<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1Z1nSJ_0uqLQnGl00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Z1nSJ_0uqLQnGl00" width="650" height="433" ><figcaption>Baldwin football Robert Watkins (middle) is ready for another season. (John Raffel/File photo) </figcaption></figure> BALDWIN – It’s a transitional period right now for Baldwin varsity football coach Bob Watkins as he prepares to start practices on Aug. 12. Summer season ended on Aug. 2 with the final day of open sessions. Teams must take this week off. Watkins said the weight room had been open during the summer but due to various conflicts, participation was not there. Summer workouts is all voluntary. He’s planning on practices each day from 6-to-8 p.m. Monday the first two weeks. Watkins said he has spoken to many players and has gotten commitments for them to come out the first week and start preparing for the season. Watkins said coaches will have to work with athletes on making sure they have their physicals taken and are academically eligible. A lot of questions will be answered next week. Assistants for Watkins are Rusty Fullerton, Brandon Childress and Maverick Fisher. Childress and Fisher will focus on the junior high team. A varsity scrimmage has been set for Aug. 23 at Bellaire. Baldwin coaches were set to meet this previous Monday night. “We’re trying to get everyone situated,” Watkins said. “If kids show up but don’t have a physical, they can’t practice. Eligilibity will be a factor. We’re up in the air right now. We have a positive mindset. It’s not the first year we started this way. We’ll know on Monday what’s going to happen.” The first game is on Aug. 30 at Grand Rapids Sacred Heart. The first home game is on Sept. 6 with Mesick and on Sept. 13 with Bear Lake in Mid-Michigan Conference action. Baldwin is home on Sept. 27 with Suttons Bay. </div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Baldwin football team opens practices on Monday

Baldwin football coaches are getting ready to open the practice season on Monday