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Published 8/11/2008 in Sports : GCCC
By BRETT MARSHALL
bmarshall@gctelegram.com
It was nearing 5:15 p.m. Sunday and the Garden City Community College Broncbusters were closing in on the conclusion of its second day of fall football practice. It was a cooler than usual day and the 85 players who greeted second-year head coach Lucas Aslin and his staff were standing on the sidelines, hands on hips, some bending over, out of breath.
The players were running gassers -- runs that take a player across the width of the field and back; and then a second time, and then a third, and so on. This time, Aslin had them running five gassers. On the final one, two players, who were already across the finish line, ran to the end of the field to encourage and escort the last player to the sideline.
It was that type of effort that was encouraging to Aslin, who guided the team to a 7-3 record in his inaugural season.
"We've got a lot of freshmen and we've run them a lot in the first two days," Aslin said. "It's too early to make any real assessment until we can get the pads on, but I like the enthusiasm. I feel more comfortable with just everything that we're doing and we've recruited all of these kids. They're our guys -- I love the work ethic that they've shown so far."
The Busters, who go into the 2008 season ranked No. 9 in the NJCAA poll, open at Cisco Junior College in Texas on August 30. Fall practice continues today from 3 to 5 p.m. and then two-a-days Tuesday (7 a.m./3 p.m.) and Wednesday (3 p.m./7 p.m.).
"We're just trying to get a lot of the teaching stuff done before we get the pads on," Aslin said. "Team meetings with position coaches and just getting the kids, especially freshmen, comfortable with what we expect from them."
What Aslin expects from his players is play hard every play, if you're currently listed as a No. 2 or 3 position player, practice as though you're a No. 1 because you're going to have to play in the season opener at Cisco. The heat in Texas will force platooning many positions in the opening game, Aslin said.
With just six returning starters, Aslin will be looking for some of the freshmen to play big roles.
One of the starters is quarterback Eugene Smith, a 6-3, 205-pounder from Pensacola, Fla. Smith was still smiling even after the grueling two hour, 15 minute practice Sunday.
"We've been running harder and I think this year the freshmen are more determined," Smith said. "So far the freshmen are working hard to take the spots from the sophomores and more of them are stepping up to lead."
Smith, despite playing almost the entire season injured, still managed to earn second-team all-Jayhawk Conference honors and was a Region VI All-America pick. He broke a bone in his non-throwing left hand in the fourth quarter of the season opener and the next week he broke the bone in the thumb of his throwing hand. He played all nine remaining games with those two injuries and had several other minor ones as well.
"I'm excited to start the season healthy and look forward to seeing what I can do without injuries," Smith said. "I feel like I worked hard a year ago, earned the respect of my teammates and coaches. I think they trust my decision-making and that's the relationship that will help us be better this year."
Smith said he anticipates better and quicker decision-making on the field than a year ago when he was learning the system.
"We've got a major change in how the game will be played and we're working hard on the 40-second clock," Smith said.
The quarterback's reference was to a rule change that now stipulates when the ball is downed on one play, the 40-second clock immediately starts and the offense has 40 seconds to get the next play snapped.
"It will dramatically change the way the game is played," Aslin said. "Now, if you have a 50-yard play downfield the clock starts and other players are going to have to run down the field and get ready for the next snap."
Aslin indicated that the Jayhawk Conference athletic directors voted to approve the addition of another official who will sit in the press box and manage the 40-second clock rather than put the burden on the field officials.
"We've already started stressing to the kids that this is an important change and we've got to be prepared for it from the start of the season," Aslin said.
The Broncbusters were huddled in their small position groups with coaches at the end of practice. Players were tired but attentive. They then came into one big mass of huddle. The leader in the middle yelled out to the group, "One, two, three," and all responded in unison -- "Championship!"
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