EHS football faces big day Thursday

By Jeremy Wise

Published: August 7, 2008

Thursday is a big day for Alabama High School Athletic Association teams, but it’s even bigger for Enterprise High School.

Not only will the Wildcats get to practice in pads for the first time in fall practice like everyone else, they will also return to a normal practice schedule.

Ever since the March 1, 2007, tornado took Enterprise High School’s building, the school has been on a modified schedule, with classes in late afternoon.

Consequently, the football team did not get to practice until 5 p.m. or sometimes practiced in the morning.

EHS Wildcats head coach Kevin Collins said Thursday will be a big change.

“We’re getting to start about an hour-and-a-half earlier than we have in the past 17 months,” he said. “It’ll take some time to get used to it.”

Collins said the change will be a big adjustment for juniors, who have not been through a “normal” EHS schedule.

“They’ll be able to adapt to it,” he said.

Collins said the change will be of benefit to the Wildcats.

“It helps in recovery, and not just physically, but mentally,” he said.

After winning the first four games in 2007, the Wildcats went 3-4 in their final 11 games.

The schedule change not only affects when the Wildcats hit the field, but it also affects when they weight train and watch film.

“It is switching gears,” Collins said.

In addition to the change in schedule, Collins said he is looking forward to getting into pads.

“The summer program has really turned into (what) two-a-days (were),” Collins said, adding that two-a-days were wiped out by the early onset of school. “We are where we need to be. It gets back to basics: blocking and tackling.”

Official football practices started Monday in which Collins said “tempo” and “getting the team aspect” are established.

He said he hopes that practicing in pads will not interrupt that tempo.