If you can’t wait for the high school football season, here’s some good news. It starts four days earlier.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association will allow teams to begin fall practice on Aug. 3, thus giving teams four days extra days of practice this season to help in the conditioning of players for the regular season.

Research has proven that there is an increase in heat-related injuries due to inadequate pre- and early-season acclimation.

The Ironton Fighting Tigers will take advantage of the extra days to get in an extra scrimmage. In past years, Ironton has had just one scrimmage.

Although Portsmouth West and Ashland, Ky., are off the regular season schedule this fall, the two teams will be the scrimmage opponents.

Last season, Ironton scrimmaged Wayne, W.Va., which began a week earlier than Ohio and already had one scrimmage under its belt when the Pioneers visited Tanks Memorial Stadium.

The regular season kicks off on Aug. 26.

Old Leather

Speaking of football, Chris Willis of NFL Archives has a book on the market entitled Old Leather.

The book is an oral history of early pro football in Ohio from 1920-1935 and Chapter 14 is about former Ironton Tanks and Detroit Lions great Glenn Presnell.

Willis was in Ironton a few years ago as a representative of the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a featured speaker for an event at Ohio University Southern honoring Presnell.

The book also had five chapters on the Portsmouth Spartans. Presnell played with the Spartans after the Tanks folded and remained with the team after being sold and moved to Detroit where the franchise became the Lions.

The book is $19.95 and anyone interested can get information by logging onto www.scarecrowpress.com or at www.amazon.com

‘4 for $48’

The Cincinnati Reds have a new ticket promotion called “4 for $48.”

For $48, fans can purchase four View Level seats, four regular hot dogs and four 24-ounce soft drinks for all games played Monday through Thursday.

Tickets must be purchased in advance of game day online at reds.com or in person as the Great American Ball Park advance ticket window or by calling 1-877-647-REDS.

The offer will not be in effect on Aug. 9 which is Dave Concepcion

bobblehead doll promotion.

Jim Walker is sports editor of The Ironton Tribune.