Carson High football players were treated to hot weather for their first two practices of the 2012 season.
The Senators, dressed in shorts, jerseys and helmets, worked out from 8 to 10:30 a.m., and then came back 60 minutes later and practiced for 90 minutes. The weather was in the mid-80s for the early practice, and then climbed into the mid-90s for the second workout.
The temperature on the field turf was over 100, and the sprinklers were turned on briefly, at least during the second practice.
Coach Blair Roman said the key in situations like Thursday, and temperatures could reach 100 today, is keeping the players busy.
"The biggest thing is that you have to keep things moving; limit the standing around, " Roman said. " It's hard to focus and concentrate (in really hot weather). We tried to keep the periods shorter and gave them lots of water breaks."
It was a weary group of players who walked off the field, sweat streaming down their bodies. Most of the players took it in stride. It will get tougher next Monday when they wear pads for the first time.
"It's going to be hot (this time of the year)," said offensive lineman Aaron Cowee. "We've done it before. We just have to get through it. It's just a mental thing. We're all in good shape. We passed the Senator test (conditioning) or we wouldn't have gotten our gear."
"I don't remember it being this hot last year for the first practice," said Logan Krupp, who plays defensive end, wingback and wide receiver. "We just have to get mentally stronger. You feel it in your legs after that first practice. You get stiff between practices, so you need to get stretched out before you go out again."
Cowee said when it gets hot, he just tries to focus on one thing.
"I want to win," he said. "I want to go to state."
No doubt there are 46 other players who share his dream.
Carson will practice twice today and then once Saturday morning before the annual Kickoff dinner Saturday at the Carson Nugget.
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Dayton completed its fourth day of conditioning and went through its first double workout of the young season.
The NIAA allowed teams to get four days of practice in because of concerns about heat acclimation.
Rob Turner, Dayton's second-year head coach, has 30 players on his squad this season.
"It's a little less than we had last year," Turner said. "We had a lot of first-year players last year. The buy-in is good, and there is a lot of enthusiasm among the kids. The coaches are always enthusiastic."
The enthusiasm is nice to see. Dayton started fast last year, but ended the season with four straight losses.
"The (Wing-T) offense is in its second year, so things are moving better." Turner said. " You can tell the kids have more experience in it."
Turner said Dayton will don pads for the first time on Monday.
The Dust Devils, who scrimmage at Yerington on Aug. 18, will open their season Aug. 31 at Spring Creek.
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The Division I football schedule is a tough one to figure out. For instance, Carson is hosting Douglas for the third time in four years. Go figure.
Roman said Thursday that this year's homecoming game which was slated against Reed on Sept. 21 may end up being a Reed home game instead.
If that's the case, Carson would be on the road for five straight games.
"I have four voicemails, so maybe one of them will tell me what's going on with the situation," Roman said. "Both (Reed and Carson) were assigned a home game. If they do that (make us play at Reed), that means we'll have five straight home games which is ridiculous and not fair."
Roman said that if the Reed game is changed, the game against Manogue would likely be the homecoming game. The only problem with that s it's in late October, and the weather is always dicey that time of year.
