The moon was out, the lights at Memorial Stadium were on and Dodge City High head football coach Justin Burke and his Red Demons were ready to compete.
But it wasn't Friday night.
Monday marked the first day high school fall sports teams around the Sunflower State could begin practice and Burke got things started early — midnight in fact.
He and his assistants rounded up the Red Demons football team for some speed drills late Sunday night, and once the clock struck 12 a.m., the players strapped on the helmets, fastened the gloves, huddled up just off the track and broke onto the field to begin their 2009 campaign.
"It's exciting to get the practice started at midnight," Burke said. "The guys are ready to go and when you add it all up, the positives far outweigh the negatives."
Burke said he remembers growing up not being able to sleep the night before a 6 a.m. practice, so he figured he would get his guys out while their energy was still up and their beds were still made.
As a player at Bethany College, Burke was apart of the midnight tradition. Now entering his fifth season at the helm of the DCHS football program, Burke is bringing that same tradition to Dodge as he has kicked off fall practices at 12 a.m. every year except last summer when classes were already in session.
"It's just exciting," Burke said. "The players and coaches really get into it. It's a lot of fun."
Classes start today at Dodge City High and the Red Demons football team is not allowed to practice in full pads until Thursday.
Both the Dodge High boys and girls cross country teams, girls golf and tennis teams, and volleyball and boys soccer teams also began practice Monday.
Check out the Globe's 2009 Fall Sports Preview, scheduled to hit newsstands Sept. 2, for complete outlooks on DCHS and other area high school fall sports teams.
DODGE CITY —
