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HomeSportsGovs will attempt to beat the heat with early morning practice

Govs will attempt to beat the heat with early morning practice

Austin Peay State University GovernorsAustin Peay State University football coach Rick Christophel attempted to combat the heat, Tuesday morning, by starting practice at 8:15am. That even proved not to be early enough.

As a result, the Governors will move up practice to 7:30am, Wednesday.

“The highest heat index (108) Monday came while we were practicing inside so we thought, in talking to the trainers, that going this morning when we did we wouldn’t have any real problems getting practice in—that we would be all right,” APSU Coach Rick Christophel said. “Around 45 minutes into practice our trainers told me it was already 103 degrees heat index. As a result, we backed off—we cut back some of our periods, we took more water breaks.

“Hopefully, going at 7:30am tomorrow we will be able to get more in. When it is that hot out there it makes it difficult for the players to learn.”

But Christophel certainly has gained some early observations about his football team.

“You can really tell the guys who were here this summer,” Christophel said. “There is proof in the pudding that they need to stay around as much as they can, work out and just be around the other guys. The mental part is one thing but the physical part of is another—physically being able to run in this heat makes a difference.

“Overall I am pleased with how we have handled the heat—we fought through it pretty well. We had about three guys who had to sit out. It was hot out there.”

Christophel has noticed one thing in particular in the two practice days—he likes what he sees so far from his freshmen class.

“We have a lot more team speed,” he said. “That is one of the worst things about going inside—I lost track of time because I was watching all those guys on both sides of the ball who can run. We have some special guys on both sides of the football. But also was exciting was watching our young linemen both sides, how well they reacted to things presented to them as far as the intensity was concerned.”

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