Football Works Out In Full Pads

Aug. 13, 2002

NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma football team donned full pads for the first time during two-a-days this morning, but head coach Bob Stoops and his squad saw their evening practice cut short due to heavy rain and the threat of lightning.

Commenting on the first day of action in full pads, Stoops said he was happy but a noticeable difference from the team's first several practices didn't exist.

"Whether we have bottoms on or not, we always try and stay off each others' knees and legs regardless of how we work," said Stoops. "It wasn't a whole lot different, just what we were wearing."

The Sooners practiced for an hour this evening, halted for 15 minutes and then resumed for 10 more before Stoops called practice for good, to the delight of several players. Practice ended at 7:25 p.m., 35 minutes prior to its scheduled conclusion.

Temperature Drop
The OU players enjoyed a morning practice not usually experienced during two-a-days. Overcast skies and breezy conditions yielded cooler-than-normal temperatures.

When asked about the unusual August weather following today's morning practice, Stoops said with a smile, "It's a lake effect. It's what it's like in Cleveland. And like Coach (Kevin) Wilson had up at Northwestern with a breeze off the lake. I didn't know Lake Thunderbird got that cold. I think it's great and it's good for the players."

Wednesday's Scrimmage Open to Public
OU will scrimmage Wednesday at 6 p.m. inside Memorial Stadium for approximately two hours. The scrimmage is open to the public with the only available seating on the stadium's west side. Due to ongoing construction, the only stadium entrance currently open is gate 1, which is located at the southwest corner of the stadium near the former location of the OU Athletics Department Ticket Office.

Stoops said the team will likely work on special teams and short-yardage situations to open the scrimmage before opening things up and moving the ball. According to Stoops, the first-team offense will face the first-team defense for much of the evening. However, the second-teamers will have the opportunity to face each other, as will the third-teamers. Placekicking and punting will also be incorporated into the scrimmage.

Commented Stooops, "We'll still have a lot of practices and scrimmages (after Wednesday's scrimmage), but it will start to give us an indication of who the guys in the second units are who can help us win."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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