This Makes My Head Hurt...

[Scott Reppert]

Another mind-boggling reminder that this is not the world in which I was born into and brought up in...

INJURIES PROMPT WV HIGH SCHOOL OT FORFEIT GAME
September 23, 2010 - AP

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Hannan High School has forfeited this week's football game against neighboring Buffalo due to an injury-depleted roster.

The Mason County school has as many as eight injured players who haven't received medical clearance to return to the field, Hannan Principal Karen Oldham said Wednesday.

"We knew going into that game we would have roughly 11-12 that could have been released by Friday," Oldham said. "We would have been playing the same boys on offense and defense."

Hannan began the season with 28 players on its roster. Three quit the team. Only eight players showed up for practice early this week. A few others had schedule conflicts involving other school activities.

Athletic Director Brian Hoffman said the Buffalo game couldn't be moved to a later date because Hannan's schedule is already filled up the rest of the regular season.

Enough players are expected to be recovered in time for Hannan's homecoming game Oct. 1 against Fayetteville Perry, Ohio.

"We want to keep the morale up," Oldham said. "We believe homecoming week helps."

The afflictions included torn ligaments, broken collarbones and wrists, and concussions, along with a stomach virus.

"If it was an injury bug, we caught it," Hoffman said. "You name it, we've probably had it."

Many of the injuries occurred two weeks ago in a 52-0 loss to Franklin Furnace Green, Ohio. Last week's game at Burch had to be postponed to Oct. 8 due to the injuries.

"Safety and health will be first and foremost," Oldham said. "I will not let them on that field. ... without a doctor's release."

Hannan is a Class A school of about 200 students in grades nine through 12.

[Big Media]

Hannan is a very tiny school in the middle of nowhere. I believe the nearest town is Milton. I don't know why this school still exists.

[The Interpreter]

Perhaps because it realizes football is not the be all and end all and allows its students to take other things more seriously? What blasphemy....