Camp Opens to Cool Temps

Aug. 5, 2013

Fall Practice 1A | Camp Video Highlights

IOWA CITY, Iowa– In at least one way, the start of football camp mirrors Monday’s weather in the Hawkeye State.

When the University of Iowa took to the grass fields in the Kenyon Football Practice Facility, temperatures were an unseasonably cool 64 degrees Fahrenheit. Everyone knows it can and will heat up in a hurry, especially since there are only 25 days to prepare for the Aug. 31 opener against Northern Illinois.

“This is my 40th camp and it’s the nicest weather we have ever had on opening day,” UI offensive coordinator Greg Davis said before assessing the first-day results. “I’m pleased where we started, but we have a long way to go. That’s what camp is for.”

The Hawkeyes will once again use a split-practice format for the first few days. While the veterans go through the paces in the morning, the rookies take over in the afternoon.

“It gives you a chance to show by example,” UI junior receiver Kevonte Martin-Manley said. “Then it gives you a chance to teach while the younger guys go through it (in the afternoon).”

Players wore shorts and helmets for the first morning practice that lasted less than two hours. But plenty was accomplished during that time.

“We threw a lot at them today,” Davis said. “We probably threw several days of instillation in on the first day so that we could get it on tape and teach off it. I was pleased with the attitude and the way they worked.”

It was easy to see the presence of a high energy level. The key is to maintain that as much as possible throughout camp.

“There was a lot of hype out here today and the key is continuing that for the whole three weeks,” UI senior free safety Tanner Miller said. “We work all summer for this time and now that it is here, we have to take full advantage of it. It was a good first day and a good place to start.”

“You expect it on the first day, it’s about Day 9 or 10 when we need that same energy,” added Davis.

Single-game tickets for all seven Hawkeye home contests inside Kinnick Stadium are available on hawkeyesports.com. Iowa opens the season Aug. 31, hosting Northern Illinois at 2:30 p.m. (CT).