BELLFLOWER, Calif. – Every weekday for almost two decades, Jason Negro has spent his afternoons on the football field.

As the head coach of the reigning California Interscholastic Federation State football champions at St. John Bosco, Negro is all football all the time, or at least he was until March of this year.

“I don’t think I have been home at 2:05 p.m. on a Tuesday in 17 years that I’ve been a head coach," he said. "It’s so strange. It’s a great deal of detachment."

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The Braves were finishing up phase one of their offseason program when the coronavirus outbreak saw the closure of school campuses nationwide and the cancellation of all spring sports programs.

“It was just so weird, so strange," Negro said. "Everything just cut off.”

Although kickoff for the Braves is still about four months away, the sport of football is all about preparation.

While the team has transitioned from the classroom to Zoom meetings, practicing on field to watching tape over Hudl, and is currently staying in shape through at home workouts and conditioning, Negro says nothing can compensate for time together.

“This is something you’re not prepared for. There’s nothing in your coaching manual, conferences, clinics, or professional development that says okay, here’s what’s going to happen in 2020 when you’re shut down," he said. "I don't know what to do."

He along with all of his players is currently grappling with the same question, will the 2020 football season happen at all?

“How can you participate in any type of hand-to-hand combat sport or activity where they say you can’t be within six feet of each other," Negro said. "So, football, unless they lift those restrictions, it’s not going to be played. I have a sense of feeling very paralyzed, I don’t really know what to do.”

Negro does what he can which is take it day by day. And ever the football coach he sees a learning lesson through all of this uncertainty.

“I think you’re going to see a lot of kids that have learned something about patience and taking advantage of the opportunities you have," he said. "Look at how quickly things can be taken away from you.”

For now, St. John Bosco continues to prepare as they can with the goal of getting back on field at some time this year.

“In terms of, coaches if you were to poll them I think 100 percent would say as long as you allow us to get back on the field, because right now it doesn’t look like we’re going to get onto it," he said. "So, if you told me, you’re going to play five league games and then playoffs, I’m great.”

He continues to hold out hope for the glimmer of Friday night lights to come.