BeltwayVol
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Tennessee opened its 2005 preseason practice schedule Friday with a 21/2-hour workout at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Typical August temperatures greeted the Vols, but head coach Phillip Fulmer said the hot weather did nothing to dampen the teams' spirits.
"I thought we really had a good first day," Fulmer said. "The team is in good shape, including all the guys who had surgeries in the offseason. Our doctors, our trainers and the kids themselves did a super job of getting back, although we haven't had any contact yet."
The Vols will practice again Saturday in only helmets and shorts before adding shoulder pads for workouts Sunday and Monday. Tuesday marks the first day in full gear.
"We've got a mature looking football team," Fulmer said. "Our upper-classmen are doing a good job of trying to lead, and that's encouraging. One day in shorts, we're not going to win any prizes today or anything but it was a good start.
"It's not where you start, it's where you finish and the kids understand that," the coach said when asked about the Vols' No. 3 ranking in the preseason USA Today coaches' poll. "But it's better than starting 33. We've got a real challenge in front of us and we've got to be really mature to handle it."
Among the 105 players on the practice field Friday were five invited walk-ons: wide receiver/defensive back Bram Cannon of Memphis; defensive back Brian Harmon of Huntsville, Ala.; linebacker Anthony McAllister of Knoxville; tight end Rick Daniels-Mullholland of Oak Ridge; and defensive back Derrick Furlow of Hamburg, Ark.
Saturday schedule includes the team's annual Media Day at Neyland Stadium before the squad returns to the baseball stadium later in the afternoon.
"I thought we really had a good first day," Fulmer said. "The team is in good shape, including all the guys who had surgeries in the offseason. Our doctors, our trainers and the kids themselves did a super job of getting back, although we haven't had any contact yet."
The Vols will practice again Saturday in only helmets and shorts before adding shoulder pads for workouts Sunday and Monday. Tuesday marks the first day in full gear.
"We've got a mature looking football team," Fulmer said. "Our upper-classmen are doing a good job of trying to lead, and that's encouraging. One day in shorts, we're not going to win any prizes today or anything but it was a good start.
"It's not where you start, it's where you finish and the kids understand that," the coach said when asked about the Vols' No. 3 ranking in the preseason USA Today coaches' poll. "But it's better than starting 33. We've got a real challenge in front of us and we've got to be really mature to handle it."
Among the 105 players on the practice field Friday were five invited walk-ons: wide receiver/defensive back Bram Cannon of Memphis; defensive back Brian Harmon of Huntsville, Ala.; linebacker Anthony McAllister of Knoxville; tight end Rick Daniels-Mullholland of Oak Ridge; and defensive back Derrick Furlow of Hamburg, Ark.
Saturday schedule includes the team's annual Media Day at Neyland Stadium before the squad returns to the baseball stadium later in the afternoon.
only kidding.
