Digging Up Local Football News
Felt like keeping track of Somers Football was harder than winning state championship this season. Their updates were scattered everywhere – school newsletter snippets, blurry Instagram stories, random parent Facebook groups. Couldn’t even find last week’s game scores without texting three different moms.
Grabbed my notepad and headed straight to practice field Tuesday afternoon. Coach Miller was pacing sidelines yelling drills like his life depended on it. Waited till he nearly lost his voice from shouting before approaching:
- “Coach, got 5 minutes for quick interview?” He wiped sweat off forehead saying “Make it three, playoffs coming.”
- Bullet points asked: Why benched starting QB? True about Smith kid’s ankle injury? How come JV call-ups got zero playtime last game?
Got gold mine on roster shuffle right there. Turns out QB failed math test (academic suspension rules, duh!), Smith’s actually done for season, and those JV kids? Coach laughed: “They’re redshirts unless we’re up by 30 points.” Scribbled every word while he kept glancing at stopwatch.
Next hit up booster club president at her diner shift. Slid into corner booth during coffee refill rush: “Heard rumors about equipment funding cuts?” She lowered voice: “New helmets delayed cause budget got reallocated to marching band uniforms. Don’t quote me though.” Winked and scurried off with pot steaming.
Cross-referenced everything against athletic director’s emailed statement next morning. Half truths everywhere – funding thing was legit but QB suspension reason totally sanitized. Compiled all pieces into simple Q&A format:
- Section 1: Roster moves with actual reasons
- Section 2: Unfiltered coach quotes
- Section 3: Behind-scenes drama they won’t put in newsletters
Posted it on my sports blog Thursday night with plain headline: Real Somers Football Updates Here. Woke up to 32 texts – parents thanking me, JV kid complaining I blew his “redshirt” cover, coach asking to soften equipment drama next time.
Lesson? Community sports news is messy backyard wrestling match. Gotta get dirt under fingernails digging for truth, but man that tackle hug from lineman’s grandma at grocery store? Worth every grass stain on my notebook.
