Pantagraph.com - Sports - Summer plays big role in preparing players

The first official football practice was coming to an end Wednesday morning for Normal West High School. Coach Darren Hess put his Wildcat players through conditioning tests made all the more difficult by muggy weather conditions.

West's standout tight end-defensive end, senior Cody White, seemed to be breezing through the tests. The chiseled White -- looking lean and mean at 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds -- ran the mile in less than seven minutes, showing no effects from four operations he has endured on his left foot.

Hess knows what he has in White, who is being recruited by several Big Ten Conference schools along with Illinois State. Thanks to having up to 25 days with his team in the summer, White has a better idea what he can expect from his younger teammates.

"In the spring we had a lot of question marks. We came here in the summer and a lot of those questions were filled," said White. "A lot of kids impressed the coaches and impressed us. It was fun to see."

The first day of football practice isn't like the first day of school anymore.

Three years ago, the Illinois High School Association approved a rule allowing coaches in all sports (except baseball and softball) the opportunity to have 25 days of contact with their athletes in the summer.

The rule might have been made with basketball in mind. But football could be the sport that benefits the most.

With only 12 practice days before the first game on Aug. 25 (and no pads allowed the first three days), area football coaches use the summer to speed the learning curve in the fall.

"Basically we try to get most of our pass offense in," said Central Catholic coach Bobby Moews. "We work a lot on the skill positions with our passing offense and passing defense. Once the season starts, we concentrate more on the run game and brush up on the pass game."

Kyle Hundman will be in his first year as the Saints' starting quarterback, replacing Matt Pelton. Hundman was the backup QB and a starting wide receiver last season. He was grateful for the summer workouts.

"It helps a lot. You get to work on your timing with the guys," he said. "We have some new guys in skill positions. It helps get a feel for each other and a good handle on the offense."

White also got a chance to work with his new quarterback, junior Todd Albert.

"I saw huge, huge steps for his timing. He's been looking better every day," said White.

Many area coaches, including Bloomington's Rigo Schmelzer, said they don't come close to using the 25 days allowed. Schmelzer had a four-day-a-week camp for three weeks, and the Raiders also participated in three passing tournaments.

"For us, 15 days is more than enough," said Schmelzer. "What's more beneficial is once we start we get a week-and-a-half of doubles this year because of when school starts.

"I would argue that coaches do too much (in the summer). We could put pads on them, but we don't do that. There are other things going on like vacation and baseball games. We want them to have fun in the summer."

El Paso-Gridley coach Mike Souhrada agrees. The Titans lifted weights in the mornings and worked on speed drills and technique later in the day. Souhrada never put his players in pads.

"There's a fine line between working kids and getting burned out," said Souhrada. "Football season is long enough as it is."

With many of his players competing in baseball and going to basketball tournaments, Prairie Central coach Brian Hassett used about half the time he was allowed.

Yet the Hawks accomplished what Hassett wanted in their camp and 7-on-7 passing tournaments at home and Kankakee Bishop McNamara.

"The kids are spread thin and there's no sense wearing them out in the summer, but those days are pretty important," said Hassett. "We just work on basic fundamentals of offense and go over base running plays. We added some stuff and deleted some in summer through clinics and seeing and talking to other coaches.

"We don't do much hitting. For a school of 720 (students), you only have a certain amount of players on your team."

Hess said he came close to using the allotted 25 summer days. Like most coaches, Hess prefers not to risk injury in the summer by putting on pads and going full contact.

West had a three-week camp, going four days a week, along with a 7-on-7 league every Tuesday in July and a couple passing tournaments.

"It gives you a better sense where you're at with your players, their abilities and talents, helps you evaluate that way," said Hess. "The first three days (of practice) we'll review what we've been doing the last three weeks. The whole pace gets a little better and faster."

West fullback/linebacker Jordan Flex knows the summer helped with conditioning and preparing for the physical toll of the next three months. Flex also believes team chemistry benefits.

"Camp helped do that, get people to know each other and help get us trust and teamwork together so when we get here we're already working as a team," said Flex.

The area's top college prospect, 300-pound lineman Josh Brent of Central Catholic, said summer workouts set the tone for the rest of the season.

"It gets the freshmen in here and sort of learn what we do and what type of things to expect before we get to two-a-days," said Brent, who is ranked No. 21 among defensive tackles nationally by rivals.com . "Once we get here, they're not overwhelmed.

"Conditioning (in the summer) is hard, too. Basically you go through what you do in two-a-days. Everyone helps each other out and tries to help everyone do their best."

16 days and counting

High school football practice officially began Wednesday, with the season openers only 16 days away. Here are some of the top games in the area on the opening night of Aug. 25:

Big 12

Bloomington at Decatur MacArthur; Champaign Central at Normal Community; Normal West at Champaign Centennial.

Corn Belt

Eureka at Central Catholic; Prairie Central at Mahomet-Seymour; Olympia at U High.

Heart of Illinois

El Paso-Gridley at Lexington; Heyworth at Flanagan; LeRoy at Fisher; Tremont at Ridgeview; Deer Creek-Mackinaw at Fieldcrest.

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