It’s just about that time… Local teams began preparing in earnest for new football season
Published 6:00 am Wednesday, July 10, 2019
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Offensive line coaches Brock Pittman and Jeff Pierce work with the Cyclone offensive lineman during drills on Tuesday.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders With the hot days of summer still here, hydration is always a key factor during football drills.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone head football coach Shawn Witten works with his receivers and quarterbacks on an early Tuesday morning.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders An Elizabethton receiver hauls in a pass during Tuesday morning workouts.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders A Cyclone receiver shows good hands pulling in a pass.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Early season sessions allow quarterbacks to work on timing with their receivers as was the case on Tuesday morning at Citizens Bank Stadium.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone offensive line coach Jeff Pierce goes over blocking techniques with his line on Tuesday morning.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Defensive line coach Jordy Harrison goes over some instruction for his linemen.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR STAFF
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
It’s that time of year where many are starting to count down the days until a new school year begins – not so much the kids but sports fans in general as the lull between the end of one school year and the start to a new one leaves little to choose from besides baseball.
Luckily, the smell is already in the air of leather as footballs are beginning to be passed and caught along with fall sports such as golf and volleyball.
The Elizabethton Cyclones are one of many teams that have been participating in off-season conditioning but now are getting ready to participate in 7-on-7 competition leading up to the first game’s kickoff on Friday, August 23rd.
The Cyclones open with the Science Hill Hilltoppers on the road in Johnson City, a team that Elizabethton beat for the first time in many years last season.
For those that need a quick football fix, the Cyclones will be participating in a 7-on-7 on Thursday at 5 pm and Friday at 9:30 am inside Citizens Bank Stadium.
Next week, the Cyclones will travel to Morristown East on Tuesday at 2 pm and Morristown West on Friday for a 9:30 am 7-on-7 competition.
There are a couple more 7-on-7’s scheduled as Elizabethton will be at Tusculum on July 24th at 5 pm and then travel to Avery Co. on July 25th for a 6 pm contest.
The Cyclones will also be having a mini-camp on July 15, 17, and 18th in further preparation for the 2019 season.
Elizabethton High School Athletic Director Forrest Holt wanted to let all season ticket holders know that season tickets and parking passes can now be picked up in the athletic director’s office from 8 am to 3 pm Monday through Friday.
For those in the county, Elizabethton is not the only team gearing up as teams throughout Carter County are hitting the field and preparing for what many hope will be a successful 2019 campaign for all five high schools in the county.
With roughly 44 days left to kickoff, everyone can now begin to breathe a sigh of relief as another sports season will soon be underway.
