Frogs Go In Full Pads For First Time Wednesday
8/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 9, 2006
With temperatures hovering near 105 degrees, the No. 21 TCU football team practiced Wednesday for the first time in full pads.
The 24-period workout set the stage for the start of two-a-days Thursday at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
"I thought it was better today and it was probably our best practice thus far," TCU coach Gary Patterson said. "We threw a couple of interceptions in our two-minute drills that you can't do. All in all, I thought we did okay on both sides of the ball."
The NCAA mandates a five-day acclimation period. During the final day of that period, student-athletes may practice in full pads.
"There won't be much of a transition to two-a-days," Patterson said. "You still have a ball, helmet and pads. It won't get any more physical than it was today. The mornings are always more physical, and they are usually the best practices we have."
The Frogs will close the week with a 9 a.m. Friday practice in addition to 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. workouts Saturday.
"We try to build a mentality that in the fourth quarter we can play with anybody," Patterson said. "That's why we condition so well. It's what happened in the third and fourth quarters of the Oklahoma game (a 17-10 TCU victory in 87-degree weather). It was our heat. We thrive in these temperatures when it comes to game time."
The Frogs have 24 more practices until the Sept. 3 season opener at Baylor.
