At 12AM on August 1st 2016, the Florida High School Football season officially began allowing teams to officially organize and practice. While some teams slept through the night, at least two area teams took an opportunity to seize every second of the upcoming season. The Fletcher Senators and Christ Church Eagles both started their seasons at 12:01am, executing spirited practices throughout the night. Many parents, students, former students, and fans lined the fences to be the first to catch a glimpse of their team’s 2016 edition.
While you were sleeping, they were.. 🍽🍴🍴🍽 pic.twitter.com/KZ1D7DjtAc
— Andre' R. Ellis (@andreellis55) August 1, 2016
@chrellz big TE Chris Ellington checking out his former team Fletcher! #MidnightMadness pic.twitter.com/CkbyynTCzr
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) August 1, 2016
” Our Goal is to be the first team to practice in the school year”, said Head Coach Jim Stomps of Christ Church. It’s a standard that he and his staff started last year in his first season. However, the goal for midnight madness has two parts says Stomps. “The second part of that goal is to be the last team to practice, making it all the way to the state championship and winning it”. It’s about establishing an imprint on the psyche of a team. Stomps has surely done that in just his second years a head honcho.
Christ's Church getting an edge on the competition. @FlaHSFootball @904Preps_David #MidnightMadness pic.twitter.com/lE3Ned61XF
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) August 1, 2016
The environment was one of excitement which resonated from the top down as the Principal Dr. Madison Nichols, and newly appointed Athletic Director Tray Herdon, interacted with excited parents on the sideline. An imprint has certainly been set.
Christ's Church teaching techniques! High School Football #MidnightMadness pic.twitter.com/EJvKtWH6t1
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) August 1, 2016
Fletcher’s lights could be seen from the inter-coastal waterway bridges that connect the beaches to mainland. It’s a sign to anyone driving over the bridges that signifies something is happening over there. That was the exact feel of the practice, something is happening. For the newly hired Kevin Brown at Fletcher, midnight madness was a vital thing in the building of camaraderie for his new team.
Coach Brown floated from station to station ensuring that everything was flowing perfectly. Long time Senator Head Coach Joe Reynolds road the sidelines in his golf cart seemingly soaking in the feeling of football. Former Fletcher phenom and now assistant coach Ciatrick Faison barked out strict instructions to players and coaches. You just got the feeling that something is happening at Fletcher.
Head Coach & Coach @StarReadyATH check out the running backs during practice. #MidnightMadness pic.twitter.com/DEGv5qHuzu
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) August 1, 2016
Not everyone is a proponent of midnight practices. Florida High School Football conducted a poll in which 26% of people said they did not like it. However, the overwhelming majority of people found nothing wrong with it. Christ’s Church was even able to get the parental support of their Middle School Football team as they practiced along side the High School Players. They would end their practice with pizza and prayer together.
The Middle Schoolers at Christ's Church are MignightMadnessing too! @FlaHSFootball pic.twitter.com/FninP8AWRi
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) August 1, 2016
Don’t miss our official season previews of the Fletcher Senators and the Christ Church Eagles this week. We’ll be at every practice leading up to the start of the regular season! So keep clicking on DuvalSports.com, your #1 site for Youth, Middle School, and High School Sports in North East Florida!
