Georgia High School Football Season Kicking Two Weeks Later

Georgia’s governing body for high school sports has pushed back the start of football season for two weeks, until the week of Sept. 4.

The Georgia High School Association still plans for a full 10-game regular season and a full playoff schedule. Other fall sports will start on time. The delay was needed for several school districts, including Atlanta public schools, which have pushed back the start of the school year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The association’s board of trustees voted 8-4 against a proposal to keep the current sports calendar. The subsequent vote was unanimous to push back the football opening schedule by two weeks. The opening games had been planned for the week of Aug. 21.

At least two area coaches are glad that the GHSA plans to kick the season.

Said Ringgold head coach Robert Akins:”We’re excited to be starting a season, regardless of when we do it. We think that that will give us plenty of time to get ready.”
Added LFO head coach Bo Campbell:”This is the way it used to be anyway. You think about it. School and football and all that stuff, we used to start after Labor Day.”
Said Akins:”I just think it’s time for the kids mental health and physical health to get back on the gridiron.”