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 Head coach Dennis Wagner addresses the team at Sunday morning's first practice. |
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Aug. 3, 2008
Catamount Football Practice Photo Gallery
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina officially opened practice for the 2008 season early Sunday morning on the turf at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field under first-year head coach Dennis Wagner. The first session lasted just over two hours in helmets and jerseys.
The Catamounts will have 24 practices before opening the '08 season on Thursday, August 28 against Shorter College.
"It's great to get started," said Wagner following the two-hour session Sunday morning. "There has been a lot of hard work done over the summer and you can see that in the first day of practice. The guys are bigger, stronger and faster and it's good to have the players here that weren't here over the summer to add to our group. Now, as coaches it is are job to mold and fit this team into a unit that works together and does things the right way."
"I wish we could have stayed out there a couple of more hours as we have a lot more work to do. But the time we spent on the field was very productive and the guys worked hard," Wagner added. "It is important once you step across the boundaries and onto the football field that you play full speed. So, we try to incorporate that in everything we do. We sprint to the next drill and go full speed when it's our turn and that carries over to the playing field."
The schedule for WCU most days includes a practice session in the morning beginning at 8:00 am with team and position meetings through the afternoon. Preseason workouts also include afternoon sessions in the weight room, as well as meetings with individuals throughout the athletic department and across campus.
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Two-a-days begin on Friday, Aug. 8, which will include a morning session and one mid-afternoon beginning at 3:30 pm. The Catamounts will have 20 practices in anticipation of the annual "Meet the Cats" scrimmage on Aug. 21.
