Pulaski County's football team finally got to put the uniform on Friday. Most area teams have been in full gear since the beginning of the week, but with the VHSL sanctions for the 2010 season, the Cougars have only been able to practice every other day (M-W-F), and no Saturdays. So after two weeks of practices, the Cougars were far and away the last team to put the uniform on. Until Friday, it was just shorts.

     But with all the questions concerning the program, it does not appear to have dampened the enthusiasm level at all. The activity has been very spirited and there has been no talk at all concerning the VHSL penalties. There haven't even been any complaints about the oppressive heat, except maybe from those older guys watching practice from the hill. The Cougar football player spends a great deal of time running. One thing is for certain, there won't be a team stronger, or in better physical condition than Pulaski County.

     In some respects, it's almost like watching a different program. So much is changing at Pulaski County. New head coach Todd Jones and his staff are installing a version of the "spread offense.'' Players are lined up all over the place. There is no quarterback under center, and the Cougars don't huddle up. It's kind of like the first time you ever watched "Star Trek.''     Then there's the defense. There's a lot fewer linemen, and lot more linebackers and secondary type players, and they don't always line up in the same place. It's all very confusing. Jones says he doesn't really have a name for it, he just calls it "multiple.''

     So there is a bunch of new and very interesting things going on at  the Cougar camp. The coaching situation has changed too. There is no longer a junior varsity staff. All coaches are the same, and they will coach both the JV team and the varsity. Jones said that's the way he did it at Essex and he would continue that way. It worked just fine at Essex, don't be surprised if it doesn't at Pulaski County too.

     All these new things will be on public display for the first time Friday when the Cougars face Bluefield, W.Va. in a scrimmage at Dobson Stadium/Joel Hicks Field. It will be the second for the Beavers, but the first and only scrimmage for Pulaski County. Bluefield hosted Christiansburg in a scrimmage Saturday morning. The junior varsity scrimmage will begin at 4 pm, and the varsity scrimmage will begin at 6 pm. There is no admission for a scrimmage.

    The season will officially open the next Friday evening, August 27 at 7:30 when Pulaski County hosts local rival Radford.