Note to Our Readers: The following story and images were contributed in their entirety by Mr. Glenn Parrish, Director of Communications, Booneville Public Schools. Thanks to Mr. Parrish for his contribution to RNN Sports!
They call it Bearcat Boot Camp.
Because the first two days of what was once two-a-day practice sessions are now limited to conditioning work, Head Coach Doc Crowley and the Bearcat coaching staff initiated Bearcat Boot Camp last year.
Crowley said the idea behind the project is both to help get players into better shape, as well as an opportunity for team bonding.
It would be hard to argue its success. Multiple players referenced a prank from the 2021 camp in the 2022 Fall Sports Media Guide released earlier this week as their favorite football memory.
This year the players met at 6:30 Monday morning for a day of work that included running in the sand bar at Lake Dardanelle, a paintball war, and later, a dodgeball game in the fieldhouse.
After spending the night in the fieldhouse, today’s schedule started with a run at 5:30 a.m. After breakfast the team went downtown for some community service which, of course, required physical labor.
Some players manned brooms to clean sidewalks in the downtown, others manned shovels to remove dirt and debris from drainage areas along Second Street with the dirt hauled away in buckets or a wheelbarrow by other teammates.
Following more activities throughout the day, including bowling and lunch, there will be a conditioning practice, a steak dinner/swimming party, complete with a wiffle ball home run derby, at the home of a player.
Wednesday morning players will go through their first day of helmets and shoulder pads before breaking camp.
Practice on Thursday will be, perhaps, the most typical, followed by a 10:30 p.m. practice on Friday to satisfy the fifth practice before a full pad practice at 12:01 Saturday morning.
