Heat Doesn’t Slow Bears’ Efforts on First Day of Camp

CONWAY, Ark. — They say football weather comes late in the fall, but for Central Arkansas most players usually equate August heat with that. It’s been that way in these parts since coaches and players started sweating.

Despite the temperatures, it means football is back. For the Bears this year, they didn’t a little sweat slow them down at all.

“We didn’t have to coach effort, the guys practiced the right way,” UCA coach Nathan Brown said later. “It’s warm and I thought we handled that well. And that’s not going to change. But I was excited about us getting back out here and competing and putting the helmet on. Football is officially back here in Conway, the helmets are back on.”

ShunDerric Powell (Ted McClenning / allBears+ Images)

Like I said, the expectations are high after being picked No. 1 in the preseason United Athletic Conference (UAC) coaches’ poll after finishing 7-4 overall a year ago. Brown wasn’t expecting anything else.

“We moved around well, our players practiced with a purpose, which I anticipated happening,” Brown said. “I really wasn’t expecting anything other than that. We have a good veteran group, a lot of guys who have been here for awhile and I thought they set the tempo and tone. That was good to see.”

Oh, don’t think they’re ready to open in a month on the road at Arkansas State. Even with the workouts during the summer they aren’t in game shape yet. There is a difference that a lot of folks really don’t understand. The hitting hasn’t started yet.

“Obviously, there are some assignments that we’ve got to clean up, but we’re further advanced than we’ve been in Day 1 in some years past,” Brown said. “We didn’t have to coach effort, the guys practiced the right way.”

David Walker (Ted McClenning / allBears+ Images)

A lot of coaches aren’t able to say that as football camps at all level will be starting the next few weeks. Some are still coaching how to put their gear on properly. That’s not a problem for UCA right now after working out all summer long.

Still, though, that’s not football shape. Especially mentally. August is when coaches start working on the mind if the body stayed in shape over the summer.

“It’s about growing,” Brown said. “When I say growth, it’s about growth mentally as much as it is physically. There’s going to be a mistake everybody makes, whether that’s an assignment mistake or a technical mistake with their technique. We’ve got a ton of meeting time. That’s part of the fun about camp, you’re in football mode for about 2-1/2 or three weeks of August.

“So we’ll get time to adjust with the guys. My goal with those guys is don’t make the same mistake tomorrow.  If it’s corrected in the media room and the film room, let’s make sure we take that out here (to practice) tomorrow morning and correct that mistake. Look, you’ll probably make another one, that’s part of football, part of sports. But we’ll work on that one as well.”

Will McElvain (Ted McClenning / allBears+ Images)

Now is about the mental aspect and will continue for a week or so. That’s when they start getting ready for the Red Wolves over in Jonesboro. It’s one of the advantages of having an experienced group coming back.

“It’s really about growth, not only with us as a team but with individual effort,” Brown said. “If we get growth individually, it’s going to make our team better.”

UCA will continue to work in helmets on Friday, adding shoulder pads on Saturday and full pads next Tuesday (Aug. 6). UCA’s first partial scrimmage is set for Saturday, Aug. 10.