After the North Carolina High School Athletic Association announced changes and delays for its 2020-21 athletic calendar, the East Chapel Hill High School football team made its own changes to stay motivated and connected during this extended offseason.
The NCHSAA held a virtual press conference on Aug. 12 to announce a condensed schedule for all fall sports across the state, with football being pushed back the latest. The first practice is on Feb. 8, and the first game is Feb. 26.
For Chapel Hill’s high schools, this announcement means no Friday night lights until next semester.
“Football is something I have been playing and coaching since I was 6 years old, so not having it now is weird,” East Chapel Hill football head coach Brian Nunn said. “I kind of expected North Carolina to take their time; I think Governor (Roy) Cooper has done a good job not rushing us back into anything.”
Nunn said his players reacted to the news of the season’s postponement in a similar way.
“We had Zoom meetings throughout the summer, throughout the end of the last school year, and the main question was, ‘Coach, when are we gonna be able to go back?’” Nunn said. “But I think the kids have just kind of settled into it now.”
Zoom meetings have been one way the Wildcats have stayed connected while waiting for in-person practices to start. Nunn said digital connectivity through means of Zoom, text and email has allowed communication to run smoothly.
However, this community runs deeper, going out of their way to check on each other by means outside of digital.
“Some kids, we know where they work — a lot of them work at grocery stores.” Nunn said. “We’ll see them in passing at the grocery stores and give them information, answer their questions, just to check on them.”
