It's one of the longest but most enjoyable work days of the year for me.
For the 16th straight year, on the first day Tennessee high school football teams can practice in pads, I crammed as many visits into the day as possible. The result was 20 area teams visited (19 in Tennessee), 286 total miles logged, a heat index that topped out near 105 and plenty of curse words yelled by coaches, players and myself along the way.
There were two Hamilton County schools I couldn't visit - Red Bank, which was away at a team camp out of town, and Brainerd, which closed its practices to the public and media.
My son was supposed to ride along to keep me company and drive so I could write along the way, but apparently the 5 a.m. wake-up call was too much to ask of a 20-something who had a full weekend. So off I went, solo.
(All times Eastern)
6:26 a.m., North Jackson: Teams in Alabama can't practice in full pads until Aug. 3, but the Chiefs have been meeting early each morning for weightlifting and conditioning, and a few sleepy-eyed players have trickled into the locker room. Few communities take more pride in their program, and expectations are again sky-high as the Chiefs return 17 starters from one of their state's highest scoring offenses.
7:06, Marion County: A sign hanging over the locker room door reads, "Relentless is difficult to block," and that's just the attitude that second-year head coach Ricky Ross tries to set by example. Ross admits he gets only about four hours sleep and is in his office hours before practice will begin.
"The expectations are back up really high here again, and I know it'll take a lot of hard work to keep us where we want to be," says Ross, who adds that with most of the starters back from last year's state runners-up, there won't be as much contact during practice as at other places.
"We know what most of our kids can do already, so I'm not looking to get them banged up at practice," Ross says. "I want to get my horses to the race."
Success has helped bolster participation as the Warriors have 72 players on the roster. The biggest shoes to fill will be those of two-time Mr. Football finalist Blake Zeman, and among the committee of fullbacks Ross expects to use are senior Hunter Downs (5-foot-10, 180) and junior Hunter McClain (6-0, 205).
7:47, Howard: Players are dressed and second-year coach Mark Teague is finishing last-minute instructions. With a year of experience, Teague is making drastic changes on both sides of the ball, the most noticeable being a switch to the spread offense and a quicker tempo.
Teague made those changes after taking the advice of a college coaching friend.
"He told me to use what I know best, because I would coach with more enthusiasm that way," Teague says. "We've got more experience, better numbers, and the kids really like the new style we're playing."
Last year none of the 24 players from East Lake Middle (Howard's feeder school) came to Howard. This year there are 10 freshmen from East Lake.
"Last year all those kids scattered out to other programs around the city," Teague says. "That was frustrating, seeing them playing at other schools, and one of the things we had to stop was losing those type players."
8:20, East Ridge: Not much is different this week for the Pioneers, who are on the game field in helmets and shoulder pads.
"We've got 13 starters back, so we already know which kids are physical," Pioneers coach Tracy Malone says. "We don't do a lot of hitting anymore during the week."
Senior Matt Yarbrough will take over at quarterback after three-year starter JoJo Tillery graduated.
"The biggest change for our kids is relying on each other more as a team instead of just waiting for JoJo to make a play and bail us out," Malone notes.
8:47, Boyd-Buchanan: A stereo near the field is blaring music, and the first song I hear as I walk up is Kenny Chesney's "Boys of Fall." If I had a nickel for every time I've heard that song during pregame warmups at high school games the last couple of years, I could've retired already.
Morning sessions are for defensive work, and the Buccaneers will be back out in the evening to work on offense. While most teams struggle with depth in the line, the Bucs have 17 players who can rotate along the offensive line.
It doesn't take long to notice the playmaking ability of senior linebacker E.J. Matthews (5-10, 205), who steps in front of a receiver for an interception and will be counted on heavily as a running back as well. The Bucs lost three of the first five games of last season, with Matthews sidelined by injury. But once he returned they won five of their last six.
9:12, Notre Dame: Even as practice is underway, coach Charles Fant pulls his SUV onto the practice field, unloads some equipment and drives back off. When you've led the team to the state semifinals and are one of the TSSAA's preseason favorites again, you pretty much get to ignore any "Stay off the grass" signs posted on campus.
Three sets of quarterbacks, including all-region senior Alex Darras, are throwing to receivers, and whenever there's a drop every player in the area begins trotting in place, then diving face down to complete the 10 or so up-downs as punishment. This will be the only day of the season that the Irish have contact in full pads.
"This is the start of when kids separate themselves in terms of who's going to stick their shoulder or headgear in there and take on contact," Fant says. "It's still a violent game and you have to know who doesn't shy from contact. We'll hit all day today while we're out here, but while we'll still be aggressive we won't go in full pads after this because you can't afford to get guys hurt."
9:27, McCallie: One of the few places with more talent than Notre Dame is right here where defensive coordinator Chris Richardson is emphasizing wrapping up and heads-up tackling, even becoming a tackling dummy for one defender to take down.
"That's it. Use your strength and leverage to make sure you get them down," Richardson encourages as he picks himself up.
Wearing a "Chattanooga Football" shirt with the gold power C, head coach Ralph Potter, a former UT-Chattanooga quarterback, is giving instruction on the timing of receiver screens to backup quarterback Robby Riddle.
The Blue Tornado have quickly closed the talent gap with the rest of Division II-AA and should be able to contend. Players are in shorts and helmets for the morning session, but the team will return in the evening in full pads for a more physical practice.
9:54, Chattanooga Christian: Similar to McCallie, the Chargers are working on timing patterns in the passing game. It's still going to take some time getting used to seeing former Ridgeland head coach Mark Mariakis now working as an assistant here. Mariakis is in charge of the defense, and the next step for the program is finding depth to avoid the fatigue that led to fourth-quarter breakdowns last season.
The team is eager to move into the school's sparkling new athletic facility, which is complete with locker rooms, a large weight room and coaches' offices.
10:36, East Hamilton: A story circulated from Nashville explaining how East Robertson High canceled its first day of preseason practice in pads because of a "lack of commitment" by players, according to the school's head coach.
There is no such problem here as the Hurricanes are finishing a two-plus-hour practice with board drills - 10 sets of pads affixed to make an alley where players collide in one-on-ones. It's one of the most physical drills there are, and with offensive players in white jerseys and defense in green, every coach and teammate watches and cheers on each battle. One after another, as soon as one player is either taken to the ground or has established dominance over his opponent, coaches quickly move to the next line, yell "go" and oversee the next one-on-one drill.
"I don't want to see another green shirt get pushed backward!" Hurricanes defensive coordinator Steve Garland shouts. "Stop hugging and bury him!"
11:08, Tyner: The heat officially has arrived, but the Rams aren't slowing down one bit. After a receiver has a perfectly placed pass bounce off his hands, head coach Wayne Turner crosses his arms and barks, "Run it again! We've got to have that! Catch the dang ball!"
The Rams are coming off one of the few losing seasons in Turner's career here, and he couldn't get back on the field to fix matters fast enough. This year's team is loaded with players who have two or three years of experience, including 25 seniors. There's also clearly no shortage of size and speed across the board.
11:47, Central: Forget "Jurassic World." If you want to see the return of a dinosaur, go watch the Purple Pounders offense, which is working out of the wishbone formation as I walk up. I had to do a double-take since I hadn't seen a team run that style of triple-option offense since the 1980s days of parachute pants and big hair.
New Central head coach Gary Bloodsaw laughs and assures me that the team also works on the I-formation, split-back veer and spread.
"Depending on whatever the opposing defense's weakness is, that's how we'll attack it," Bloodsaw said. "Our kids like getting to use different styles of offense, and it can be frustrating for the defense trying to figure out what we'll do."
4:08 p.m., Signal Mountain: The Eagles are already full-bore into practice, and new head coach Ty Wise isn't happy with the tempo he's seen.
"Start practicing angry," Wise instructs. "I'm tired of this bright-eyed and bushy-tail look. Play like men. When you hear 'trap,' your antennae should go up and tell you to move faster. Come off the ball, make your block and get out of the way!"
Proving to be fast learners, the offensive linemen fire off and clear a running lane, which excites Wise.
"That's it, guys. Yes!"
4:36, Baylor: With last year's entire defensive line and three offensive linemen gone, the Red Raiders will use the evening session to find depth in the trenches.
"We practiced this morning so they'll be fatigued, but that's where we want to see who can push through the bumps and bruises and respond," coach Phil Massey says. "Skill wise we already know what we have."
Senior Victor Ulmo is the third Brazilian kicker Baylor has had in as many years, and like his predecessors he already is being recruited by colleges.
5:20, Soddy-Daisy: Assistant Troy Boeck has the team going through the final minutes of weight training with each player resting a 45-pound plate on his chest and doing 10 repetitions for several series. Players will get 45 minutes to rest before going to the practice field for board drills.
Eight starters are back on a defense that allowed 37 points per game, and coach Justin Barnes knows that's his top priority if the team is to return to the playoffs. The Trojans also are looking to replenish the offensive line, which was hit hard by graduation, and there are only four total starters back on that side of the ball.
6:21, Hixson: Unlike his first stint here, Dan Duff returns to find the program he built is still in relatively good shape. But there are still tweaks to be made, and one of those is the offensive switch to the split-back veer.
A longtime proponent of the wing-T, Duff is making the change because he believes it fits his personnel better. With several starters likely set to play a lot of snaps on both sides, he also likes the fact that the veer can eat up the clock.
6:57, Ooltewah: With a roster of 88 players one would expect to find a few athletes. It doesn't take long to realize there are more than just a few, though, including a rotation of eight receivers who offensive coordinator Drew Akins believes can play. Getting that group the ball will be senior London Elrod, who started the season opener last year.
"We're still going to line up four-wide and sling it 30-35 times a game," Akins says. "Our kids know the expectations are high this year, but it hasn't been a distraction."
7:22, Silverdale Baptist Academy: The Seahawks have just begun and will be on the field until 11, with a 25-minute break. Better linebacker depth helped coach Al Rogers decide to switch to a 3-5-3 alignment, and the plan is to determine "who wants to bring the hat" when contact drills begin.
7:39, Grace Academy: Had the three senior starters who opted not to return to the team come back, the Golden Eagles would have 10 returning starters on both sides of the ball. As it is, there's still good news with the 28 on the roster giving them seven more than last season.
Tommy Morrell is the new defensive coordinator, coming over from a similar role at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe.
8:08, Lookout Valley: The team is just coming off the field from a two-plus-hour workout. As with many other small schools, numbers are the issue here as the Yellow Jackets have 25 in uniform.
"We only had 26 in in 2007 when we won 10 games, so it's not always about the numbers as much as it is the skill of the kids you have," coach Tony Webb says. "You can get away with smaller numbers in 1A. We've got good experience up front, but our backs have a long ways to go."
8:50, South Pittsburg: Vic Grider's return as coach and former North Jackson head coach Shawn Peek taking over as defensive coordinator aren't the only changes here. The Pirates have less experience than they've had in recent memory.
"It's a night-and-day difference on both sides from what they've done the last couple of years," Grider says. "That first game we'll send eight or nine guys out on the field who've played little if any football."
The Pirates have only two seniors, and those are the only two who have experienced a Grider-coached team.
"Y'all know this stuff and then you freeze up when we get out here," Peek yells after a few players look unsure of one of the blitz calls he signals in. "We're going to have a hard time stopping people if I have to coach you all night."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.