AIKEN --- Jeremy West didn't have to worry about sweltering heat or late-afternoon thunderstorms for his first preseason practice as South Aiken's new football coach.
Starting at midnight has its advantages.
Under the light of the moon -- with the aid of stadium lights -- South Aiken hit the field at 12:01 a.m. this morning to begin drills. Friday was the first day football teams in South Carolina could practice, and West took advantage even though the temperature was still in the high 80s when practice began.
"We really pride ourselves on working hard and putting extra time in," West said while watching his team go through a variety of drills.
"We think being one of the first area teams to practice shows we're willing to put the work in and get to that next level."
"Midnight Madness" is associated more with college basketball, but West wanted to build on the enthusiasm he found at the school this spring when participation and morale were high.
"I think we're the only one in the area doing this," West said. "I hear Byrnes does it, so that's pretty good to keep company like that."
The Thoroughbreds gathered at 6 p.m. Thursday and had dinner. After setting up camp in the school gym, the team lined up in pairs outside the locker room shortly before midnight.
When West blew his whistle, the team ran onto the field and broke into groups to do warmup exercises.
About 15 minutes into the practice, West voiced his displeasure with how his team was performing a particular drill. He made his players start over twice before he was satisfied.
"Got to do the little things right," he yelled. "Can't cut corners."
South Aiken will sleep in until 8:30 this morning, have some breakfast and then practice from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Teams can wear pads for the first time Tuesday, and South Aiken will hold its first scrimmage Aug. 6.
West was hired as South Aiken's football coach in February after a three-year stint at Bluffton High School near Hilton Head Island, S.C.
He was previously an assistant at South Aiken under Dan Pippin, and he replaced Robert Wrightenberry as the Thoroughbreds' coach.
South Aiken went 4-7 in 2009 with a 38-14 loss to Camden in the first round of the Class AAA playoffs.
This year, the Thoroughbreds move up to Class AAAA thanks to realignment.
While region foes Aiken and North Augusta were presumably in bed, West's team was already hard at work.
"I think we're going to be competitive," he said. "If I didn't come here to win, they got the wrong guy for the job."
Competitive is one thing but to have kids out at midnight is taking high school sports a little to far. How far will we let our kids be pushed in the name of sports? Sure the kids like it because they are up at a time that is taboo to them but you fathers and mothers should know better. Do we need to win that bad to feel good about our lives? At what cost do we say its overboard?
I think he is using his head. With a heat index at 109 when is a team to practice? At least he should not wind up with any heat related injuries doing that.
Nofrills, I think the parents just see it as an overnight summer camp; those things were fun back in the day. When you sit and think about it, how is it any different? The only difference is they're having it at the the school.
Also, by doing this, he saved a TON of money. No unnecessary spending to go out of town or travel. Kudos for that.
Great idea. Gets the kids excited. Parents have a night off. Just like a summer camp but much cheaper and assessable. On top of that, it's good publicity that was reported by the AC.
Great story, AC.
A lot of high schools send their football players off to a weeklong football camp to start the practice season. I do not know how long South Aiken will do this but it did save money by doing it at the school. And doing it away from the 100+ heat indexes is smart too.
I think having midnight practice is great, the kids love it, and it's not nearly as hot. They probably won't do this for very long anyway; it's sort of like midnight madness in basketball where the opening practice is held in the middle of the night.
The same people criticizing for this at night would probably also be critical if a player died due to heat exhaustion if they had the practice in the heat of the day under the hot sun.
Nofrills, I bet you are/were/or will be that parent who has no involvment in your childs life. What the difference than going during the day. I agree with Contrarian Coach. Its a win/win in so many ways. Get your head out of the clouds.
relax, nofrills. It is quite obvious to most that either you were never an athlete in HS or do not have any children that are athletes. For goodness sake, it is just a summer camp! I guess you, as a youth, were always required to be in bed at 10:00 during the summer as a HS student? Right !!! If that was the case, Coach West's unorthodox event would "definitely" run contrary to your lifestyle and could be quite troubling!!! Lighten up. Hope you don't have kids.
I think it is a cool idea with this heat. I know you can't do it every night, but I'd practice early in the morning and at night under the lights with this dangerous heat wave we have going on. For you nonsports fans it keeps these physically aggressive and talented kids occupied. That's a good thing.
Having done them two a day workouts, had rather be out at midnight in the 80's than up in the day when it begins to approach 100, there is a big diffence -- say like 20 degrees -- don't knock it until you try it --- Out coach had us on the field at 6 am and 6 pm...
Two-a-days football practice in the summer heat of South Carolina is the toughest thing I've ever done in my life. I counted how many more practices we had instead of counting days. I'd get home from the 6 AM practice, sleep and rest until the 4 PM practice started in about 900 degree heat. We would run wind sprints until every last man puked. I saw no use in fighting it and puked early on.
Smart, Riverman. Sounds like it was pretty miserable.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
