Spring practice

[Jasper]

Nice to see a full schedule for spring/winter FB practice. Over 90 players are scheduled to participate including 3 freshmen. D has got some real studs coming back but depth is still to be determined. O line also returns 2 starters plus a couple who had substantial playing time. Receiving corps looks loaded. We should be ok coming out of the gate and get stronger as new newbies developed. CCH has said all along that there is a lot of talent we haven’t seen. Let’s see em. Will try to get over for a look-see into practices but hard to tell anything until they start in pads. Everyone looks good in sweats and helmets ..

[FUPlayer74]

First day of Spring in full pads was always a bit of drudgery except finishing with the Oklahoma drill, full team. That's about as much fun as an OL can have.

[FUBeAR]

First day of Spring in full pads was always a bit of drudgery except finishing with the Oklahoma drill, full team. That's about as much fun as an OL can have.

FUBeAR preferred finishing with Goaline 1’s on 1’s - 4 plays from the 10. No FG’s. Score or don’t. Mano a Mano. D knew 48 or 49 sweep was coming on 1st down EVERY time and on 4th down (if necessary) and 3 or less.

While no fighting was allowed in the Fall, let’s just say it was ‘not discouraged’ (by the Defensive Coaches) in the Spring. So, when the O scored, somebody was scrappin’ at the end of the play almost every time…sure it would get broken up …. after a while.

Fun times … and there is no doubt that every one of those reps (and the scraps) mattered on Saturday’s in the Fall. We EXPECTED to WIN the series - on either side of the ball - when it was inside the 10.

Think Stump Mitchell in ‘78 with 1 untimed play from the 1 for the SoCon Championship. He had NO CHANCE of scoring because of Spring Practice Goaline Drills. Think Robbie Gardner to clinch the win in Columbia in ‘82 - 1st down on their 5 - 48 Sweep 2x - they KNEW it was coming, but they had NO CHANCE of stopping us from scoring that TD because of Spring Practice Goaline Drills.

Paladins will be out there in February & March putting WINS in the bank this Fall.

[Jasper]

Ain’t no sport where that is not the God’s honest truff! There’s a toughness in “spring” practice at 23 degrees or in basketball practice in July at 98 that is the essence of the games. There always comes a time or a play where that toughness is necessary.