By Nick Brockman
Messenger Sports Reporter, nbrockman@the-messenger.com
Many Hopkins County football fans will not be able to watch today's Super Bowl between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals due to the week's nasty weather calamity, and those who will see the game won't being doing so as in years past.
Madisonville-North Hopkins football coach Will Weaver and Rick Snodgrass, who recently resigned from Hopkins County Central, represent two lucky individuals, who will watch NFL's most supreme game, but both realize there are more pivotal things to worry about in western Kentucky these days.
Snodgrass lives off Grapevine Road and had power restored Friday evening after days of running on a generator, but said he's not sure the electricity will last after a few flickers.
"We might not be able to see the game and if that's the case, then that'sthe case," he said. "It's not the end of the world; it's just the Super Bowl.
"Right now, there's a lot more important things. People are in shelters. If I can watch it and get together for about four hours and watch the game, get our minds off some of these things that are going on, then that's great. If we can't, then I'll just spend time with my family here."
Snodgrass said he normally watches the game with his staff at assistant coach John Arnett's house.
Many Hopkins County football fans will not be able to watch today's Super Bowl between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals due to the week's nasty weather calamity, and those who will see the game won't being doing so as in years past.
Madisonville-North Hopkins football coach Will Weaver and Rick Snodgrass, who recently resigned from Hopkins County Central, represent two lucky individuals, who will watch NFL's most supreme game, but both realize there are more pivotal things to worry about in western Kentucky these days.
Snodgrass lives off Grapevine Road and had power restored Friday evening after days of running on a generator, but said he's not sure the electricity will last after a few flickers.
"We might not be able to see the game and if that's the case, then that'sthe case," he said. "It's not the end of the world; it's just the Super Bowl.
"Right now, there's a lot more important things. People are in shelters. If I can watch it and get together for about four hours and watch the game, get our minds off some of these things that are going on, then that's great. If we can't, then I'll just spend time with my family here."
Snodgrass said he normally watches the game with his staff at assistant coach John Arnett's house.
If the tradition continues this year, the TV's power will come in a new way. The group would have to use Arnett's generator to watch the Super Bowl.
As of Saturday afternoon, Snodgrass said his mind was not on the game, but the planned watching at Arnett's could still take place despite the current state of Hopkins County.
"Everybody's struggling right now, but that was the tentative plan," he said. "I haven't had a lot of communication with everybody. I talked to (Arnett). He's still thinking about doing something, but you kind of have to prioritize other things.
Snodgrass' former rival coach to the north, Weaver will be heading south to his parents' house in Nashville to view the big matchup.
Assistant coaches Eddie Milum and Andy Ausenbaugh and their families will also join Weaver after having their original plans dashed.
"I had actually planned to have all my coaches over to watch the game and throw a Super Bowl party at my house," Weaver said. "We can't do that. I've been going around checking on my kids, making sure everybody's OK. The majority of my players are either with relatives or in Clarksville or Nashville."
Weaver said he hopes to organize his players to aid the community in clean-up efforts during the coming week in order to provide help and also to build character.
"I think that's one of the most important things or life lessons we can teach our guys," he said. "When something goes bad, it's time to come together and make things happen. Football is important, but there's a lot more things more important than football."
Picking up limbs and other debris might be just what the players need while they can't lift at the gym. The storm hit just days after the Maroons completed their liftathon on Saturday.
"We're as strong as we've been in years as far as our maxes during our liftathon and it's really going to set us back a bit (not doing anything now)," Weaver said. "But the most important thing is that the community rebounds and we're part of that."
Although Weaver has never coached in the professional ranks, he does have relationships with players in the NFL who he guided and instructed in their high school days.
None of those players will be featured in today's contest, but Weaver still has a rooting interest.
"No connections, but I'm kind of pulling for (Arizona quarterback) Kurt Warner and his success story, some of the things he's had to overcome,"
Weaver said. "Everybody thought he was washed up and he kind of came on this year and he's giving some of those veterans hope."
Super Bowl Sunday will be undoubtedly different for Hopkins County residents this year and few prognosticators feel comfortable predicting the game's outcome, just like when power will be fully restored in the area.
"In normal years, I followed all the hype and all the hoopla about the Super Bowl, but other things are a little more important right now than that," Snodgrass said. "I don't have a prediction though. (They are) two good teams, the best two teams at this point in time of the year.
Despite not being able to read or watch all the news and predictions this week, Weaver made a stab at the result.
"I think it's going to come down to a pretty tight game," he said. "I think the game will be decided by 10 points either way. I think if Pittsburgh wins, they'll win by 10. If Arizona wins, I think they'll squeak it out with a field goal. If I had to predict, I would say Arizona will beat them by three."
As of Saturday afternoon, Snodgrass said his mind was not on the game, but the planned watching at Arnett's could still take place despite the current state of Hopkins County.
"Everybody's struggling right now, but that was the tentative plan," he said. "I haven't had a lot of communication with everybody. I talked to (Arnett). He's still thinking about doing something, but you kind of have to prioritize other things.
Snodgrass' former rival coach to the north, Weaver will be heading south to his parents' house in Nashville to view the big matchup.
Assistant coaches Eddie Milum and Andy Ausenbaugh and their families will also join Weaver after having their original plans dashed.
"I had actually planned to have all my coaches over to watch the game and throw a Super Bowl party at my house," Weaver said. "We can't do that. I've been going around checking on my kids, making sure everybody's OK. The majority of my players are either with relatives or in Clarksville or Nashville."
Weaver said he hopes to organize his players to aid the community in clean-up efforts during the coming week in order to provide help and also to build character.
"I think that's one of the most important things or life lessons we can teach our guys," he said. "When something goes bad, it's time to come together and make things happen. Football is important, but there's a lot more things more important than football."
Picking up limbs and other debris might be just what the players need while they can't lift at the gym. The storm hit just days after the Maroons completed their liftathon on Saturday.
"We're as strong as we've been in years as far as our maxes during our liftathon and it's really going to set us back a bit (not doing anything now)," Weaver said. "But the most important thing is that the community rebounds and we're part of that."
Although Weaver has never coached in the professional ranks, he does have relationships with players in the NFL who he guided and instructed in their high school days.
None of those players will be featured in today's contest, but Weaver still has a rooting interest.
"No connections, but I'm kind of pulling for (Arizona quarterback) Kurt Warner and his success story, some of the things he's had to overcome,"
Weaver said. "Everybody thought he was washed up and he kind of came on this year and he's giving some of those veterans hope."
Super Bowl Sunday will be undoubtedly different for Hopkins County residents this year and few prognosticators feel comfortable predicting the game's outcome, just like when power will be fully restored in the area.
"In normal years, I followed all the hype and all the hoopla about the Super Bowl, but other things are a little more important right now than that," Snodgrass said. "I don't have a prediction though. (They are) two good teams, the best two teams at this point in time of the year.
Despite not being able to read or watch all the news and predictions this week, Weaver made a stab at the result.
"I think it's going to come down to a pretty tight game," he said. "I think the game will be decided by 10 points either way. I think if Pittsburgh wins, they'll win by 10. If Arizona wins, I think they'll squeak it out with a field goal. If I had to predict, I would say Arizona will beat them by three."
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