Kopperl Eagles Practice 2019

I bee bopped into Kopperl and parked on one side of the school. I got out and started looking for the football field. I couldn’t see it, but I had a sense it should be there behind the building. I couldn’t find a way in and was about to think I had arrived at the wrong place when I heard a whistle. I was definitely in the right vicinity just not near an entrance. I got back in my car and headed to the other side of the school. I found an opening where the buses were parked and followed the sound of the whistles. There at the bottom of the hill was the practice field. I had found it.
 
Coach Wood greeted me, and we began to visit. He and I taught together for many years. We actually shared a classroom for one class period a day. Funny how the world brings you back to see people again. He walked me through the back hallways and to the front of the building to his air conditioned office leaving practice in the capable hands of his assistants for a bit. We quickly caught up on life, and I got my interview with him before we headed back into the heat.
 
What Kopperl didn’t have in numbers they made up for in spunk. I enjoyed visiting with the helpers while they gathered equipment and kept water and towels at the ready. One was a senior out with an injury hoping to get released to play later in the week. One helper was on the field running plays with the team in shorts and a t-shirt helping out where he could. Some of the conversation was about school starting the next day. They were ever so helpful in answering my questions. They and Coach Wood told me one of the kids on the field was an ex-student there to  workout as he prepared physically for joining the military.
 
With the actual game field a bit of a drive a way, it is extra nice to have such a great practice field right behind the school. The weight room is also there next to the practice field. The playground sits up the hill a bit but adjacent to the practice field. The entire school neatly put together with a backyard of sorts. 
 
When I was finished taking practice photos, I decided to head out to see the game field. You have to cross under the railroad tracks while crossing over a creek. Think about that for a second. I drove under a railroad bridge while driving over a regular bridge. Don’t do that too often, so I thought it was pretty cool. The stadium quickly appeared to my left. Very nice sports complex with more than just a football field. I was glad I had made the short drive to see it before leaving.
 
See you on the sidelines!
Dency