2009 Cougar
Football Season Underway A little over 70 players walked onto the practice field Monday morning as the 2009 Cougar football program officially began practice. The day was hot, sunny, and muggy as the players went through their drills and ran plays. Head Coach Jack Turner took time before he took his players out on the field to define the teams goals and expectations to them. "Last season is over" said Turner. "We had a great year, but now it's your time. This is your team and as usual the expectations are high. We wouldn't want it any other way. We will put our game plan together each week and prepare you, but it's up to you to go out and perform on the field. I and the other coaches believe in you, and we are excited to be here." Turner was also quick to remind his players of their responsibilities to themselves and to their team. "You have to eat right, and you have to drink plenty of fluids. You cant drink enough fluids right now. It's going to be hot, and we are going to push you. You need to make sure you take care of yourself and keep an eye on the guy next to you. Every year we hear stories about a player somewhere who didn't do the right things, and he ends up paying the price for it. We wont have that here." The players began the morning with a warm up period and stretching, followed by individual specialty work for each position. Quarterbacks and centers worked on making and receiving snaps, linemen focused on proper stance and alignment, and so on. At the end of that session, the players ran three "fifths". Anyone who has ever put on a gold helmet is all too familiar with fifths, which is a timed lap around the field that equals a fifth of a mile. Players run in groups and are required to finish within a certain amount of time. As practice goes on in the pre-season, the number of fifths run will continue to increase. The coaches then took the players aside for a break and some blackboard coaching. "We want our players to be tough and in shape, but they also need to understand the game" said Turner. "We want them to understand why we ask them to do certain things, and what the reasons are behind certain keys that they read. A smarter player will make better decisions and better plays." The Cougars next practice focused on the offensive and defensive drills and running plays. Pulaski County looks to run some of the same offense that they have for the past few years, but as usual will add some new wrinkles to the plan. Coach Turner will continue with his two a day practices through next week, as the Cougars prepare for their first scrimmage action on August 14th when they will travel to Tazewell for a three way scrimmage. The following Friday will find Pulaski hosting the Pulaski County Touchdown Classic, the longest running jamboree of it's type in the State of Virginia. The regular season opens up on August 28th when the Cougars travel across the bridge to face the Radford Bobcats in the renewal of an old rivalry that has fans talking all over the New River Valley. Be sure to check back later for more practice pictures and more information on the progress of the 2009 Cougars.
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