JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In response to the latest violence outside a high school football game, Duval County Public Schools announced Thursday that most varsity football games will kick off at 6 p.m. in the coming season.
The 2018 high school football season opened with a triple shooting outside the gates of the Lee at Raines game, and included numerous time changes at games throughout the season.
A shooting also occurred last month during the Ribault at Terry Parker spring game, and Duval County school leaders have said throughout the past year that they were reviewing plans to make games safer.
The school district released the following statement:
"For the 2019-20 school year, varsity football games will be scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday or the night scheduled. The exception to this is the three games that will be played on Saturdays. This update comes from discussions with school and district leadership on how we can enhance the safety of our football games for our students and our community. We will continue to discuss proactive safety measures and share updates."
The change in start times from the traditional 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. for high school football games comes more than two months before the regular season begins. Learning of the changes now was welcomed after schedules were adjusted throughout the 2018 season.
"I don't know if it's enough, but I think it's a great, proactive approach to hit it head-on," News4Jax crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson said. "We're going to have extended daylight, which assists the officers in being able to watch the crowd a little bit better. It doesn't allow the bad guys to hide or be in concealment, so it's a great, proactive approach they're taking for the safety of everyone involved."
Jefferson said police will need to continue to stay vigilant.
"They're watching the crowd, looking for suspicious movement or activity, bulges, persons who may be ganged up in a certain area. They're looking at the behavior of the crowd. They're constantly watching all these things all at once," he said.
WATCH: Ken Jefferson gives perspective on what change means for students' safety |
Coaches weigh in on Duval County Public Schools changing fall football game times
Most coaches learned of the move Thursday afternoon when News4Jax asked them about it while they were at a high school football event at the Jaguars’ Flex Field.
“To me, it’s not a drastic move. It’s just an hour back,” said Parker coach Char-ron Dorsey. “I feel like anything that’s safe for these kids at this moment in time, I just feel like whatever’s safe for them is a great thing.”
Sandalwood coach Adam Geis, whose team faced Mandarin in a 3:30 p.m. game last year, said the move isn’t a substantial one for teams since they can plan for it now.
“I like it a lot. I think there’s a lot less downtime. It’s still light out, still warm, even toward the end of the season when it gets colder,” he said. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it at all. I’m a big fan of it.”
First-year Atlantic Coast coach Michael Montemayor said that he understands the changes and the need to be proactive when it comes to safety.
“I’m more traditional. I love the 7 p.m. [kickoffs]. But again, we have to adapt," he said. "It’s all about the kids’ safety, kids and even the people that do come to the games to watch.”