Comment: Teams kick off season

It’s official.

Football season is finally upon us.

It’s the time of year when I load up my car with notebooks, cameras, rosters and rain gear — not to mention snacks, bottles of water and anything else I can cram into my bag — and hit the road for my weekly Friday night adventure, which can range from a four-hour trip down the street to a 10-hour adventure across the state to the middle of nowhere.

Every fall, I gather my three football schedules ahead of time and plan out my season. I grab my highlighter and carefully map where I’ll be heading each week.

By this point, I’ve come to know which games matter the most. I also know practically every restaurant from here to Naples, and most importantly, I know which cities to avoid or at least have additional entertainment on hand at the very least — Lake Placid anyone?

But all of those insights practically went out the window this season when the new districts were announced earlier this year. Now, I’m finding myself gearing up for a whole new set of adventures.

This season, as in years past, my travels began right here in the East County when rivals Braden River and Lakewood Ranch once again opened their seasons against one another last Friday night (see story).
But starting this week, I’ll be traveling in a new direction — to The Out-of-Door Academy. Sure I’ll only be venturing a mere four miles from my house, but it’ll be my first time seeing the Thunder play under the lights on their home field. And if that weren’t enough of an incentive, it’ll also be the first of seven district games for ODA.

From there, I’ll be planning road trips to Boca Ciega, Manatee, Largo and possibly Port Charlotte and Seminole Osceol, not to mention the countless trips across the East County.

And after that it’s anyone’s guess as to where I’ll end up. All I know is another football season is upon us, and I, for one, couldn’t be more ready.