It's so much more then just football!

If you are like me, you are really excited that high school football season is here again! I can hear the roaring crowds cheering loudly for their favorite teams. I remember families cuddling under blankets trying to keep warm on crisp autumn nights. The hot dogs, hot chocolate and, oh we can't forget the marching bands. I love the game!

For many of these young men, it is much more then a game. Football has become a sense of pride, accomplishment, and bravado. Away to develop into a leader. Many of these young men have dreams of playing at the college level and hopefully playing in the NFL. For those athletic enough, football scholarships provide a great way to attend some of the best institutions in the nation. The average cost to attend an instate public university has sky rocketed to an average of $17,336 a year according to US News & World Reports.

College recruiting is very competitive. Each year there are approximately 281,000 high school seniors playing football in the country. Each year there are approximately 16,800 college freshman roster spots at NCAA school. This number includes all three divisions. D1-D3. So if you really want to compete for a football scholarship, you have to be proactive. You have to work.

Educate yourself on how the process works and learn what you need to do to be seen.
In most cases, coaches don't just show up at your door or at your school. Realize that coaches are looking for recruits that are not only hard workers on the gridiron; they want you to also be a hard worker in the classroom. Your grades, GPA and SAT will greatly impact the options that are available to you. If you think you have what it takes and a real desire to play at the college level, talk to your coach about your desire and get busy.

Independence - Madison Game Cancelled Due To Weather Concerns

Charlotte's Independence High's road football game against Florida power Madison County on Friday has been cancelled because of potential bad weather from Tropical Storm Hanna.

Patriots coach Tom Knotts said he was told by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials that they didn't want Independence traveling in unstable conditions. Madison County is about 45 miles east of Tallahassee. The Cowboys are Florida's reigning 2A champion.

It would have been the second straight season with an out-of-state trip for Independence, which won seven straight N.C. championships before losing in last season's N.C. 4AA final. The Patriots' 109-game winning streak was snapped by Elder (Ohio) High in Cincinnati last September.