Stow the shorts!

Trying to stay warm, but it's tough, especially since it has not been this cold at an outdoor event since last year's 8-man football state championship game in Newton.  Last winter simply was not that cold, and then it was pretty warm by time I started covering baseball, softball and track in the spring. In fact, I don't think I remember wearing anything more than a hoodie over a short-sleeve shirt with jeans during the track season. In 2011, I went to Phillipsburg for track twice and each time had to break out the parka. It was that chilly, even in late April and early May.

I can remember it being pretty darn cold one May weekend for an LSU-Alabama baseball series in Baton Rouge in 2002. In LSU's old baseball stadium, the press box was open-air, and the wind just whistled right through it. I will never forget having to wear long sleeves, a coat and a sweatshirt on May 18 and STILL freezing. In Louisiana. Just goes to show Mother Nature always wins.

Honestly, I don't think it will be that bad once I slip the parka on. The Under Armour leggings are doing just fine on the bottom, and I have the Under Armour hood--a godsend when I was wearing glasses--on the head. Wearing glasses prevented me from wearing the traditional ski mask, but Under Armour makes a hood which didn't intrude on the glasses. Now that I have contacts, this is moot, but I didn't need to spend more money when what I have works well. 

Smith Center needs to win this game. If it loses, next week's game at Plainville could be an elimination contest, since only the top two teams in each district go to the playoffs, and both Plainville and Smith Center will each have at least one loss, with Ell-Saline undefeated. 

My good friend Larry Bernard is skipping Russell High School's football game tonight with Sacred Heart to attend tomorrow's Nebraska-Ohio State football game in Columbus. Larry is a big Cornhusker fan, and he's going with his son who lives in Dayton, so it will be a nice family outing for them. I don't think Larry is missing much at Russell, since the Broncos figure to lose to Sacred Heart tonight. The Knights are 4-1 with their lone loss coming to Beloit.

Speaking of Beloit, the Trojans play at Southeast of Saline. Beloit has outscored its first six foes 326-38, or 65.2 to 7.8. Impressive. 

Enough for now. Maybe I can come back at halftime.