Brian Out Loud Archive

I know this current generation of high school athletes can sometimes be given a hard time about not being tough enough or focused enough.


But there is a lot of promise and potential for the future.

I often watch runners in distance races at track meets finish well behind those they are running against.

We all know there is some serious strength in the Panhandle when it comes to weightlifting.

By late afternoon on March 27, I’m pretty sure even people on the most remote island in the world knew the University of West Florida was headed to the Division I level for football.

When the Florida legislature passed a bill allowing booster clubs to pay high school coaches extra money, the first thought was that it sounds great on paper.


But when you look at it a little closer, it’s nothing more than an easy win for the legislature.

Spring break for the area high schools was this past week, marking the last real chill period until the end of the school year.

College sports need to be left alone. No changes are required.

As I watched Jay’s girls basketball season end with a 66-49 loss to Williston in the FHSAA Rural state championship game on the final Friday night of February in Jacksonville, the initial thoughts were on how tough it is to lose after coming so far.

Mike Tirico summed it up nicely in his closing broadcast of the Winter Olympics, telling young viewers the dreams of one day being an Olympian are formed now.

I still remember when the University of West Florida football team practiced on a lonely field on campus and played all its home games at Blue Wahoos Stadium.