Tradition of midnight practice starts another football season at Spring Valley

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010 | 2:22 a.m.

Spring Valley High football coach Marcus Teal stood near the back of the north end zone on his school’s field and started counting down from 10.

“Let’s go,” he yelled to the 40-plus players on the Grizzlies’ varsity team as his countdown ended.

It was 12:01 a.m. Thursday — the first possible moment Southern Nevada high school football teams could hold official practices.

And, just like years past, Spring Valley was the first team to start. The program’s annual midnight practice started with the players racing onto the field and yelling in anticipation as if they were about to play in a meaningful game.

They practiced for 75 minutes, starting with stretching and agility drills, and ending with a handful of offensive plays. Unlike unofficial practices earlier this summer, players were allowed to practice with their helmets on. Monday practice will be in full pads, per Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association regulations.

The midnight practice has been a staple of Spring Valley’s program since the school opened in 2004. While this year’s event was strictly a practice, past seasons have included a barbecue for the families.

“Our approach is to be the first team to start the season,” Teal said. “The kids really embrace it. We are the first ones on the field, the first team out here trying to do something special.”

A majority of the valley’s other 30-plus teams were to start their initial practices later Thursday — like at 7 a.m.

But not at the West Valley area school. They prefer to start under the stadium lights.

Players, several of whom arrived more than 30 minutes early, jumped up and down in excitement as the clock ticked closer to a new day. It’s a ritual the teenagers say adds extra significance to their experience.

“It’s real fun to be part of. It’s a tradition to get out here and start our season under the lights,” senior quarterback Jordan Cox said.

Spring Valley took fourth in the Southwest Division last year and lost in the first round of the Sunset Regional playoffs to Legacy. The Grizzlies are still searching for their first playoff win.

Teal reminded the players during their stretching exercises about the ultimate goal this fall — to be playing in 13 weeks, which would be the first round of the playoffs.

“We’re going to be ready,” senior Brandon Lopez said. “There is a lot of excitement for this season and what we can accomplish.”

Teal is in his first year as head coach but has been with the program since the school opened and was the offensive coordinator the past three years. Continuing the midnight tradition was an easy decision because the players and parents always look forward to the outing, he said.

Roughly 50 supporters watched from the bleachers, everyone from parents, siblings and players on the lower-level teams.

“This gets them hyped up for the season,” said Gaylene Crayton, whose son, Ronald, is a senior defensive end.

The Grizzlies will hold another session at 7 p.m. Thursday and practice twice on most days until opening the season Aug. 27 against Legacy — yes, the same team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year.

“We have a lot of talent on this team that people don’t know about,” said Javell Valley, a senior lineman. “It could be a special year for us.”

Just like the special start to the season.