Weekends with the Griers Friday night football to

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Weekends with the Griers Friday night football to

Editor's note:Life as a high school football coach can be hectic. Life as a high school football coach with a son playing quarterback at Florida and another one preparing to compete on "Dancing With the Stars" is a whole other level of chaos. Below, Chad Grier takes you through what last week was like for him and his family, from Friday night's game to the end of Labor Day weekend. It doesn't get any simpler for him this weekend, either. It's another Friday night game, trip to Gainesville where his against Chad's former school, East Carolina. Then it's off to Los Angeles to view the taping of "Dancing With the Stars" with his youngest son, Hayes. "Now there's something you don't do everyday," Chad says.Labor Day weekend typically marks the end of summer and our Davidson Day football team squeezed in another game in our white uniforms (our third consecutive road game to start the season). This time, it was against cro stown-rival Providence Day.Providence Day is a tremendous school with a proud tradition on and off the field. I played against them in high school when they featured the best athlete I ever played with or against in Reggie Clark. Reggie was a three-sport star who went on to play at UNC, the Kirby Puckett Jersey NFL and now helps coach the Providence Day Chargers. They have a world-cla s stadium that any high school kid would love to play in. Our rivalry with them sparked a few years ago when they celebrated wildly on our field after they beat us and told the local papers about how they would shut us down.MORE: | | Needle s to say our kids remembered that well and avenged the lo s with a decisive win at their new stadium the following year. The last years, two of our best players enrolled at Providence Day and played against us.Friday Justin Morneau Jersey night was more of the same -- very physical game with a lot of next-level kids on the field. While there was a lengthy delay due to storms in the area, we ended up with a solid win against a school and program we respect a lot.And thats when the crazine s of my new normal set in:Friday night/Saturday morning1 a.m. Finally home and in the shower.2 a.m. Working on stats and waiting on film to finish loading on HUDL (the web program that allows for film viewing and sharing).MORE GRIER: Around 3 a.m. Realizing I better pack.3:01 a.m. Looking for Double Stuff Oreos.3:15 a.m. Found the cookies (my lovely wife hid them from me).3:16 a.m. Sit down to eat said cookies and watch the local high school highlight shows on my DVR.4:30 a.m. I really need to pack.4:31 a.m. Shoved the dogs over so I could fit in the bed.6:45 a.m. Alarm goes off.6:46 a.m. Must. Pack. Now.7 a.m. Snooze goes off.7:01 a.m. Brush teeth, make coffee, read my Bible.7:17 a.m. Grab some shorts and shirts that say Florida on them from the laundry pile and head for the truck.10:30 a.m. Flight arrives in Gainesville, Fla.11:30 a.m. Rendezvous with Team Grier in the town of Archer (just outside of Gainesville) Eduardo Escobar Jersey .12 p.m. Trapped in the parking lot at Chick-fil-A. Sister-in-law takes over planning from brother.12:30 p.m. Buy enough food at Publix to feed the Gator marching band (or 13 Griers).1:30 p.m. Check weather: large storms are coming.1:31 p.m. Work on finishing film and stats from last night.3:30 p.m. Break down film for next weeks game.4:30 p.m. Monsoon in Archer so we decide skip the Gator Walk (bad decision as it evidently did not rain in Gainesville),6 p.m. Arrive at Wills house.6:01 p.m. My mom takes 200 pictures.6:15 p.m. Walk to Ben Hill-Griffin Stadium.7:20 p.m. Pregame video gives me chills.7:30 p.m. KickoffEarly in the second quarter, Will enters the game at quarterback for the GatorsWatching Will in pre-game warmups made me relax. Ive seen that gait of confidence especially when the ball is spinning out of his hand the way it does. When he went in the game, I was really excited for him, but also very confident that he was going to play well. He always does, and the bigger the stage, the better he seems to play.11:02 p.m. Game is over. Florida wins 61-13.11:30 p.m. Meet Will after the game. Proud Dad. Mimi takes 200 more pictures.Dads quick take:From my vantage point, I thought he threw a touchdown on a shot down the sideline to Goolsby. I was signaling touchdown and high-fiving my wife before I realized they werent going for two, we simply hadnt scored yet. I cant Ervin Santana Jersey say that I celebrated any more for Wills touchdowns than I did for Treon Harris first throw to Powell. When youre into the game youre cheering for your team, not just any one guy, even if that guy is your son. Although I did derive a little extra pleasure from Wills 38 yard run. I have been amused at how many people didnt realize how athletic he is. Will can run and jump as well as most any kid Ive ever seen play the position.Editor's note:Will completed 16-of-18 pa ses for 166 yards with TD pa ses of 12 and 32 yards. He also ran four times for 43 yards with a 4-yard Robbie Grossman Jersey score.Will Grier scores on a 4-yard run against New Mexico State last week. (Getty Images)Sunday1 a.m. Driving back to Archer listening to Gator football call-in show. Amazed at how many are calling in.6:45 a.m. Working on this weeks game film.10:30 a.m. Arrive to pick up Will to go to Cracker Barrel.11 a.m. All 13 Griers need to use the restroom.11:32 a.m. Wife has convinced Team Grier that Mexican would be a healthier option for brunch.1 p.m. Will gives Team Grier a tour of the stadium and locker room. Mimi takes 200 pictures.5 p.m. Back home in North Carolina working on film, practice plans and travel plans for next week.Monday9 a.m. Weights, film and practice.4p.m.Home and planning work week.11:30 p.m. Fighting the dogs for covers.Chad Grier, head coach at Davidson Day in Davidson, N.C., is watching his three sons' careers take off and is aSporting News contributor. Follow him
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