16/10/2026
Just a quick message from Coach Zagelmeyer:
High school football has never been safer than it is today.
Equipment is better. Tackling techniques are better. Training, conditioning, medical support, and the resources available to our student-athletes are better. We continue to learn, adapt, and improve how we protect the young men who play this game.
High school football is also one of the greatest classrooms available to young men in today’s world. It teaches accountability, discipline, perseverance, teamwork, leadership, and how to face adversity alongside others who depend on you.
Furthermore, when a player reports neck pain, tingling, or any other potentially serious symptom, we take it seriously. Every precaution is taken to ensure the student-athlete receives the appropriate evaluation and care. Player safety comes first. Always.
Nobody wants to see an ambulance on a football field. Nobody wants to see a young man injured. Those moments are frightening for everyone involved, especially the families, teammates, coaches, and medical personnel who care about these kids.
But to those who are quick to criticize high school football whenever one of these situations occurs, I respectfully ask you to stop and take a closer look at the current state of the game.
Football is not a risk-free sport, and nobody should pretend it is. But the game has evolved, safety measures have improved, and the people responsible for these young men take that responsibility seriously.
I believe most people who criticize the game mean well. But concern alone does not necessarily mean an accurate understanding of what today’s high school football looks like.
As someone who has spent decades in education and coaching, I believe in what this game does for young people. I believe in the relationships, the lessons, the accountability, and the opportunities it provides.
We should always look for ways to make the game safer. We should never stop learning or improving.
But we should also recognize the good this game does and respect the people who dedicate their lives to teaching it the right way.
