UO Football Practice Recap: Dec. 20
by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
Venue: Moshofsky Center
Format: Helmets only
Oregon held its final practice in Eugene prior to the Rose Bowl on Saturday morning, getting an early start so players had plenty of time this afternoon to travel home for the holidays.
The Ducks will reconvene on Dec. 25 in Los Angeles to resume preparations for their New Year's Day matchup with Florida State in the College Football Playoff. Most players will get there independently, though a few in-state guys and others from around the Northwest will be on the normal team charter out of Eugene.
Today's format was along the lines of a Thursday, the Ducks' walk-through day. So there was no hitting, although plays were run closer to full-speed, as opposed to the "no-sweat Thursday" mantra when a game is two days away. "Good job staying dialed in," UO coach Mark Helfrich told the Ducks before they broke practice. "Now, can we maintain — or ascend — during the break?"
There was a festive spirit in the air, with Christmas music added to the soundtrack that plays during practice. Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You," Bruce Springsteen's version of "Santa Clause Is Coming To Town," etc.
Another conspicuous addition: the "tomahawk chop" employed by Seminoles fans. DeForest Buckner started chanting it during field-goal drills, and soon enough the entire blocking unit for placekicks had joined him to try and distract kickers Aidan Schneider and Matt Wogan. But Schneider was unfazed, drilling a 52-yard field goal to cap that period of practice.
After practice, the equipment staff began loading the trucks for the Rose Bowl trip. It will be a two-day drive for the trucks; one member of the equipment staff and one from the video department will be joined by two EQ managers who happen to live in Los Angeles to begin unloading the trucks at the team hotel Wednesday. The rest will be unloaded at the practice site Thursday.
Editor, GoDucks.com
Venue: Moshofsky Center
Format: Helmets only
Oregon held its final practice in Eugene prior to the Rose Bowl on Saturday morning, getting an early start so players had plenty of time this afternoon to travel home for the holidays.
The Ducks will reconvene on Dec. 25 in Los Angeles to resume preparations for their New Year's Day matchup with Florida State in the College Football Playoff. Most players will get there independently, though a few in-state guys and others from around the Northwest will be on the normal team charter out of Eugene.
Today's format was along the lines of a Thursday, the Ducks' walk-through day. So there was no hitting, although plays were run closer to full-speed, as opposed to the "no-sweat Thursday" mantra when a game is two days away. "Good job staying dialed in," UO coach Mark Helfrich told the Ducks before they broke practice. "Now, can we maintain — or ascend — during the break?"
There was a festive spirit in the air, with Christmas music added to the soundtrack that plays during practice. Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You," Bruce Springsteen's version of "Santa Clause Is Coming To Town," etc.
Another conspicuous addition: the "tomahawk chop" employed by Seminoles fans. DeForest Buckner started chanting it during field-goal drills, and soon enough the entire blocking unit for placekicks had joined him to try and distract kickers Aidan Schneider and Matt Wogan. But Schneider was unfazed, drilling a 52-yard field goal to cap that period of practice.
After practice, the equipment staff began loading the trucks for the Rose Bowl trip. It will be a two-day drive for the trucks; one member of the equipment staff and one from the video department will be joined by two EQ managers who happen to live in Los Angeles to begin unloading the trucks at the team hotel Wednesday. The rest will be unloaded at the practice site Thursday.
