Florida A&M's players and coaches aren't exactly scared of the afternoon temperatures that sent thermometers racing to 100 degrees each day this week. But FAMU coach Rubin Carter figured both sides in the thermal warfare have already made their point.
That's why Carter is beginning his team's practice session today at 8:45 a.m. He wants his players to enjoy a morning practice before the mid-day sun gets too nasty.
"I think it will help everyone," Carter said following a Wednesday-afternoon practice that saw temperatures once again soar near the 100-degree mark. "We all will benefit from moving it up."
Players survived another brutally hot afternoon that saw the heat index - or what the temperature felt like - reach 110 degrees. The Rattlers continued working out in helmets and shorts and spent much of the 2 1/2 -hour practice session with the offense and defense seperated.
Photo: FAMU head football coach Rubin Carter, right, speaks with offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Bob Cole prior to the first team meeting of the 2007-2008 season, April 5, 2007.
Only a few players needed heat-related treatment, thanks in part to a dark cloud that sent the sun home early just in time for the wind sprints that closed practice. Carter said he had no complaints about the cloud's arrival.
"I don't think the players complained either," Carter said. "I think the players felt a lot better after where the heat index has been the last few days. But these are the adverse weather conditions that you have to press through. The way we structure our practices, we have to be pretty smart to make sure the players are staying hydrated and have a lot of rest between their reps."
With first-team tailback Demitric Henry still slowed by a minor injury, three Rattlers earned quality time working in the backfield.
Andre Jacobs, a redshirt freshman from Ocala, and Greg Arline, a redshirt junior from Lake City, worked primarily with the first and second teams. Freshman Philip Sylvester, from Marianna, worked with the third team.
"It feels good getting an opportunity to run with the 1's and learning the offense better," Jacobs said. "When the team needs you, you have to be ready."
Carter said he liked the extra workload carried by all three backs.
"They are able to get a lot of mental reps because we're not really going offense-defense right now," Carter said. "That's when the pace is a lot faster and where you will see players flashing in front of you with the linebackers and d-ends and all. So the conditions are right for them to go at a slower pace and be able to learn the terminology in the offense and also the fundamentals and techniques of what they are doing."
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