First, the good.
Senior defensive back Derrick Perrin, who sustained a cracked C-1 vertebrae in his neck in last year's Chapmanville game and missed the remaining seven games, has been cleared to play this fall.
Logan also has new lights at Logan Stadium to replace its aging old system.
Logan coach Gary Mullins said practices have been going well so far in preparations for the new season.
"They are going real good," he said. "This is a little bit different situation than I've had before. The guys that I had in the past had been with me since they were in the eighth grade. There was a lot of experience and there were a lot of things that you wouldn't necessarily have to go over every day at practice. But this group has caught on extremely well."
Logan lost a lot of key seniors from last year's 6-5 playoff team, including all-state running back/linebacker Cody Baisden, as well as all-state linemen Tyler Perry and Patrick King. Skill position players Robert Shell, Chris Tolliver and Trey Taylor also graduated. Nick Adams, Thomas Adkins, Andy Mayhorn, Frank Dillon and Thomas Dillon are also gone.
With so many seniors lost, Logan's three-week practice period in June ended up being extra important as players stepped into new roles.
"The three-week summer period really eliminates you from getting behind. You've got three weeks to put in your offense and your defense. These guys all came in at the three-week period," Mullins said. "We know that we've got a lot of seniors to replace but we've got a lot of guys who have been waiting. A lot of these guys have played 20 JV games so it's not like they have been sitting and watching. They're ready to play and we'll see how ready they are to play real soon."
The Wildcats are happy to have the new lights installed.
The old lighting system, believed to be at least 40 years old, was in dire need of replacement.
The old lights were simply too dim.
With Logan's new lights, the brand new locker room/concession stand building which was constructed a couple of years ago and the existing huge home grandstand, Logan Stadium is regarded as one of the best high school football facilities around.
"It's a big improvement. It's not even close," Mullins said of the new lighting system. "We're going to definitely have to practice a couple of times to get used to it. It's better lights than we've ever had before. Coach (Roger) Gertz did a lot of work to make sure that we got the best and the Board of Education came through for us big time to make this facility as nice as any because the lights were about the only thing that we were missing. We're not missing anything now.
"We've got a first-class facility and I think that it will be a joy for anybody to play here."
Logan Stadium's old lights were notoriously known for creating "dark pockets" on the field
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