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With the return of the NFL and some college football, some people want the return of high school football. Guess what? It's not happening in Illinois, at least this fall.

Literally, while the article was being written, the BIG 10 just announced there will be football this fall. Coincidentally the topic of high school football came up at one of Illinois Governor Pritzker's press conferences yesterday. Rightfully so because normally, at this point, we would be bragging about our school's team on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. And although other states are allowing the kids to suit up and play, it won't be happening in the Land of Lincoln any time in the foreseeable future.

Illinois' contact sports had been postponed until spring but, of course, there was negative feedback. In fact, according to ABC7 Chicago, the Illinois High School Association begged Pritzker to change his mind on this state-wide decision. Parents and students in the Chicago suburbs backed IHSA's request to allow some pigskin action sooner than later. But, even with this effort, no dice. Not only did the governor say no, he pretty much said, "I don't give a crap about what other states are doing." Yes, that is my paraphrasing. Here is some of his exact quote on the subject of contact sports this fall.

Look at the states that you're talking about, they all have very high positivity rates, double-digit positivity rates in most. And those are states-- fine, if they've decided to endanger children and families in those states by allowing certain contact sports to take place, that's their decision. That's not something that's good for the families, the children of Illinois.

It looks like we won't be enjoying Friday night lights locally in 2020.


JB Love is ½ of  Q98.5's Lil Zim & JB In The Morning, weekday mornings from 5:00 a.m. to 10 a.m. Follow him on TwitterInstagram, and Facebook.

[H/T ABC7]

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