We’re just a couple days away from the start of practice, so I wanted to mention that I’ll be making posts on this blog after each preseason session. So make sure to check in daily, and please let me know if there’s anything you want me to write about more or less or if there’s a subject I haven’t touched upon that you’d like me to hit.
One thing I’m sure I’ll be writing about quite a bit is the quarterback battle. And, while I’m on that subject, I read an interesting article about QB competitions today. It’s by SI.com’s Ross Tucker, and you can find it here. Though Tucker is dealing with NFL QB battles and some of the things he discusses don’t apply in college, I thought it was a good read.
I don’t know about the rest of your readers, but I really like the “side” tidbits surrounding the team that you often talk about….the behind-the-scenes stuff that you really can’t read about anywhere else….funny things that happen on the field, rituals, great plays, comments that Calhoun and some of the more antimated coaches (Burton, for example) make to the players. Things you overhear them saying to each other are great too. These are not your typical athletes, most of them are both smart and clever and their comments are sometimes hilarious. I like your categories of “who stood out” and “play of the day” and “lasting image” Also—insight on position battles and thoughts on players who have their position locked up….I know, I know….Coach says ALL positions are open, but some are more open than others I’m sure.
Thanks much for the feedback. I’ll plan to bring back “who stood out,” “play of the day” and “lasting image” and maybe throw in another category. I’ll be paying close attention to the position battles – specifically QB, TB, LB and CB.
Thanks again.
-Jake
What time are practices, and are they open to the public?
Thanks.
Kevin
Kevin,
Practices are open to the public, and Air Force coach Troy Calhoun encourages people to attend. It’s a pretty amazing policy, considering I’ve covered teams that close all practices. As far as I know, Calhoun will close only two freshmen-only practices early in August. The rest are wide open. Here’s the early schedule:
Thursday, July 31 – 8:40-11:30 a.m.
Friday, Aug. 1 – 8:40-11:30 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 2 – 8:40-11:30 a.m.
Monday, Aug. 4 – 8:40-11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 5 – 3:05-5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 6 – 8:15-10:15 a.m. AND 2:50-5:00 p.m. *
Thursday, Aug. 7 – 2:30-4:30 p.m.
* – This will be Air Force’s lone “two-a-day” during the preseason.
Classes start Aug. 7, so I think practices generally will be from 2:30 to 4:30, or in that area, for the rest of the preseason.
-Jake
John,
Great idea. I’ll make a special entry for the QBs each day (and, to be sure, drive Calhoun crazy with questions about them).
Thanks for the youtube link. I don’t evaluate a whole lot of tape, but what I saw looked impressive. I think there’s a handful of freshman QBs who could put some heat on the veterans.
-Jake