‘Just trying to stay positive.’ Football coaches, players innovate during lockdown.
As Non-Traditional Instruction kicks off this week at schools across Kentucky due to the measures aimed at containing the coronavirus, high school coaches have had to innovate as well during a time when they can’t see their players in the hallways.
While spring sports such as baseball, softball and track remain in a KHSAA imposed “dead period,” the new normal has also already impacted preparations for football in the fall, and it has derailed the college recruiting cycle, which would have already gotten into full gear with weekend camps on campuses around the country.
“I’m just trying to stay positive and ready to go whether our season is bumped back or whatever,” said Nathan McPeek of Frederick Douglass, who took over as head coach of the 2019 Class 5A runners-up after the departure of Brian Landis. “Something that has surprised me is the overall resilience of our whole team.”
McPeek and his coaching staff, like many other programs, have improvised to adapt to their current state. Douglass has divided up its more than 100 players into squads with each coach and each student squad leader responsible for maintaining contact and keeping each other focused on the offseason conditioning that will be required if they want to continue to contend for state titles.
With Zoom meetings, Remind app notifications, emails and even Youtube, it’s a big job. And it’s not just focused on the physical.
“We’re just checking in on them No. 1 to make sure they’re doing OK,” McPeek said. “Obviously, some kids don’t have as much as others — meals and things like that. Just checking in with them and making sure they don’t need anything. Checking in with their parents and making sure they don’t need anything.”
Without being able to get them into the weight room, Douglass has published workout plans via Twitter with options for those who have weights at home and those who don’t, plus a conditioning regimen.
“Overall, we’re sending three workouts a week,” McPeek said. “We’d absolutely love for them to do it on Monday, Wednesday, Friday if they can. If not, just get some work in three times per week. Get some sprinting in, some conditioning … just trying to stay in the best shape they can.”
To encourage one another, McPeek has tweeted some of his players’ workouts — they’ve included jumping rope in the rain, squatting the family couch and sprinting on empty fields and streets.
Rising senior Jager Burton, the class of 2021’s No. 1 recruit in Kentucky, according to 247Sports.com, has enjoyed the interaction.
“It’s fun to see people get creative with it,” said Burton, who’s done some wood chopping as part of his program. “I think it motivates people seeing other people get creative.”
Last week, Burton, a 6-foot-4, 271-pound offensive lineman, announced he would move back his college announcement because he hasn’t been able to make all the college visits he’d scheduled due to the lockdown. The lockdown has also eliminated the camps that dot the weekends in the spring that help potential recruits get exposure.
“I’ve got the offers I wanted, but for some of those guys who were going to actual school camps to get offers, they are definitely kind of scared, I guess,” Burton acknowledged. “I think everyone’s hoping that if we all do what we’re supposed to do (stay home), (the coronavirus lockdown) will be over pretty fast. They’re hoping they can still get those camps rescheduled and then go.”
Burton had a breakout camp season last spring and rocketed up the recruiting charts. After one camp last year, he got “three or four” Division I offers the next day. He has 21 total, according to 247Sports.com, highlighted by Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson and hometown Kentucky.
McPeek continues to field calls from college coaches about his players, but all face-to-face recruiting is off the table for now.
“As far as the recruitability, a lot of our kids have the film. It’s just a matter of going on campus and seeing those coaches,” McPeek said. “They want to look them in the eye, and that’s just not happening right now. For the kids that don’t have a lot of offers, they are going to lose out on that opportunity, but that doesn’t mean they can’t do something in the future to help them get recruited.”
Under a normal calendar, Douglass and other high schools would be able to get some spring practices in on top of their weight room work. And college coaches would be able to get a look at players then, as well. For the Broncos, that was to begin May 4. But with classes at home until at least May 1, nothing is certain.
“Right now, all we can do is rely on our guys to make sure they’re doing stuff at home and keeping their social distance,” McPeek said. “We’re choosing to stay safe and say positive.”
