University of Tennessee Athletics
VOLS PRACTICE OUTDOORS FOR FIRST TIME; TRY ON SHOULDER PADS
August 06, 2006 | Football
Aug. 6, 2006
It's beginning to look a lot more like football season.
After rain chased Tennessee inside for the first two practices of the season, the Vols finally got a chance to play outside on Sunday afternoon at Haslam Field. The Vols donned shoulder pads for the first time as well, working out on a warm, muggy day with temperatures consistently in the mid-90's.
"It's much better to be outside," head coach Phillip Fulmer said after a little more than two-and-a-half hours on the practice field. "It was a little warm, but the guys tried to cruise through it. We had a couple cases of cramps that the trainers took care of, but, for the most part, our team pushed through it.
"The heat index got to the point where the last period of practice we actually took the pads off for safety's sake. It was a suggestion of the trainer, and I'm going to do exactly what he tells us to do."
Before shedding the pads, Fulmer said he saw plenty of good things from the Vols, as UT continues to keep "looking for the right, few good men" in preparation for the season-opener against California on Sept. 2.
"We got a lot of individual work, a lot of contact work without having to go full-speed since we don't have all our pads on yet," Fulmer said. "I thought they came out and really tried to start off in shorts-and-shoulder pads in good fashion."
Sunday marked the first of two practices with shoulder pads added to the workout gear after two days wearing just shorts and helmets. UT has one more scheduled session without full pads before the Vols can start practicing with full-contact. According to NCAA preseason guidelines, all teams must go through four practices without full pads during the acclimation period at the start of camp.
The Vols will suit up in full pads for the first time on Tuesday, as the team continues to take shape in preparation for its first scrimmage on Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
"I think we're in the mode right now where we're trying to find the guys that are going to play and help us gel," Fulmer said. "The team is working, and they're trying to work hard together."
