COMMENT: We are ready for some football!

By this point, many of you are probably wondering the same thing.

How long before prep sports, particularly football, finally return to the East County?

Sure, the summer provides a nice break from the rigors of the prep seasons. It provides an opportunity to catch any number of Little League games; a youth swim meet or two and perhaps even a junior golf tournament.

But by mid-August, I am ready for a change of scenery.

Luckily for all of us, myself included, the high school sports seasons are right around the corner.

The golf and volleyball teams already have held their tryouts, and the swimming and cross country teams are building upon their summer training.

And this week, the Braden River, Lakewood Ranch and The Out-of-Door Academy football teams all held their first official organized practices of the fall, giving coaches a chance to see just how conditioned and prepared their teams are for the upcoming season.

After all, the regular season will be here before we know it, and that brings me to my final topic of conversation — the East County Observer Football Guide.

Next week, the entire sports section will be dedicated to all things football. We’ll provide an in-depth analysis of the upcoming season for the Pirates, Mustangs and Thunder.

We’ll take a look at the new districts and how they will play out, as well as identify the players to watch this fall. We’ll also earmark all of the East County’s must-see games. We’ll provide you with an inside look at all three East County squads, so that by the time the season officially kicks off with the annual Preseason Kickoff Classic Aug. 26, you’ll know everything there is to know about your favorite local teams.

The goal is simple: When Hank Williams Jr. once again asks his famous pigskin question, you can lift your foam fingers high into the air and declare, “Yes! We are ready for some football!”