[Fly Like a Duck]

Here is my issue. Football starts to early. It use to be a fall sport, not anymore, it's a late summer sport with some of it in the fall. The following idea would actually effect all sports by backing up the opening weekend of football back two weeks. Personally, I don't see why basketball coaches would care since it is indoors and 70 regardless of its January or during June. However, football and baseball (along with other outdoor sports, obviously) have to weather the elements. Football these days, it seems like more than half of the season is practice and played in 80+ degree weather (which, I actually like it hot, the hotter the better, but that's besides the point), and I don't know about you all, but half of the baseball season it seems like you need a winter coat on to watch the games.

So, my vote is to back the opening weekend of football back to Labor Day (two weeks from what it is now, and it would do just the same for our winter and spring sports). Again, with this said, I don't know a baseball coach out there that is against backing up their start.

In short (and, I'm using the 2014 calendar here)

Dead Period (July 1- July 31)
Football practice begins August 1st

11 Week Regular Season w/ No bye (the top Two go to the playoffs)
Week 0 (9/5)
Week 1 (9/12)
Week 2 (9/19)
Week 3 (9/26)
Week 4 (10/3)
Week 5 (10/10)
Week 6 (10/17)
Week 7 (10/24)
Week 8 (10/31)
Week 9 (11/7)
Week 10 (11/14)
1st Rnd (11/21)
2nd Rnd (11/28)
3rd Rnd (12/5)
Finals (12/12, 12/13)

If not this, then take 3 teams and a 10 week season w/ no bye. You could still have the same start date.

The start time is my biggest gripe. I'm the furthest thing from a genius when it comes to anything, and I know that kids aren't NEAR as acclimated to the conditions due to a variety of reasons, but the last couple weeks of July are always two of the hottest weeks on record year in year out & it also seems to be when we hear about all of the heat related illness(s).

These days, teams are going into their 7th/8th game of the season and it's still shorts and flip flops.

Like I said, I love it hot, but certain things just feel right. I've spent one Christmas in Florida on the beach and I hated it. It just doesn't and won't ever feel right.