Spring football begins today

By TRAVIS DOWNEY

travisd@nwfdailynews.com

John Reaves was standing outside while a group of nearby Rocky Bayou Christian School students tossed a football back and forth.

At first glance, there was nothing out of the ordinary, except for when Reaves noticed instead of the ball making its way from one pair of hands to the next in a tight spiral, it did so with a noticeable wobble.

"They were throwing knuckleballs," joked Reaves. "I hit the whistle and showed them where to put their hands on the football. You have to have your hands on the laces."

That scene, and more like it, will replay themselves time and time again over the course of the next month as high schools throughout the area begin spring practices today.

With the Florida High School Athletic Association now permitting teams to hold 20 practices in the month of May, coaches are eager to use their recently extended calendars to their benefit.

Niceville head coach John Hicks returns nine starters from last year's 8-3 District 1-5A championship team, a group headlined by wide receivers Rick Whiddon, Zeus King and Kody Williams and defensive stalwarts Kyle Small and Luke Sager.

But the Eagles must find capable replacements at two critical areas on offense - offensive line and quarterback.

With the added practice time, Hicks can breathe a little easier knowing he and his staff will not have to rush to judgment regarding a position of such significance as quarterback.

"We're excited about that," said Hicks. "For us looking for so many new starters, I think it is a big benefit for us. Last year, we were having to move guys to different positions in the third and fourth game of the season, this year we will be able to have guys in the right spot after spring."

For Reaves, who is set to lead Rocky Bayou through the school's first-ever football practice on Friday afternoon, the start of spring drills brings with it a level of anticipation never before seen on the Knights' campus.

"They are excited about it," said Reaves. "Particularly the older ones, this is something that they never dreamed they would have the opportunity to do at Rocky Bayou Christian School. Here it is."

 After spending the past several months relegated to varying strength and conditioning programs, players - and coaches alike - can finally take to the fields once again.

And while Reaves and the Knights will spend the next several weeks not only getting to know one another, but also how the game is played at the high school level, Choctawhatchee and first-year coach Greg Thomas will experience a transition of their own.

"Any time you come into a new program or a new situation it's different," said Thomas. "You see your kids in the weight room but you don't really know what you got until you see them out there actually playing the game of football."