Football Preview with Marcus Merkelbach
Marcus Merkelbach
As of right now, January 28th 2021, the Puget Sound region has just entered phase two of our coronavirus recovery plan. This means that multiple school sports including football have just been given the green light for a season. As someone on the football team, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity that Garfield football will have. However with that being said, I am also concerned about what precautions we as a team will take to ensure that no one will contract COVID-19. After waiting this long to play a season, I don’t want to see it shut down.
As someone who wants to play football in college, the last 10 months have been very difficult for me. Recruiting has come to a grinding halt for players such as myself in the class of 2022, and with many seniors given the option of a fifth year in high school, there is more competition than there has been in past years for a college scholarship. Being a kicker, it has been fairly easy to practice by myself on a regular basis, but I have missed the team camaraderie and brotherhood that is one of the main factors that makes football such a special sport. The bond between players is unique when you know that the guy next to you is responsible for your physical well-being on the field.
Currently, all signs from WIAA and the Metro League confirm that practice will start February 22nd. As of right now, public schools like Garfield and Rainier Beach will only play public schools. Private schools like O’Dea and Eastside Catholic will only play private schools, due to the fact that private schools have been practicing all year long and have an unfair advantage over public schools who have been unable to practice, in addition to abundant caution due to the ongoing pandemic. We have five games scheduled currently, though we do not know exactly who we will play in many of the games. The only confirmed opponents so far are Rainier Beach and Franklin. I am very excited for this season, and am counting down the days until February 22nd when we can begin practice.
As someone who wants to play football in college, the last 10 months have been very difficult for me. Recruiting has come to a grinding halt for players such as myself in the class of 2022, and with many seniors given the option of a fifth year in high school, there is more competition than there has been in past years for a college scholarship. Being a kicker, it has been fairly easy to practice by myself on a regular basis, but I have missed the team camaraderie and brotherhood that is one of the main factors that makes football such a special sport. The bond between players is unique when you know that the guy next to you is responsible for your physical well-being on the field.
Currently, all signs from WIAA and the Metro League confirm that practice will start February 22nd. As of right now, public schools like Garfield and Rainier Beach will only play public schools. Private schools like O’Dea and Eastside Catholic will only play private schools, due to the fact that private schools have been practicing all year long and have an unfair advantage over public schools who have been unable to practice, in addition to abundant caution due to the ongoing pandemic. We have five games scheduled currently, though we do not know exactly who we will play in many of the games. The only confirmed opponents so far are Rainier Beach and Franklin. I am very excited for this season, and am counting down the days until February 22nd when we can begin practice.