A Season Can Change In An Instant

It’s a sobering reminder as we embark on football season this week.

On Monday, early in their very first training camp practice, the Panthers lost starting defensive tackle Maako Kemoeatu for the season to a torn Achilles tendon.  He plays at a position that’s not that deep on the ballclub. 

It never ceases to amaze me that expectations can diminish in seconds because of one wrong twist or turn. Kemoeatu hurt himself in a running drill, it’s not as if he was in the middle of a full contact drill.

But think about how quickly things can turn on a dime if the following were to suffer a serious injury during the next few weeks of the pre-season:

-Clemson RB C.J. Spiller

-USC QB Stephen Garcia

-Byrnes RB Marcus Lattimore

-Greer RB Dominique Parks

Although it’s the ultimate team game football is set-up, these days, as a game in which most teams have one established star that others feed from.

Not saying that Kemoeatu means to the Panthers what the aforementioned mean to their teams.  However, Carolina had to go out and try to find a replacement.  They could (and likely will) come upon various situations this fall in which they need to stop a team two or three yards shy of a first down.  That was Kemoeatu’s field of expertise.

But that option isn’t available because of one fleeting moment.

Knock on wood that those who compete in the game stay healthy.  But just think how different your favorite team could be if it is faced with that one passing moment that can change and outlook significantly.

On the high school front, I found it intriguing that the South Carolina High School League’s reclassification, that takes effect a year from now, moves Spartanburg into Region 3-4A from Region 2-4A, where they’ve been for many years and where they compete against, among others, their cross-town rival Dorman.

I think the Vikings will appeal, for a number of reasons.  You have to come up with a better plan to present to the league.  I’ll bet they find a school in the Rock Hill area that’s willing to go to 4A and switch with J.L. Mann, which currently is slotted to make the jump from 3A up to 4A. 

There are various moments of backroom maneuvering in all businesses and the High School League isn’t exempt.