Aug. 11, 2004

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Dreary, autumn-like weather welcomed the Lafayette football team as it took the practice field for the first time on Wednesday. By the end of the three-hour session, however, the clouds had broken and humidity made it feel more like August. The Lafayette coaching staff wasted no time on Wednesday, opening practice with a series of timed sprints to test the players' conditioning level entering camp. Despite what were, at the time, soggy conditions, the Leopards passed the running test with flying colors. "I was extremely pleased with the condition of the team," said fifth-year head coach Frank Tavani. "We had only three guys that didn't pass the test. Obviously you'd like to have 100 percent pass, but to only have three out of 96 in camp not pass, I'm very happy with that." Due to NCAA regulations that went into effect last season limiting the number of allowed two-a-day sessions, the Leopards will conduct one, three-hour practice every day through the weekend. Each session is slated to begin at 1:30 p.m., with the players drilling in helmets only Wednesday and Thursday, helmets and shoulder pads Friday and Saturday and finally wearing full pads on Sunday. The first double session is scheduled for Monday. "We liked how things worked last year, so we're following essentially the same schedule," Tavani said. "We're practicing during the afternoon now to get acclimated to the time of day when most of our games will be played. And one of the good things about only having two-a-days every other day next week is that there is less physical wear and tear on the players." Thursday's schedule will mirror Wednesday's, with the continuation of weight room testing in the morning followed by positional meetings, a single afternoon practice and additional positional and team meetings in the evening. Tavani has also tentatively scheduled an intrasquad scrimmage for Aug. 25. The scrimmage will serve as the Leopards' lone practice that day and will begin at 1:30 p.m. at Fisher Field. Lafayette opens the 2004 season at home on Sept. 4, hosting Marist at 1 p.m.