The FIU Football team practiced
twice Wednesday at FIU Stadium under a steady rain. After
working out in full pads over a 90-minute morning session,
the team came back in the afternoon for a two-hour session
in shorts and shoulder pads.
Despite the inclement conditions, head
coach Don Strock seemed genuinely pleased
with the workouts. So pleased, in fact, that the team was rewarded
after the morning workout by not having to run gassers, which
have been a post-practice tradition.
“It was a good day. Hey,
we’re in South Florida and we might play a game or two
under these conditions,” said Strock. “But they
worked hard. There was great hustle on both sides of the ball.
It seems like they are starting to understand what we’re
trying to get done. I was very pleased.”
The coach says his staff is still experimenting
with personnel positioning but come next Monday, with two weeks
before the season opener against Indiana State, all that should
change.
“By [Monday] we’ll
start putting our units together,” Strock said. “We
have an idea now where some things are going to fall, but
you never know what will happen because of injuries.
“We like some of the younger players
in certain positions so we’ll stop moving them around
and have them concentrate on only one area. The young linebackers,
for instance, are playing both the weak and strong sides. Come
Monday, they’ll be playing only one or the other, so
they can concentrate on exactly what they’re supposed
to do instead of going through the learning process.”
There were no new injuries, with running
backs Tori Robinson (Southridge) still awaiting
a cardiology clearance and O.J. Price (Pembroke
Pines/Flanagan) having a magnetic resonance imaging test late
Wednesday for a right shoulder injury.
The Golden Panthers return to FIU Stadium
for practice Thursday morning in full gear beginning at 9:30
a.m. Practices are now closed to the public, except by invitation.
FIU starts the season on Saturday, Sept.
6 in Terre Haute, Ind., against Indians State. The Golden Panthers
open their home slate on Saturday, Sept. 20 against nationally
ranked Bethune-Cookman. Call (866) FIU-GAME for ticket information.
