Dry Feet.

It's 8:30 am on the middle Monday of August and my feet are dry.

Today is the official start to the Minnesota State High School League's Fall sports seasons. Brand new Volleyball shoes are making their first squeaks of the year on freshly waxed gym floors all over the state. Cross Country runners have come together to log their miles, once again, running in packs. On dew covered practice fields from Warroad to Winona, Football players are knocking out calisthenics and hammering out warm ups

That's the “feel” that's missing. From here on out, the dew covered grass of Bill West Field will not be soaking my tennis shoes to start the days. Minus last season's escapade to the Arctic, I have stepped in to the wet grass of every new football season since the fall of 2002. That's a lot of push ups. That's a lot of whistle blasts. That's a lot of excitement, anticipation, hype and hoopla that is no longer a part of my life.

At this point I still feel a void. Being honest - I'm right here and the kids that I have coached and the guys I coached with aren't seeking me out. We're all replaceable. I've certainly learned that. I know I wasn't make world changing decisions with life long implications in the football universe but I'd like to think that over a dozen plus years, I honed a skill. A skill for holding kids accountable and teaching them about hard work, dedication to something greater than themselves, commitment and trust. I was a good coach.

I AM a good coach. I'm just not a football coach in SmallTown, Minnesota anymore. Half of an overbearing, un-informed school board took that away from me and it's going to take a while for that to soak in. Living in Alaska helped re-focus my mind on to something more productive last year. But this year I'm just right down the road, counting pennies at the Pool.

I'm excited to see what the Good Lord has in store for me this Fall. I know my new routine includes watching my son and daughter compete in their respective sports. I hope my new, “football-less” schedule frees up some time for Fall family travel and an occasional hunting or fishing outing. I'm looking forward to actually having a family meal at the kitchen table this Fall. Heck, I'll even be available to cook it!

One thing is for sure, by no longer coaching, my summer has been extended by a couple of weeks and I am ready to take full advantage of that. A week from today, I'll be planting my feet in the Gulf of Mexico. We're staring down the barrel of a week long vacation with the kids at Sandos Playacar, south of Cancun. Soon, it won't be the morning dew soaking the feet of this old football coach. It'll be the Ocean... I can't wait.

Vamanos a Mexico.