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Commodores Dodge Storms During Two-Hour Practice to Open Preseason 8/12/2004
Commodores Dodge Storms During Two-Hour Practice to Open Preseason 8-12-04 On Campus in Nashville – Head Coach Bobby Johnson wasn’t going to let a little lightning and rain stop the Commodores’ first preseason practice Wednesday. Click here to view a photo gallery of the first day of practice. Ninety-four Commodores participated in the two-hour and 30-minute session which ended at 9:15 p.m. The practice, which focused on conditioning, individual instruction and team teaching, featured a 30-minute weather delay just as the squad began to warm up and a heavy rain that fell during the the final stages. The players were prohibited from full contact and did not wear full gear in the session. The first practice in full pads is scheduled Sunday. Despite the weather, Vanderbilt Head Coach Bobby Johnson was pleased with the effort and intensity his squad displayed in the drills. “It was pretty good for a first day of practice,” Johnson said. “I saw energy from a lot of guys, and I thought there was a conscious effort by our guys to try to do the right thing. No, it wasn’t the best weather, but overall, I was pleased.” Several players were upbeat as they entered the locker room. “What I like more than anything is the attitude and the effort,” junior captain and two-year quarterback Jay Cutler said. “The overall team attitude is the best it’s been since I’ve been here. “We’re in the third year of the system, so guys just know what they are doing and better understand the system and expectations. We understand the task in front of us,” Cutler added. The Commodore offense got started early, staging a 15-minute walk-through before Strength and Conditioning Director John Sisk blew the whistle to officially open the session at 6:15 p.m. Within minutes, the players were back in the locker room due to a brief thunderstorm. The coaches went straight into fundamental instruction when the threatening weather subsided. Each position coach spent a half hour working with his players until Coach Johnson called for a 15-minute session devoted to Commodore special teams. The final hour was dedicated to team teaching in non-contact 11-on-11 drills devoted heavily to position coaches reinforcing correct techniques and reads, with the “A” and “B” units of both the offense and defense getting numerous repetitions. Practice Visitors Representatives of most media outlets in the area were present for the practice, including Nashville television stations WKRN-2, WSMV-4, WTVF-5 and WZTV FOX 17. Writers from the Associated Press, Nashville Tennessean and Nashville City Paper and reporters from local radio stations WGFX FM-104.5 and WTN FM-99.7 also watched the festivities. Also spotted on the sidelines were several members of the Commodore women’s basketball squad, including center Carla Thomas and guards Dee Davis and Cherish Stringfield. Upcoming Schedule The Commodores are expected to conduct one practice on Thursday and Friday, each starting at 6:15 p.m. Those practices are open to the public. Starting Saturday, Vanderbilt practices will be closed to the public. The team is set to practice Saturday at 3:00 p.m., and Sunday at 9:00 a.m. Dore Jam III, the official Fan Day for Commodore athletics, is scheduled Sunday afternoon at the John Rich Complex. Several additional Commodore athletic programs will participate in the two-hour free event that includes a variety of kids attractions, activities, prize giveaways and autographs from your favorite Commodore player and coach. |
