The 2011 football season kicked off for the Missouri Tigers Thursday afternoon on the Kadlec Athletic Fields, and there was a definite air of excitement as the team went through the paces of a two-hour workout in unseasonably cool weather conditions.
Just two days after Columbia experienced record temperatures that officially reached 108 degrees,
Gary Pinkel's team practiced Thursday in 83 degree weather, with a steady breeze to keep things cool.
The players practiced in shorts, and per NCAA rules, will not be allowed to go in full pads until next week.
"It was a real good first practice, I was a little concerned Tuesday with the weather, and this practice in the afternoon," Pinkel said. "Lucky break here, the weather was good, I think we had a good workout, now things will crank up tomorrow.
You're limited with what you can do with just helmets on, but I think it's the best way to acclimate players to the pads.
Overall, good work and we'll add drills tomorrow, some one-on-one, some option drills, every day we'll add a little bit more," he said.
Team captains were chosen by the players Thursday afternoon, and the captains for 2011 will be a quartet of accomplished senior leaders: TE Michael Egnew, LT Elvis Fisher, SS Kenji Jackson and DE Jacquies Smith.
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