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Tigers Resume Two-a-Day Practices

by LSUsports.net (@LSUsports)
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Tigers Resume Two-a-Day Practices

BATON ROUGE — Fresh off of its first single-practice day on Sunday, the LSU football team returned to its two-a-day practice regiment on Monday morning at the LSU Practice Facility.

After practicing in full pads for the first time during Sunday’s Fan Day in Tiger Stadium, Nick Saban’s Tigers continued to endure the heavy contact and hot weather as the Sept. 2 opener approaches.

“We had three straight two-a-days coming into it,” Saban said. “I thought the enthusiasm was good, but I thought we were a little sluggish, which is to be expected at this time during two-a days. The players bounced back and tried to do it this morning again and we’ll try and do it again tonight.”

The team practiced from 9:30 to 11:30 Monday morning and return to the field at 7:30 p.m. for the second half of the two-a-day.

The Tigers open the season against Western Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m. in Tiger Stadium. Fans may purchase tickets online now, right here on LSUsports.net! Call the LSU Ticket Office at 225-388-2184 for more information.

LSU students, who begin classes on Monday, Aug. 21, may pick up football tickets ordered through REGGIE beginning Tuesday, Aug. 15 at 8 a.m. Starting this season, students were not charged for the tickets on their fee bills and must pay for the tickets when picking them up. LSU students must pick up these tickets by Friday, Aug. 25, or risk losing the opportunity to purchase them.

Quotes from LSU head coach Nick Saban:

On QB Rohan Davey……..

“He participated in everything everybody else did. I would say he’s probably about 90-95 percent. I think his conditioning level is probably not what it needs to be. He doesn’t have any problems with his leg. He has no swelling. He doesn’t have any soreness. I think he’s favoring it (the leg) a little bit, but probably mostly because he’s wearing a brace he’s not used to. We want to keep progressing him and make a decision about whether he’s ready to play. A lot of it has to do with how he feels about it too. But right now he feels good about what’s he’s doing and what he’s trying to do and how he’s trying to get better.”

On intensity of coaches during practices…….

“I think it’s always important but I think it’s especially important now. You want the players to play. But to be positive and encourage the players to keep pushing through it , to keep their focus and concentration on what they’re doing in times like these, these are the dog days of two-a days. When you get into that fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh day, they (the players) don’t see an end in sight. They’re starting to get tired. They’ve been hit enough and been hitting on each other enough that this hurts and that hurts. I think coaches have to push the players through that so they continue to get something out of practice. That you get them to practice with focus so that you’re actually accomplishing something out there and you don’t allow them to lose focus and you don’t continue to make progress. The players have responded for the most part and when you get on them a little bit and they respond that’s good.”

On LaBrandon Toefield RB…….

“He’s played well. He’s running the ball well. I think he’s a good inside runner. He’s physical and he’s powerful. I’d say he’s a north-south guy I thin we need a guy like that who’s hard to tackle and can push the pile a little bit. I think he and Tommy Banks can both do that. We’re pleased with the way he’s played and the progress that he’s made.”

On team’s performance so far…..

‘I’m pleased with the way we’re practicing. I think we’ve got some guy’s who are struggling a little bit stamina-wise. I think when you have young football players…I think 18, 19, 20 year old guys struggle with stamina and endurance and mental toughness and maturity more than 22-23 year old guys. I think when you have an older football team you have a better chance for more guys to be able to manage adversity and difficulty because their knowledge and experience allows them to do that. But I think we’ve got some young players who are doing a really good job of providing leadership and I’m pleased with the way things are going so far.”