Football study scores touchdown for effort

Public officials often lament that one of the more difficult aspects of civic life is the effort to persuade citizens to get involved.

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Even in a community as dynamic as Columbia County, citizens are far too willing to sit on the bench. It's heartening when someone is willing to suit up and take the field.

Such is the case with Randy Griffin, a parent who led a group that compiled a thorough - if somewhat depressing - study of Columbia County's high school football programs.

Griffin's study provides three dozen pages of statistics and comparisons with other community's programs, and offers suggestions on improving the performance of local high school football.

Columbia County school board last week decided to give the plan more study. They're asking the county's athletic officials for feedback, and plan to also discuss it with administrators and parents.

That input is vital; the study calls for significant changes in pay and work schedules for athletic directors and coaches. If the changes come at the expense of academics, they'll be a tough sell.

Still, Griffin and other parent volunteers who took their time and effort to put together the proposal deserve an A for effort - and an A-plus for getting off the couch and into the game.