Telegraph Sports Reporter Tom KIng.

Here’s a few tids and bits as we head into the final full week of August and ship the kids back to school, fingers crossed that everyone can stay safe.

• First, in case you don’t know, this also is the first full week of the high school sports season. Soccer, field hockey, girls volleyball, cross country and yes, by Friday, football. So, as a reminder, look for results daily at nashuatelegraph.com.

• Congrats to the Vermont Lake Monsters and former Nashua Pride owner Chris English, who led a group to purchase the former professional NY-Penn League franchise back in the winter. Still wondering how the heck Bedford’s Pat Harrington ended up with the Lake Monsters and not the Silver Knights, whom he had pitched for in the past. All Harrington did this season was get the win in the title game vs. Pittsfield and also was named FCBL Pitcher of the Year. Ouch.

• Can’t blame the Nashua school administration for not committing to a Turkey Eve Bowl at this juncture. The guess here is, while things are better than 2020, there will still be some COVID Casualties – for lack of a better term – during the season as far as teams having to go on pause, and caution will be the order of the day.

But the simple guess is, if the game misses a second straight year, it probably won’t return. Its last two years were severely impacted by weather (bitter cold, icy conditions from a previous storm in 2018 and rain in 2019). It’s a shame, but while there’s a faction that wants the game, there’s a faction that simply doesn’t want to deal with it. Time for Bishop Guertin to get involved, don’t you think?

• It’s not great, but the NFL is doing the smart thing by keeping reporters out of the lockerroom with the uptick of COVID cases around the country. The fear, of course, is that this will continue to be the case for years to come. Bet it’s that way in Major League Baseball, where reporters spend a lot of pre-game and post-game time in the clubhouse, and the players for the most part can’t stand it. Let’s hope things return to regular access next year. That would be a great sign, don’t you think?

• The big high school week this fall will be Sept. 20, as the Battle of the Bridge returns. North-South field hockey as well as golf are that Monday, the girls volleyball team square off on Wednesday the 22nd, the boys-girls soccer doubleheader is slated for that Thursday night, Sept. 23, and of course football is Friday night, Sept. 24. The North and South cross country teams see each other in multi-team events on Sept. 14 and 18.

• The Great Northeast Athletic Conference, of which Rivier University is not only a card carrying but also a founding member, is taking vaccination seriously.

Non-vaccinated athletes will need to be tested twice a week plus wear masks at all athletic events, and game officials must show proof of vaccination in order to work. No restrictions for those fully vaccinated. Games begin this week.

So let’s get things going with the fall season, shall we?

Tom King can be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on twitter @Telegraph _TomK.

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