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The true test of character often is how we handle adversity and I can think of no high school coach who has dealt with COVID-related adversity better this season than Garrard County football coach Jerry Perry. His team has played only four games and I think only two of those were ones that were originally scheduled. His team was on the bus a few weeks ago on its way to a game when word came that Garrard school officials had decided the team could not play because of COVID numbers.
Not once have I heard Perry complain. I still remember talking with him before the season started about how he hoped his team just had a chance to play some games and that safety concerns had to be the priority. He repeated that to me Friday when I saw him at the Danville-Lexington Christian game after Garrard had another game cancelled.
Now Garrard has called off the remainder of the season, including the playoffs, due to COVID-19.
Superintendent Kevin Still, high school principal Michael Anderson and athletics director David Hoskins sent a letter to parents Tuesday that was a “follow up” to an Oct. 25th letter. It said as of today Garrard has to cancel practice until Nov. 4 and would not have enough time to return to practice before the playoffs. It also asked parents to over students the next few days for signs of COVID.
Perry took to social media Tuesday to make it clear that he did “agree” with the decision school officials made.
“To think you could miss 3 1/2 weeks of football practice and think you can play a football game with younglings (and feel confident no one will get injured because of lack of overall preparation) in 6 days is simply NEGLIGENCE,” Perry posted on Twitter.
“Our folks have put together a great plan for our student athletes going forward in hopes of playing in the future as long as COVID persists. I love the game, but not at all costs.”
A little bit later he gave a “shout out” to Garrard players and parents for coping with COVID.
“Using locker room as a storage facility, spraying hands before and after touching a bag, a ball, a person. Learning how to actually wear a mask correctly. Learning what an incidence rate is,” Perry said. “Learning the Pythagorean Theory while social distancing. Parents having to break speed limits to get kids to practice by 3:30. Trying to figure out which of the 10 vouchers are we using this week. Learning the next game on the schedule means absolutely zero.
“The only thing that is even close to normal is the 48 minutes on the field that start with no captains and ends with no hand shake … Very proud of our folks.”
That’s what I call a coach who understands a situation, accepts recommendations from those he works for and simply wants to keep his players safe.
If you want to hear more from Perry, he’ll join myself and Tim Estes Thursday at 7:30 a.m. on WPBK (102.9 FM, wpbkfm.com).
