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Players put through paces during first week of practice

By James Andersen 3 min read

ALPENA -- As a former football player, Eric Mitchell knows all too well how exciting the dawn of a new football season can be.

The third-year Alpena coach knows how tough it can be too.

The first week of practice -- informally known as 'Hell Week' in many programs -- is usually marked by two-a-day practices during the dog days of summer to get players back into football shape and to master technique.

It can also be grueling for players and a test of their mental toughness. As players are put through the paces, coaches like Mitchell and his staff are trying to prepare them for what they'll face during the season.

That includes simulating live-game situations -- especially fourth quarter scenarios -- where players may find themselves fighting fatigue while driving for a game-winning touchdown or stopping an offense from scoring in the final minutes.

"It's in the top three things, after form or technique and getting the plays, it's right there. None of the other things really matter if you don't have the mental fortitude to put into it," Mitchell said. "As coaches we all know. We all know how tough this week is on the kids, however we also know it's important. You need to know what your body can do when it has nothing left."

Tiring as practices may be this week, especially in the August heat, players in Northeast Michigan and around the state were more than happy to get back on the field. Practices began Monday and teams like Alpena were eager to get to work and back to normal routines after the chaotic nature of last season.

With COVID-19 cases on the rise around Michigan last summer, the Michigan High School Athletic Association announced in July that fall sports would proceed as scheduled, albeit with precautions in place to deter the spread of COVID-19. Football practices began as scheduled, but a few days later, the MHSAA announced that the football season, traditionally held in the fall, would move to the spring.

In early September, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order, paving the way for the MHSAA to reinstate the fall season, beginning with Week 4 on teams' schedules.

Players and coaches ultimately got a season, but it came with limited numbers of fans at games, schedules changing week to week and some players choosing to opt out of the season.

"After last year, you can't take anything for granted, so this has just been phenomenal (to get things back to normal)," Mitchell said. "We don't have this impending doom that we feel hanging over our heads."

Alpena opens the season on Aug. 26 at Marquette.

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