In the last few months, so many encouraging things have happened in football development around here that it’s fun to keep score.

Personally, the best news came when Chris Morris spent enough time to detail the rounding-out of his plan to keep improving the Alberta Golden Bears while making sure that the Edmonton’s Huskies and Wildcats are not stripped of talent. All along, his plan made sense: take care that recent high school grads, the kids who need chances to develop at the Prairie Football Conference level, are not rushed into university competition before they’re ready.

There was a major problem, however. Morris inherited a bankrupt roster. Immediately, he needed to fill big holes with healthy, willing bodies. They lost, and lost badly, but there is growing recognition — outside of Edmonton, in fact — that the Bears will be serious contenders in CIS this fall.

As the Bears get more comfortable, so do the junior teams, which received healthy doses of money from the Edmonton Eskimos, who continue to recognize that they’re the parent organization in all of this growth and recently confirmed their commitment to the long-term future of their sport. Already, hundreds of youngsters are registered for flag football teams. As they learn the game in a safe, healthy environment, some will go on to be players at the high school, university and (maybe) professional level.

Equally important, these children have been given a key to lifelong enjoyment as fans. Check recent attendance figures in the Canadian Football League and you’ll know exactly how important this element has become.

In terms of crowds, the Eskimos have always been a riddle wrapped in an enigma. They draw the biggest crowds in the league. But their game-day home, Commonwealth Stadium, has for years provided more empty seats than any other facility, and more empty seats than the Eskimos ever endured during their hottest periods on the field and at the box office.

All of which brings me to this conclusion: the Eskimos have been both wise and eager as they attempt to find new followers.

These days, almost every sports organization seeks ways of reaching out to the public. A hot and timely item for the Eskimos is their serious anti-bullying campaign.

Good for them. This issue, at junior high and high school, is serious, and growing.

jcshort@shaw.ca