High school football coach finds creative way to watch game while quarantined (Photo)

High school football coach Brennan Pugh was quarantined because of COVID-19. So he rented a lift to watch his team on Friday night.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Or in the case of Vardaman High School head coach Brennan Pugh, rent a lift.

Pugh was supposed to be quarantined for Vardaman’s second game of the season. Unable to patrol the sidelines himself, he rented a lift to view the game from above, according to Brad Logan of the Clarion-Ledger.

Whether college or high school football, coaches find a way to coach.

Pugh’s move was immediately compared to Hugh Freeze’s decision to bring a hospital bed into the coach’s booth last August.

The newly-minted Liberty head coach was suffering from back spasms and couldn’t remain upright for the game. So he coached from the bed.

Pugh didn’t have a booth to utilize, and if he did the parameters of a COVID-19 quarantine wouldn’t exactly allow for the same solution.

As it is, you’ve got to give Pugh credit. The lift put him far from the range of anyone who might be in danger of contracting the virus from him. It being outdoors, the risk was minimal.

Still, why risk anything at all? Pugh had a reason, taking every measure possible to give his team a chance.

The Rams 0-11 last year in his first season as the head coach. That may have been a reflection of extensive playing time for freshmen and sophomores, according to the Mississippi Daily Journal. Entering Year 2, some improvement from the head coach and team was expected.

Vardaman lost their first outing of the season last week against East Webster, so Friday’s game against Holly Springs would have been Pugh’s first chance to get a win as a head coach.

Unfortunately, the lift came to nothing.

Despite a valiant comeback attempt, the Rams fell 20-14.