ASU Hornet football players hard at work this summer

The summer days are a little different around the Alabama State football complex of late. There's a little life around the place. Throughout the morning and into the afternoon on most days, dozens of players are on the Hornet Stadium practice field, going through drills and battling the summer heat.

Last year, which was the first time ASU paid for all players to attend summer school, Bruce said around 25 players showed up to workout in the 6 a.m. group. This year, there are routinely more than 40 in that group, and there are two additional groups (at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.).

The Alabama State Hornets will open the Coach Joe Taylor era at Florida A&M University on August 30 at Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, FL. This game will be the season opener for both the Hornets and Rattlers.

"Having so many guys on campus during the summer is a huge advantage for us," said ASU head coach Reggie Barlow, who is currently attending the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' training camps. "They are getting together on their own. They're planning workouts and 7-on-7 themselves, and doing everything possible to make the most of the summer." During these summer workouts, the coaches can have no input. They can't even watch.

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