For over 20 years we were unique in the CFB landscape. We got to go to spring practices and the first week of fall practice. Sadly it ended Spurrier's last year when construction of the new indoor facility just made it impossible for that year. Muschamp did not bring it back last year and it is safe to say, it ain't never coming back.
This is not a criticism of Muschamp. In the hyper competitive and paranoid world of college coaching I understand why I will never get to attend another practice, but still it makes me sad.
Both Holtz and Spurrier knew how to construct a practice where the fans got in but never really saw anything of game day importance. Fans were on one sideline and got to see up close stretching and warmup. Defense did individual drills on the field nearest the fans. Board drills were also done in front of the fans. Anything to do with offense, play calls, audibles, formation, and protections was on the far field out of earshot and the view was obstructed by the drills the D was doing.
But boy did we learn a lot and felt an increased connection to the players and program. Dads took their children to let them see up close their heroes. Lifelong fans were made out of those tykes even if we did have to cover their ears when Coach Lawing was running DL drills. He gave a master class in hand and foot work. Part of the reason we knew early that Deke Adams was going to be a bust was we had seen up close how and what Lawing taught.
Because we were there, we knew who the freshmen were before anyone else. We knew who was in shape, and who wasn't. We saw the naturals and the ones who were grinding. Who had a temper, who was a leader. We knew who showed up to practice and nervously awaited the explanations of why players were absent. Hell if you were friendly and polite the GCC staff might even share a secret with you.
I remember vividly at the end of a particularly tough practice the team was running gassers. On the last one John Abraham summoned everything he had left and just smoked his group. He was feeling good until Brad Lawing literally charged at him screaming, "YOU LAZY SOB, THE ONLY REASON YOU WON THAT ONE WAS BECAUSE YOU EFFING LOAFED ON THE FIRST THREE! DAMMIT ABRAHAM IF YOU ARE GOING TO LEAD THIS TEAM AND PLAY IN THE NFL YOU GOTTA RUN EVERY TIME NOT JUST ONCE!"
He then made John run three more gassers right then. Lesson learned.
I miss going to practice.......
This is not a criticism of Muschamp. In the hyper competitive and paranoid world of college coaching I understand why I will never get to attend another practice, but still it makes me sad.
Both Holtz and Spurrier knew how to construct a practice where the fans got in but never really saw anything of game day importance. Fans were on one sideline and got to see up close stretching and warmup. Defense did individual drills on the field nearest the fans. Board drills were also done in front of the fans. Anything to do with offense, play calls, audibles, formation, and protections was on the far field out of earshot and the view was obstructed by the drills the D was doing.
But boy did we learn a lot and felt an increased connection to the players and program. Dads took their children to let them see up close their heroes. Lifelong fans were made out of those tykes even if we did have to cover their ears when Coach Lawing was running DL drills. He gave a master class in hand and foot work. Part of the reason we knew early that Deke Adams was going to be a bust was we had seen up close how and what Lawing taught.
Because we were there, we knew who the freshmen were before anyone else. We knew who was in shape, and who wasn't. We saw the naturals and the ones who were grinding. Who had a temper, who was a leader. We knew who showed up to practice and nervously awaited the explanations of why players were absent. Hell if you were friendly and polite the GCC staff might even share a secret with you.
I remember vividly at the end of a particularly tough practice the team was running gassers. On the last one John Abraham summoned everything he had left and just smoked his group. He was feeling good until Brad Lawing literally charged at him screaming, "YOU LAZY SOB, THE ONLY REASON YOU WON THAT ONE WAS BECAUSE YOU EFFING LOAFED ON THE FIRST THREE! DAMMIT ABRAHAM IF YOU ARE GOING TO LEAD THIS TEAM AND PLAY IN THE NFL YOU GOTTA RUN EVERY TIME NOT JUST ONCE!"
He then made John run three more gassers right then. Lesson learned.
I miss going to practice.......
