JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State football team practiced in shells for the second day in a row Saturday morning, dodging an afternoon thunderstorm by minutes following the final huddle.
 
The Gamecocks powered through the fourth day of camp – a point in the fall when Coach John Grass says the days seem to begin running together.
 
"It was a good Saturday morning practice… I am surprised I know it is Saturday," Grass joked. "It's like Groundhog Day. You lose track of what day of the week is when you're in the middle of fall camp.
 
"But these guys are doing a really good job. I like the chemistry of this team right now, and our coaches are doing a really good job of teaching. We're getting better every day. It's all about fundamentals and developing talent after you get past the physical aspect of the game. We're building up a tolerance."
 
The second practice in pads saw some hard hits when the red jerseys were lined up opposite the white jerseys, but Grass said he likes the toughness of his team and drive after two days in shells in the hot morning heat.
 
"Practice is a lot more physical with the pads on. You hear more licks, but we're doing a good job of taking care of one another and getting better. I saw a few weak legs and some fatigue today, which we're expecting going into the fourth day of fall camp, but we pushed through it."
 
Much of the Gameccoks' tolerance and sustained energy to the August heat is attributed to a better understanding of the human body, Grass said following Saturday's session.
 
"It's all about recovery. I think we're so much more educated now, as coaches, than when I began coaching 30 years ago. We know better now how to take care of players, and we're able to teach the players how to take care of themselves. We want them to have good nutrition, drink a lot of liquids and be aware of what they are putting in their body. They visit the training room daily – which isn't there just for injuries. The training room is there as a recovery and preventative tool."
 
Tomorrow morning's practice gets ramped up with the addition of full pads. Despite the bulked-up look the Gamecocks will have on the field Sunday morning, Grass said he expects fifth practice to look no different than the first four.
 
"Aside from two little knee pads, it won't change it a lot. I want us to look the same regardless of if we're in just headgear, shells or full pads. That's unless we're in a scrimmage situation. Sometimes we will take a part of practice to where we do some ground stuff, but it should all look very similar."
 
For more information on the JSU football team, follow the Gamecocks on Twitter (@JSUGamecocksFB) and Instagram (@JSUGamecocksFB). For more on all Gamecocks sports teams, follow the official social media accounts of JSU Athletics on Twitter (@JSUGamecocks), Facebook (Facebook.com/JSUGamecocks), Instagram (@JSUGamecocks) and Snapchat (@JSUGamecocks).