KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The dead period is over, which means high school football is back. Practices are getting underway this week, and some teams have already taken the field. As players return, 6 News looked at how athletes stay safe while practicing in the summer heat. For many teams. The road to Friday night lights begins in the summer heat. The Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic works with more than 30 East Tennessee high schools, and the clinic is already helping athletes adjust to the heat.