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Flu bug’s bite puts chill on football fever

‘This is the worst I’ve ever seen it,’ local coach says

Fairmont High School quarterback Nick Bower started last Friday's game, a 21-14 loss to Wayne, but didn't play the entire four quarters because of the flu.

Staff photo by Jim Noelker Fairmont High School quarterback Nick Bower started last Friday's game, a 21-14 loss to Wayne, but didn't play the entire four quarters because of the flu.

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer Updated 10:25 PM Tuesday, October 13, 2009

On Friday morning, Oct. 9, Nick Bower came to Fairmont High School football coach Brian Blevins with a potential problem.

Bower woke up that morning feeling achy. Even though he didn’t yet have a fever, the Fairmont quarterback recognized the possible early stages of the flu.

Bower started and played against Wayne that night, but he didn’t make it the entire game.

“By the end of the game,” Blevins said, “he was already showered and at home.”

Bower became another in a long list of Miami Valley students affected by an early start to the flu season. The flu bug has hit area high school football teams extremely hard, which has added an extra element to preparation and Friday night storylines.

In high school football, unlike other sports, teams must qualify to participate in a postseason. During a season in which a single loss can sometimes knock a team from playoff contention, illness can strike particularly hard.

“This is the worst I’ve ever seen it,” said Northmont coach Lance Schneider.

Two games involving area teams have been postponed in the past three weeks because of illness. On Sept. 20, Carroll played a Sunday game against Roger Bacon because of mass sickness at the Cincinnati-area school. Last Sunday, Tippecanoe played a game postponed from Friday against Bellefontaine.

“At halftime, I felt like I usually do after the whole game,” said Alex Trotter, a Tipp tight end and defensive lineman who missed both the school’s homecoming dance Oct. 3 and four days of school with sickness before playing Sunday. “I think we’ll be even better going forward having been through it as a team.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com

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Sure Rob, and get everyone else fricking sick because of your selfishness!! More to life than a fricking game!!

Don
6:26 PM, 10/14/2009

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The flu is contagious BEFORE symptoms.

dj
1:46 PM, 10/14/2009

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Why don't we close down the schools and cancel the games until after Thanksgiving to try to slow down the spread of the flu? People could spend time with their families and get to know each other better. They could do some reading or schoolwork at home. Teachers could keep up with their progress through e-mail or phone calls. If this plan could save one life it would be worth it, especailly if that life is one of my granddaughters. :)
Eliza, Nana, NP

Eliza Ricks
1:02 PM, 10/14/2009

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Of course he went to school...you can't play Friday night unless you are there during the day. Real men (and Women) will drag their carcass to school for a chance to step between the whites and play. I know I did "Back in the Day". Truthfully, I respect the heart in the kid. He didn't want to let his teammates down. If you don't understand that comment, I do feel sorry for you. The Coach knows what to do with infirm players.

Rob
12:32 PM, 10/14/2009

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its a tough call, as I used to tell my now grown children...If I stayed home every time I had a little pain,or soreness...I would never be able to hold a job

tough call
12:06 PM, 10/14/2009

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