The annual rite of spring.
 
Feb. 2 is Groundhog Day, the unofficial "most important" weather date of late winter.
 
Why?
 
Supposedly we are to learn on that date, based on a furry creature, if we are going to have an early spring or six more weeks of winter.
 
Perhaps an even more in-tune prognasticator of the weather would be a coach of a spring sports team in Iowa.

No one, save for the average farmer, is more up on, in tune with, or has more knowledge of the weather fluxuations during these crazy months than the spring sport coach. It doesn't matter if it is track and field, soccer, tennis or golf, they start their day off and end it by peeking at the long term and short term forecasts.
 
Maybe the schools should give these guys and gals double pay, since they are doing double duty!
 
Not only do they have to plan their schedules for outdoor activity, they also have to plan on what they can get accomplished indoors if Mother Nature forces them inside. 
 

These coaches not only do this with a smile and a shrug of the shoulders, but also in somewhat anonymity. While the fall and winter sports get a lot of headlines, these men and women are not household names for the most part and run their sports for the love of the game. No matter if it is 80 degrees and sunny or 35 degrees and raining they are always outside in the elements cheering on their charges, making them better athletes as well as citizens.
 
So the next time you see a coach of a spring sport, whether your son or daughter plays for them or you are attending a game, tell them hi and that you appreciate what they do for the school and the community.

Chances are they'll be looking at the sky or on the phone for a weather update!