CEDAR SPRINGS, Mich. — The decision was made on Friday to push the high school football season to the spring, but that doesn't mean practice is over this fall.
Schools are being allowed by the MHSAA to take the field for three days this week.
"We have the opportunity to practice, get better and be together as a team," said Cedar Springs head coach, Gus Kapolka, "look at the way our kids reacted today, it was the right thing to do."
Kapolka is entering his eighth year as head coach of the Red Hawks and estimates that at least 85-percent of his players grades nine through twelve were present at Monday's practice.
High school football teams are being allowed to practice through Wednesday with helmets if they choose to.@redhawk_cs was on the field at 9am Monday morning.
— FOX 17 Blitz (@FOX17Blitz) August 17, 2020
“We have the opportunity to practice, get better and be together as a team.” -Cedar Springs head coach Gus Kapolka pic.twitter.com/wcYA4F6Txa
Some even went to great lengths upon hearing that practice was happening.
"We had some guys in the Upper Peninsula, like Copper Harbor that were like, 'we're getting in the car right now and will be there at 9 A.M.," Kapolka added.
Even with a season at least six months away, the Red Hawks are taking advantage of every minute together.
"They are motivated and want to be here, they want to practice, so as long as they let us practice, we are going to continue to do that."
But many other coaches in the area decided against practicing for three days, knowing there would be no season this fall.
"We didn't think the positives of going back for three days outweighed the negatives," said Caledonia head coach Tom Burrill, "we wanted kids to have a summer this week. We want parents to get away and our kids to get excited after Labor Day to get back in the weight room and get our bodies stronger."
Caledonia football coach Tom Burrill on football's postponement.
— FOX 17 Blitz (@FOX17Blitz) August 17, 2020
"We've told them if you do the right thing, good things are going to happen, we've done everything we've asked to do, the numbers are good & the rug was still pulled out from underneath us." pic.twitter.com/O8QkLWsvrL
Schools are still waiting for more information as to what a spring season might look like but at Cedar Springs, it's simple.
"If you want to play in a parking lot, we will play in a parking lot," Kapolka said, "put the ball down, mark a wide side of the field, we'll line up and play. So, whenever that day comes, we will be prepared for it."
Right now, the Red Hawks plan to hold practices on the game field on Tuesday and Wednesday.
