Pirates Prepare For First Full-Pad Session
August 04, 2008 | Football
Aug. 4, 2008
GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina completed its final tune-up before engaging in full-gear work with a two-and-a-half hour practice in shorts and shoulder pads at the Cliff Moore Practice Facility while taking advantage of cooler temperatures early Monday evening.
Beginning Tuesday, the Pirates will don full pads for each of their traditional workout sessions, which includes the preseason camp's first of three official two-a-day practices scheduled for Wednesday.
"It was nice to get a little break from the heat but I know we'll have our work cut out for us the next few days with some of the forecasts I've seen," head coach Skip Holtz said. "We obviously need to get acclimated to those conditions with our first two games at noon and 4:30 p.m. and there's no doubt we will during the duration of camp."
Similar to Sunday's workout, ECU turned in a lively 15-minute 11-on-11 enhanced team session at the end of practice which featured rotating offensive and defensive units working on timing and repetition elements of its respective schemes. In addition, the East Carolina coaching staff conducted three hours of team, special teams and position meetings, lifting sessions and walk-through simulation during the morning prior to practice for the second consecutive day.
"There's an incredible amount of competition out here this year and that certainly helps our program continue to grow and develop," Holtz added. "There's a good nucleus of talent on both sides of the ball and I think they play off and challenge each other very well. With so many returnees, we've been fortunate to be more in a polish mode earlier than any other time since we've been here."
NOTES: Several returners requested uniform number changes for the 2008 season while many others, including all freshmen and newcomers, were issued their "new identity" by ECU's equipment staff Monday ... Some of the more significant changes involving those who experienced playing time last year include P Matt Dodge (42, from 14), CB Darryl Reynolds (11, from 21), TE Willie Smith (89, from 94), WR Javon Brumsey (85, from 84), DB Spencer Hampton (43, from 27) and WR Wes Pittman (28, from 26) ... All number assignments can be viewed by accessing ECU's 2008 Roster. Tuesday's Practice Time: 3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.; Season Opener: Aug. 30 vs. Virginia Tech (12 noon) in Charlotte, N.C. (Bank of America Stadium).
