Sports
Hugh Boyd Trojans kick off their 2017 high school football campaign tonight (Friday, Sept. 8) versus North Vancouver’s Handsworth Royals at 7 p.m. at Hugh Boyd Park.
Photo by Don Fennell
Friday night football at Hugh Boyd
Football is more than just a game at Richmond’s
Hugh Boyd Secondary. To many, it’s part of the school’s identity.
“Our kids are very proud of that fact,” says
Bill Haddow, the longtime coach of Richmond’s only high school gridiron team.
On the eve of the Trojans’ 2017 season-opener
Friday, Sept. 8 versus North Vancouver’s Handsworth Royals (7 p.m. kick off at
Hugh Boyd Park), Haddow continues to advance that mindset. Wanting to uphold
the tradition that Hugh Boyd is tough to play against, he encourages the
players to always be proud to wear the black and gold and put their best foot
forward for their school. Further, he applauds the commitment and sacrifices
needed to be a player.
“Football is a sport that attracts kids that
don’t fit into other sports,” he says, describing the game as the ultimate team
game. “It forces (players) to push through tough circumstances and to challenge
themselves to fight through things when it is difficult. These are skills
important in life. All parts and positions have to work together to ensure
success.”
While football has long been one of the most
popular high school sports, increasing fears and confusion surrounding
concussions have led to changes from within. Haddow sees the changes as being
positive.
“It’s all about awareness and not hiding from
the issues,” he says. “Football is being very proactive on the concussion
issue. The (Seattle) Seahawks are leading in this regard with their commitment
to a different form of tackling, where the head is right out of the way and the
attack point is the legs and the wrapping of the them. They practice tackling
without helmets to ensure the head is not used in the tackle.”
The Trojans have followed suit.
Calling it an alligator or gator tackle,
where the legs are secured and the tackler rolls over as a gator does with its
prey, as the ball carrier goes to the ground.
“When tackling, we really emphasize the head
being to the side,” Haddow stresses.
Coming off a five-win, one-loss season in
2016, which included a 21-7 loss to the Vernon Panthers in the provincial
semifinals, the Trojans enter the 2017 campaign minus a core of six, three-year
starters. Their presence will definitely be missed, but Haddow says “we expect
kids to step up and take their places.”
“Whether they can, and will do so to their
level, will be determined at the end of the season. But every year good players
graduate and we expect younger players to step up and do the best they can.”
Seeing football as the ultimate team game,
Haddow refuses to single out any players. He says individuals will get their
due week by week as they perform.
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