Florida A&M players endure the heat during tests

 LaVante Page

Tallahassee, FL - Running back LaVante Page could have been speaking for any of the other Florida A&M football players who endured Thursday's scorching heat to prove their physical condition by running a 300-meter shuttle drill.

"It's burning," said Page, the last player to complete the test that was supervised by strength and conditioning coach Russell Barbarino on the team's practice field. It culminated a series of physical testing for the Rattlers that included power clean, bench press, 225-pound rep test and the vertical and agility jumps.

A handful of players who succumbed to the 90-plus degree heat will have to give the 300-yard run between cones another shot to earn a passing score. The team begins preseason practice on Wednesday, following another round of physical drills, Barbarino said.

"This kind of test not only determines if a person is in shape, but it tests...

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