding flags thrown well behind the play meaningless and unnecessary and way too much post-penalty discussion before the call was announced or yardage marked off.
I also didn't like it when the second player in a post-play altercation was ejected, yet nothing was done or even said to the instigator. But coaches are always telling their kids the one who retaliates is the one who's going to get penalized.
* By the way, from what I saw of Ryan Parker, he looks as good at fullback as linebacker. Happened to hear that the Vols are looking at a same-size linebacker from MUS, but I know that the Baylor senior has heard little, if anything, from UT. If that's the case, then UT is making a serious mistake. Once Parker focuses on football, the weight room and a training table, he'll be all-conference if not All-American material.
* Unbeaten regular season repeats for Rhea County and Ooltewah were shoved out of the way rather quickly Rhea losing to Baylor and Ooltewah falling to Riverdale but don't write off either. They'll be around hale and hearty when playoffs begin.
The thing I liked about Rhea was another strong comeback. The Eagles fell behind 21-0 and caught up only to lose a close one.
"They're outstanding. I'd hate to line up against that," Baylor coach Phil Massey said of Rhea and Mark Pemberton's wing-T. "The advantage of playing them the first game is that we had a couple of weeks to prepare. They're an offensive team that I don't think you can prepare for in three days, which is what you have for preparation in a normal week. It won't surprise me if they're knocking on the door for a state championship this year."
And you can book it: Ooltewah's offensive line will get better as the season progresses, although I might suggest using Jeremiah Jackson or Nick Putman (or both of the big defenders) as backfield guys in goal-line offensive sets. The Owls have the skill guys and the defense and one can rest assured that the offensive line (with only one returning starter) will be busting it to catch up.
* Signal Mountain opponents, take note. Yes, the Eagles lost Friday night in what is to be a rebuilding year, and you might get away with overwhelming them with numbers them, but you'd be wise to take advantage of all your offensive possessions.
Otherwise, their clock-eating ground game will eat you alive. The wing-T is there but has a different look from the up-tempo style of former coach Bill Price. The blocking is still precise, but this offense is much more deliberate.
And they'll get better when injured running back Nathan Johnson (hamstring) gets back in the lineup.
They have lost junior runner Garrett Hensley for the season to a knee injury. He'll have surgery Tuesday but expects to be back in time for baseball season.
* Surprises?
Felt Marion County would be good, but starting the second half Saturday with a running clock against Hixson? Never saw that coming.
Knew that Boyd-Buchanan would have little trouble with Tennessee Christian, but for quarterback Cooper Hodge to have as many punts (3 for a 43-yard average) as passes (2 of 3 for 12 yards)? Bet the Buccaneers reserves played the bulk of the second half.
His detractors may shout because the Hustlin' Tigers got beat 14-0 on Friday. Be that as it may, Howard coach Mark Teague and his team are making strides. And for those who don't know, DCA is a year-in, year-out playoff participation.
Yes, was surprised that Notre Dame averaged just 5.3 yards per rush against Central - would've expected more - but by the same token, the Irish have one of the area's most experienced quarterbacks, Alex Darras. He had a four-TD night (173 passing yards) and added a 42-yard field goal, three points on PATs and a two-point conversion pass.
Don't be surprised if the kid winds up in the Ivy League, one of the academies or even at a mid-major program if he decides to play football instead of baseball.
No surprise in Whitwell's Friday performance. The Tigers ran for 473 yards, including 143 by Trace Condra, 100 by Cody Ingrassia and 101 by Clay McHone.
No real surprise either in McMinn County beating McMinn Central. The Cherokees haven't lost their opener in back-to-back seasons in too many decades to count.
Caught off guard by Soddy-Daisy's 49 points against Red Bank? Not really, even though record-setting quarterback Hunter Maynor graduated. The new guy, Justin Cooke, threw eight passes and completed all eight for 224 yards and five TDs. He'll do nicely.
Of course, it helps to have Tre Carter, who would have been a big-time college football prospect if the outfielder hadn't committed to play baseball for UT.
* And congratulations!
To Sequatchie County coach Adam Caine, whose Indians football team gave him his first win as a head coach in his first game - against South Pittsburg.
And how about Grace Academy? They gave up just seven points, barely missing a shutout, and forced a mercy-rule running clock to hurry the game along. The Eagles were up 35-7 at the half.
It didn't make the paper Saturday, but East Ridge posted a 20-7 victory over Polk County. Big win for the Pioneers.
* My bad: Burton Bell was on the receiving end of an 80-yard touchdown pass for East Hamilton against Signal Mountain. He was misidentified, as was David Whiteside, who had two TD catches. Could blame it on those horrid, hard-to-read road game jerseys the Hurricanes sport, but a mistake is a mistake, and I made one.
* On Friday: While two of the best games are up or down the interstate - McCallie at Blackman and Bradley Central at McMinn County - Notre Dame plays at Tyner, likely the best game in Hamilton County.
The Georgia highlight has to be Dalton playing at Calhoun, and in Alabama, Ider plays at Valley Head.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.