Tiger Football Returns to Practice

Aug. 16, 1999

CLEMSON, S.C. – After a day off from practice to meet with over 5,000 Clemson fans at Littlejohn Coliseum, the Tiger football team returned to practice on the fields behind the Jervey Athletic Center. Monday was the sixth of seven two-a-days sessions for Tommy Bowden’s team.Tiger Football Returns to Practice

Clemson worked for close to six hours on Monday, in full pads for 2 and a half hours in the morning, and for nearly three hours in the afternoon in shorts and shoulder pads. Tuesday will be the final day of two-a-days as classes will start at Clemson on Wednesday. The two-a-day sessions will conclude with a scrimmage on Tuesday night.

The scrimmage will be closed to the public.

“We will try to simulate game conditions as much as possible,” said Bowden, who is preparing for a 6:00 PM season opener against Marshall on September 4. “We will start the scrimmage at 6:00 PM so we can see what the sun angles are.

“We will take 10-play drives, similar to what we did in the spring. We will test the sun for the receivers and quarterbacks. We will work on the two-minute drill and kicking quite a bit on Tuesday. When we practice in shorts and helmets in the morning we will work a lot on kicking.

“The tempo will be the same as we run in a game. I will be looking for playmakers tomorrow. What quarterbacks can take the team for a score, what backs can get in the endzone.”

With the day of rest, some players who had been injured returned to practice, or were at least upgraded. Offensive guard Akil Smith was in a green jersey, which means limited practice. He should be ready to go by the scrimmage on Tuesday evening. Brandon Rouse, a defensive lineman who had missed the last three days of two-a-days with a knee problem, was back at full strength. Tight end Pat Cyrgalis, who was out with a bruised calf muscle, was also back.

Javis Austin, a junior from Clemson and Daniel High School who scored two touchdowns against South Carolina last year, was also back after suffering a dislocated shoulder last week. Joe Don Reames, a wide receiver who missed Saturday’s work with a concussion, was back to full strength.

Gary Byrd, a second-team offensive guard, missed the day while recovering from a foot injury. Offensive tackle Brady Washburn was the only new injury. The former Gatorade Player of the Year from Arkansas is suffering from pneumonia and could miss a week of practice.