Bonine: LHSAA is committed to athletes’ safety

But Bonine made two points of interest: Contact football practices and games will not start until the LHSAA goes past Phase 3 and on to Phase 4 of its reopening plans. He also said that flipping fall and spring seasons has been discussed but is only an option of last resort. 
    

Louisiana is still in Phase 2 following a recent spike in COVID-19 cases throughout the state, and it will remain in that phase through July 24 (pending the increase or decrease of cases).
    

The Advocate reported that Bonine gave the House committee members a chart that included four phases, based on a combination of guidelines from the White House, CDC and National Federation of High Schools
    

The LHSAA has a set of four phases, which is different from the three-tiered guidelines of the state and federal government.
    

Under the LHSAA’s Phase 3 plan, the only football activities allowed would be 7-on-7, intrasquad drills without helmets and shoulder pads. The LHSAA’s Phase 4 would allow for full contact and collisions using helmets and shoulder pads, along with scrimmages against other teams.
    

Schools are set to begin practice guidelines for football, volleyball and other fall sports on Aug. 10.
    

If and when games are played – with or without spectators – Bonine has said that individual school districts will assist him in making that decision. 
    

When Bonine firmly committed to a safe return of fall sports under the LHSAA’s umbrella on July 8, you could almost hear a collective sigh of relief reverberate across the state.
    

A fall without football, in particular, and other athletic endeavors is almost unthinkable to participants, families and friends of high school sports. But the outbreak and recent spikes of COVID-19 have caused more than a mild case of consternation among athletes, coaches, officials and administrators. 
    

In his response to Louisiana Senator Cleo Fields’ call to cancel all K-12 sports through the remaining months of 2020 to suppress the increasing threat of the pandemic, Bonine stated in a public letter, “Now, more than ever, we are reminded that our communities need high school sports. Interscholastic competition supports the physical, emotional and mental well-being of student athletes. (And) the LHSAA is fully committed to the safe return of high school athletics this fall.”
    

I’ll give a hip-hip-hurrah to that. But Bonine added that he encourages all LHSAA member schools to follow the association’s Sports Medicine Guidelines “to ensure the safety of our student athletes, coaches and administrators.” He reminded his readers that resuming high school sports depends on a concerted and collaborative effort by everyone.
    

The virus has already caused Northwestern University to cancel its football game against Tulane. The Big Ten school told Green Wave officials that the conference   is playing only conference games in the fall. That game at Northwestern was scheduled for mid-September. 
    

Frankly, no one knows if we will have high school sports this fall and beyond. Everyone is hoping for the best while fearing the worst. 
    

We may only have history to reflect upon for the short haul. The first stop is 1945 and the end of a world war. When young men who served their country returned safely to finish their high school curricula and playing careers – some as 20-year-olds – interest in football was nearing its peak. Fans flocked to high school games. 
    

In his annual sports booklet, sports writer N. Charles Wicker noted the attendance at local prep games numbered 228,005. The average attendance that year was 4,750.
    

The daily newspaper listed the three largest draws as Holy Cross vs. Jesuit (27,450), Holy Cross vs. St. Aloysius (18,580) and Holy Cross vs. Boys High of Atlanta (15,145). Needless to say, Holy Cross was the state champion that year.
    

Today’s average numbers don’t mean that interest in the high school game is waning. History has shown that traditions have a way of perpetuating themselves. With that in mind, let’s keep our fingers crossed that there will be a 2020 fall sports calendar.
    

WWII ended in the midst of a decade in which New Orleans schools dominated high school football in Louisiana. Jesuit won state championships in 1940, 1941 and 1943, and was about to win a fourth in 1946. 
    

But 1945 belonged to Holy Cross. The Tigers, coached by former Jesuit assistant Lou Brownson, was loaded with talent, including backfield stars Joe Ernst, Al Hanzo, Ted Mace and Eddie Heider. A young Hank Lauricella watched from the bench, while Ernst and linemen Bobby Heap and Garland Schmalz attained All-State status.
    

Holy Cross ran the table that year, highlighted by a 33-32 win over Istrouma in the AA semifinal round, then crushed Fair Park, 31-13, in the state championship game at City Park Stadium, played before 5,000 spectators. 
    

Two days before Christmas – in the third annual CYO Bowl – Holy Cross played LaSalle High of Providence, Rhode Island, to a 6-6 tie. Six thousand fans watched the game in a new, free world.
    

Ron Brocato can be reached at [email protected].