It really is hard for me to believe next Thursday, I will be making the drive to Huntsville for the first game of the football season. I giggle at the idea high school football is played on a Thursday, and no less the first week of the season. However, I’m willing to let that slide for the time being, truly to take in the moment. And, I’ll let it slide because next week I’ll have four days straight of football; two high school and two NFL preseason games.

I’m entering my third football season here in Alabama, which is still crazy for me to comprehend. Intermixed within my work for the newspapers, I’ve been bouncing around practices to talk to coaches for the annual Gridiron Guide. I’ve spent countless amounts of time writing these stories, tracking down rosters and scheduling a front cover photoshoot.

Samuel Higgs is the sports editor for the Alexander City Outlook and Dadeville Record.Â