Little concern shown for masks or social distancing at Alabama high school football games
High school football returns tonight, but with some big changes.
Fans are expected to wear masks and social distance.
Tuscaloosa County played its first game Thursday night, but many fans were seen shoulder-to-shoulder and without masks.
We had groups of students who were not socially distanced and did not wear their masks, so I investigated that and spoke to the principal who says he told them numerous times throughout the game to put their mask on, but we're dealing with teenagers and although they put the mask on while he was there, they took them off, said Dr.Keri Johnson, Tuscaloosa County Schools Superintendent.
Jasper High School also played its first game of the season Thursday night.
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All fans had their temperatures taken as they came in and school authorities made sure they’re wearing masks before they enter the stadium.
However, while the band observed 6-feet, few fans took part in social distancing.
Jasper High School Assistant Athletic Director Hannah Real said:
They’re all having their senior night tonight because we don’t know what the future is going to hold. And so we wanted to make sure we honored those kids and their investment for the last four, four plus years for a lot of them.
After a lengthy lightning delay Jasper won 30-to-20.
But things appeared worse in South Alabama Thursday night.
Despite a statewide mask order, you could barely pick one out in this video from Fairhope.
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A lot of people were seen right up next to each other, not wearing any face coverings at all.
Now, there were some pockets of social distancing and masks and on the field there was more compliance.
The principal said the school district is already discussing changes moving forward.
