MHSAA sets September 4th start date for high school football

By virtue of being an extremely physical contact sport, football is the most popular sport.

It’s also the most dangerous sport in the midst of a global pandemic for the same exact reason.

- by virtue of being an extremely- physical contact- sport... football is the most - popular sport.- it's also the most dangerous- sport in the midst of a global- pandemic... for the same exact- reason.

- and yet... it's a sport that- still has a 20-20 season... in- the - state of mississippi.

- - nat ---> yelling- on tuesday afternoon... the - mississippi high school - activities- association voted to delay the- start of football season- -- as well as swimming, - - - - volleyball and cross country --- by two weeks... effectively - eliminating those first two - friday's... from the football - schedule.

- "we need some direction now.

Again, we've tried to wait as - long as we can to hear- what the experts have to say, t- see what those numbers have don- and we needed - to give our schools some- direction."

- - - a step in the right direction,- in terms of playing a 20-20 - season... in the fall...- compared to the likes of new- mexico... - already moving football, to the- - - - spring semester.

"we made our opening statement today to our- committee is that we- are high school sports and- activities in the state of- mississippi.

We're not in - - - - alabama or tennessee.

Everyone'- situation is different.

And - we're interscholastic, we're- not college and we're not pro.- and so we made our decision - based on what's best- for our schools."

August 17th is now the start of- - - - official practice... and- september 4th... the start of - the regular season.

- less than six months after all- spring sports were- suspended... and later- canceled... for the entire- state.- "i believe statewide it's a relief of all the coaches.- - - - everyone has a final answer.- we've been going since march.

- this question has been out- there, are we going to- play high school football?

So - now, i think it's a relief."

"definitely a sigh of relief because you've seen some horror- stories with people - shutting things down and all of- that.

And i understand both - sides of the fence here and i - know the main concern is keepin- everybody healthy.

But if - - - - there's a way to play, and- obviously there is considering- we've scheduled august 17th - being the - start date, then we're going to- be ready to play."

But... what if there isn't a- way to play... or at the very - least... what if there isn't a- way to play... in front of fans- schools like gulfport and bilox- - - - already lost two home games, to- start the 20-20 campaign... and- it's highly - unlikely the indians make the - trip out to hammond,- louisiana... on september 11th.- the admirals now open with thre- straight road games... and- won't play at milner stadium...- until october 2nd.- "yeah, there's definitely a concern.

I mean by missing the- first two weeks, we're- - - - missing two home games so that- in and of itself hurts us a - little bit."

"it's going to be a big blow to our athletic department revenue- we're searching for a - game to try to make up on - september 18th, that off-week.- but with the money- thing we're getting to play, bu- we would love to have those - - - - first two home games.

Football- does a lot for the school,- athletic department, reveunue - wise and we're going- to lose those two games.

But- we're thankful and blessed to - have those other- opportunities to play for the - rest of the year."

The added threat of corona-viru- out-breaks, in the locker - room... of course, makes- - - - tuesday's decision... subject t- change.

- but as of now... championship - weekend is still set for- december 4th and 5th, at- mississippi state... with all - winter and spring sports... - - - - currently un-affected.

"small price to pay.

I think if you- told us that was the only way - and obviously that is the - best way for now, then we're al- going to take it because we wan- a season.

We want to be able to- play.

We want our kids to be- able to play and get to - experience high school- football."

- hinton says moving football to- the spring is an option... just- not a viable option at this - time.

- he says his biggest fear is - having to cancel fall sports...- as- was the case for spring sports,- back in march.- the executive committee will be- meeting again... within