As we first reported yesterday, the Alice ISD is having to delay the start of their high school athletic programs.
They love their Coyote football in Alice. In fact, on Friday nights in the fall this stadium is always packed. But unfortunately, it looks like there will be fewer games to be played this year. And as of now, it looks like the football team will not be starting practice until at least Oct. 9.
And if this scenario plays out, the Coyotes will have to forfeit their first two district games before being allowed to play their first game on Oct. 23 at Calallen.
Football will not be the only sport being affected.
"October 9th is going to put us in a really in a bad situation across the board,” said Alice football coach and athletic director Kyle Atwood. “I need to see what date we have secured our district cross country meet but it's around that date and district volleyball games start in late September so will miss out on some of those games"
But Atwood remains optimistic that if the number of positive cases go down. That Oct. 9 start could change. But for now, he fully supports the county's decision not to start athletics currently.
"We just feel like it's not safe for our kids to return face to face in any form or fashion and so we are going to monitor it daily and stay optimistic in hopes that before long in the near future we will have an opportunity to get on field,” Atwood said.
Atwood meets regularly with his players through the zoom app and says they are all staying in shape on their own. And will be ready to go when called upon.