It's been an offseason filled with change, but today is one of the surest signs that normalcy is returning to high school football. Starting today, teams across Tennessee are allowed to begin practicing in full pads in preparation for area jamborees on Aug. 10, with the season kicking off for most teams the following week.
Since last season ended, 10 teams in the Chattanooga area have undergone head coaching changes, including three in the last two weeks alone.
But as has been the case for nearly three decades, one place that was unaffected by change is Tyner, where Wayne Turner is back for his 26th season. The Rams made a surprising playoff run to reach a state championship game for the third time under Turner, falling just short in double overtime. With seven starters returning to both sides of the ball, Tyner is again a legitimate favorite not only in its region but as a state-title contender as well.
The same goes for Notre Dame, which played in the Division II-AA championship game last year and returns 14 total starters, including Mr. Football finalist Cameron Wynn.
Although all teams begin with a clean slate and championship hopes, with less than a month remaining before the season begins, expectations are soaring especially high at Signal Mountain, down to Red Bank and stretching from Meigs County to South Pittsburg and Whitwell.
For a sneak peek at today's practice storylines from more than 20 area teams, follow along with my annual prep tour throughout the day at Timesfreepress.com or by following me on Twitter @StephenHargis for live updates after each stop.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.