Mondays are typically the toughest day of the work week. Although undoubtedly the longest, the first Monday when high school football teams are allowed to strap on full pads in Tennessee has become one of my favorite work days of the year.
Once again, as teams across the Chattanooga area amped up the physicality, I tried to visit as many as possible. From watching the sun turn the sky a Salmon red when it rose over the Tennessee River as I crossed the Nickajack Bridge — sending a little concern from the old weather adage about “Red sky in the morning, sailor take warning” — until I dropped back down into the beautiful Sequatchie Valley in the evening, there was plenty of reason to feel a jolt of excitement about the coming season.
The 27th annual Prep Tour covered 277 miles to reach 22 schools across three counties and two time zones, all in just over 14 hours from the time I left home, til I returned.
All times Eastern.
6:58 a.m., Chattanooga Christian: Players and coaches are in a team meeting room finishing morning devotional before they head out to the game field to begin practice. Chargers head coach Grant Reynolds made the decision back in the spring to transition to the old-school flex-bone offense because it better suits the gritty, hard-working type of players he has returning.