By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
The Fort Hays State football team was scheduled to close out spring practice Saturday with its annual Spring Scrimmage at Lewis Field. The annual event, open to fans, was to be the last of the 15 practices the NCAA allows during the spring semester.
The Tigers were able to complete two practices before all spring sports and athletic activities were shut down by the NCAA, forcing head coach Chris Brown and his staff to adjust.
“We’ve just been doing video conferences with our players.” Brown said. “We’re doing position meetings each day and watching film with our kids.”
Brown, who just completed his 10th season as the Tigers head coach in the fall, said strength and conditioning coach Doug Boucher has played a key role in trying to keep his team in shape while getting them ready for next season.
“Coach Boucher did a good job of sending our kids workouts they can do since there are no gyms open or weight rooms available for our players — things they can do on their own,” he said.
Recruiting challenges
While most of the roster was set for the 2020 season, Brown said there were still a few spots they were hoping to fill with junior college transfers. That process has been altered significantly or put on hold altogether.
“We were trying to get those kids here in June because we’re expecting them to play for us this upcoming fall,” Brown said. “We can’t have visits until May 30th now.”
Brown said this is also a time they start looking at their next high school recruiting class.
“It’s been a process because those coaches are out of school as well now and a lot of them don’t have their information,” Brown said. “It is a lot different because in the spring we go out and meet the coaches and they give us a good idea on who we need to recruit.
“Our coaches are doing a good job right now of reaching out to the high school coaches and making sure we’re getting their film. The junior college kids, that’s going to be the tough one because you really want to see them in person,” he added.
Social distance for football
Brown urged everyone to follow the social distancing guidelines set by the state and federal government, if for no other reason than to bring football back this fall.
“Hopefully this thing will come to an end pretty soon because I really do want to play football this fall. We need it. The world needs it. It’s a great sport that brings everybody together,” he said. “If things continue the way they’re going, we’re not going to have it, so just do what you’re supposed to do and do it the right way.”