So it wasn't your typical, teenage summer getaway.

No, it wasn't exactly what comes to mind when you here those "this is what I did over my summer vacation" stories.

Two Springdale senior football players spent the summer training -- for the armed services.

T.J. Bajack, a two-way lineman, and Ryan Hohman, a team captain and tight end/linebacker, called Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri home this summer, as they completed Army basic training. They began their Army Reserve careers for their unit, which is based in New Kensington.

Both players missed the first week of Springdale's football camp because their Army training lapped over into the middle of this month. But the two were back in Springdale in time for the second week of camp.

"It was tough for us not having them there and not having them go through our preseason," Springdale coach Chuck Wagner said. "But they were off doing something worthwhile. They were doing something that kept them in shape and something that they very much wanted to do."

Bajack and Hohman will return to Fort Leonard Wood after graduating from high school to complete advanced training as combat engineers.

But, for now, they are set to begin their senior football seasons. Wagner sees a correlation and overall benefit that translates to football.

"If you really look at things, though, what they did was something that will prepare them for their lives after college and what they want to do when they leave Springdale," Wagner said. "And I will tell you, they came back in great physical shape and you can really tell how much more focused they are from a mental standpoint. They are both really, really focused and are truly adults."

Springdale opens its season tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at Veterans Stadium when City League opponent -- and reigning champion -- Oliver pays a visit to the facility along the Allegheny River.

This is for real

While a heavy portion of the WPIAL slate this weekend encompasses non-conference games, because of the disproportionate number of Class AA squads, some teams jump right out of the gate having to participate in conference play.

Four Class AA teams in the PG North coverage area -- Northgate, Deer Lakes, Shady Side Academy and Mars Area -- will play conference games this week.

In the Allegheny Conference, Northgate will play host to Burrell and Deer Lakes will travel to Kittanning. Both of those games are at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow.

Also tomorrow at 7:30, in the Tri-County North Conference, Mars will travel to Laurel.

And then, Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on its expansive, sprawling campus, Shady Side Academy will play host to Freeport in an Allegheny Conference clash.

Not so warm welcome

Tomorrow at 7:30 p.m., first-year Butler Area coach Jeff McAnallen will run out onto Art Bernardi Stadium's field and realize, for the first time, what it is like to be the top man. Formerly an assistant at North Hills, McAnallen, a Butler graduate, will be up against some weighty variables when his team takes on Kiski Area tomorrow.

First, Butler has zero returning starters back, which might make McAnallen's transition a little tougher.

On top of that, the Golden Tornado will have to face Kiski Area senior quarterback Josh Vick, who is quite possibly the best player in the WPIAL you don't know a whole lot about -- simply because he missed a large chunk of his junior season.

Vick passed for 1,147 yards through the first four weeks of last season, which at that juncture was tops in the WPIAL. But a left knee injury knocked him out for the rest of the year.

You tell me

So we're going to start something new this year in the PG North and, as you can probably already tell, it is called "You tell me."

Every week, I am going to ask your opinion on something from the local high school football scene and then the following week list three of the best answers.

We will start with a very easy one for this week: Which squad in the 20-team PG North coverage area has the best uniforms and why?

This question seems pretty elementary, but there really are some solid choices.

Me, personally, I have always been partial to North Catholic's red and gold. Those uniforms just scream tradition. Then again, Shady Side Academy's Florida State-esque helmets are pretty smooth as are Perry's with that nice, simple identifiable star adorning the helmets.

Also, how can you not like the old-school look of North Hills' uniforms?

Anyhow, forget about me. I want to know what you think.

So shoot me an e-mail at the address at the bottom of this column by Monday morning at 9 and I'll list the best responses when this column runs again next Thursday. Be sure to include your first name and hometown.