jonas pope iv/herald sports editor

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The sounds of pouring rain and thunder Thursday night were replaced Friday by the sounds of whistles, grunts and bodies crashing into tackling dummies. That's right Roanoke Valley residents - the 2008 football season is officially here.

Even though teams have been training all winter, spring and summer, Friday marked the first official day of practice. This is the time of year when every team is undefeated and have realistic playoff aspirations and dreams of conference championships. The time of year when last seasons third string players have a chance to have their name penciled in as the starter come opening night.

With temperatures in the high 90's Friday, Grady Williams had his troops report to the practice field bright and early. The Weldon Chargers officially kicked off the 2008 campaign with a 7 am practice.

“It went OK,” Williams said.

The veteran coach said he had about 24 players come out on opening day and the Chargers decided to stick with the early morning practice again on Saturday in order to beat the heat.

Thanks to the success of the 7-on-7 passing league, Williams said the first practice went very smooth, more so than usual.

“The guys know the system ... they had a chance to do it all summer and now we are trying to get in our conditioning.”

The Chargers are coming off an UN-Weldon like 3-7 campaign and Williams said his troops were thrilled about getting the first practice under their belt. But does a veteran coach like Williams still get anxious about the first day of practice.

“It's different because we were together all summer,” Williams said. “But I still get excited about it.”

Just up highway 95 in Gaston, the Northampton-West Hurricanes went with an afternoon session that started in the gymnasium to beat the heat, but the 'Canes eventually made their way to the field. Second-year coach Gary Warren had about 26 players participate Friday's practice, but expects more to come out in the next few days.

“A couple of guys are on vacation or just didn't come,” Warren said. “But I expect to be full throttle on Monday.”

NCHS-West also went at it again on Saturday morning as they try to improve on last seasons 5-7 record. Down the stretch the 'Canes were one of the best teams in the area and advanced to the second round of the NCHSAA Playoffs.

Like everyone else NCHS-West participated in the 7-on-7 passing league this summer and Warren said his guys looked sharp on day one.

“The kids that have been here ... we went through the same routine,” Warren said. “A lot of the kids who are out here now, are the same kids I've been having all summer long. It was a good transition.”

Warren said his players were excited to take the field for the first practice because they realize with each practice they are closer and closer to game day. Warren added that some of his older players held a players only meeting the day before practice to tell the new guys what they expect of them.

“I was impressed with that,” Warren said.

The NCHS-West coach said first couple of days he would like to focus on schemes along the offensive and defensive lines since he wasn't with them as much this summer and hopes to quickly bring them up to speed.

The Roanoke Rapids Yellow Jackets got things underway with an evening practice on Friday and went back at it again on Saturday morning. Second year coach Russell Weinstein had 42 players, varsity and jayvee, show up for the first day of practice and said he could tell there was some excitement among his athletes.

“The enthusiasm was good,” he said.

Any of the 1A schools in the area would love to have 42 players come out, but for a big 2A school like Roanoke Rapids, Weinstein felt like there should be more.

“Our jayvee numbers are down,” he said. “We are working hard to get kids into the program. We are still trying to get kids to play at Roanoke Rapids.”

The Yellow Jackets were 3-8 last season, but return a lot of young talent who gained valuable experience last season.

Weinstein said the improvement last year from a 1-10 record in 2006 carried over into off season workouts.

“Our older kids had a good spring in the weight room and did some things this summer, like the passing leagues,” he said. “They are ready to put the pads on again.”

Roanoke Rapids won't have to wait too long to see how far they are come. The Yellow Jackets scrimmage Perquimans on August 12th in Roanoke Rapids.