August 19
We worked hard in the morning today and went in full pads. It was hard, because my legs are just shot. I feel like an old man, this is my fourth two-a-days. I definitely don't recover like I used to. This afternoon I tried to make everything perfect mentally. I had to concentrate hard to use proper technique. I was proud of myself for trying hard. The defense worked really hard. This afternoon, we worked on the kicking game and went over situations. We did some two-minute drills which is up tempo and fun. We definitely can improve as the week progresses. Thursday we start game week so I'm excited for that.

August 17
We just finished our scrimmage and the Bulldog Bash. We went in full pads, but Aryvia didn't scrimmage. Hopefully, he'll be ready for the first game. In the beginning, the defense was doing well. We're working hard and hustling to the ball. We have a lot of things we need to figure out on defense. The main thing is just to hustle, because you can fix a lot of things; but if you're not hustling then you don't need to be out there. We can't have mental mistakes at any point. I'm excited to see the film. We have the night off tonight and all day tomorrow off. I'm going to move my stuff into my permanent room, and I can't wait to hang out and kick back for a little while.

August 16
Today we had a tough day, because this long into two-a-days you're tired and you're beat and your legs are worn out. You just want to rest. Today, we went in shells in the morning. We tried to be physical and work hard. We're still mentally sound. We came out this evening in only helmets, which was really nice. Coach was giving us a chance to get our legs under us before the scrimmage. We did special teams mainly. For me, it was a nice day to take a break. I can't wait to see where we stand as a team at the scrimmage tomorrow.

August 15
Yesterday, we scrimmaged, and today we came out in full pads in the morning. I was pretty sore from our scrimmage. We've been in two-a-days for a while and got out there last night and scrimmaged full pads. We were bustin' it out there. Then this morning, I got up and was so stiff. I think defensively we had an alright day. The main thing that hindered us was just the stiffness and soreness and aches. Guys were making comments about how they felt like they had cinder blocks tied to their legs. We definitely worked hard and tried to work through it. We got better, but there were places where we could have worked harder. We're at a point now where no one really enjoys two-a-days. If they do, they're crazy. It's now just working hard and trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We've got a long haul ahead of us, and we know what we're doing now is laying a foundation for our techniques and stuff as the season goes on. Now, we've really got to build good technique; and it's really something we've got to work on. This afternoon we came out in shells. I'm not a big fan of shells, because we tend to do a lot more running in shells. I'd rather be in full pads and hit people all day. Tonight was probably the worst my legs have felt since two-a-days started - sore and stiff. Of course, we did a lot of running. The team as a whole did get better today. Defense put some new blitzes in to try and mess with our offense and they worked pretty good. I'm excited to run some of them on Saturday. After practice, we got hooked up with some smoothies from Smoothie King. Four more days of two-a-days for me ever, so I'm trying to push it to limit knowing I have nothing to hold back. I've got to work my hardest like I've never worked before, because this is my last dance.

August 14
Today, we had the morning practice off. We came in and lifted weights, watched film and prepared for the scrimmage that we had this afternoon. We got out there about 3:45 p.m. and started scrimmaging, about 60 plays. Kind of stunk, because it started pouring as we went to meetings so by the time we got out there it was a sauna on the field. It was very humid and very hot, and it stunk to have to practice in that. We got out there and scrimmaged and the defense stepped it up. Our goal was not to get any loafs today and just to hustle to the ball. We came close, but hopefully everyone understands running to the ball before the end of two-a-days. The defense looked really good, we practiced hard. After practice, we ran sprints to try and get in game shape; because, we played about a quarter of a normal game and realized we have to keep pushing to get ready for that first game.

August 13
It was a rough day. Everybody was sore after the first day in pads and we've been going for a while. I was wore out. My legs felt stiff. We went to work this morning. The defense had a pretty good day. We were working hard. We realized it's all mental. A lot of the older guys on defense are really picking it up and stepping it up, making sure those younger guys figure it out. We got after it good. We went at it this morning. Coach got on the offense a little bit. It was kind of nice, because we were just trying to bust it. We came out this afternoon in shells. I know for the defense - especially for me, I was just sore and worn out, but we gave it all we had and put it on the line. We had to run later on. We were running and I was wore out. Overall, the defense stepped it up. The defense is always going to be ahead of the offense early on. I don't know. That's just the way it is. Anything we do a little bit better is just basically the fact that it's just easier for the defense right now. You can't really judge it on who does better, but on how hard you're hustling. I know everybody today was just trying to bust it and do the best they could and just try to have a good practice. That was the key thing. The offense wasn't executing perfectly, but they were definitely hustling and giving all they had - blocking through the whistle. On defense when we're running to the ball, we still have to get everybody thinking we have to get to the ball every time. Our hustle has been good. It was a little sluggish this morning. Overall, just for how long we've been in two-a-days, we did well.

August 12
We had practice today and it went pretty good. It was our first day in full pads. We had a lot of hitting this morning, which we extremely enjoy. We got out there in a little 3-on-3 dog drills. Linebackers worked with the D-Line. We tried to get off blockers and stop the running backs in the hole. We did a pretty good job. The guys really stepped up and did a good job. Thad Henderson is awesome. Two guys tried to block him all day, but they didn't do too good of a job. DB's and wide receivers got into it. They did a little score drill. It was a fun day. It was the first day of real contact. The enthusiasm warmed us up. Everybody wanted to go. At the end of practice, coach said we could either stop now or keep on going. Everybody wanted to go and keep on hitting. We had fun this morning. It was kind of funny watching everybody come out and get ready for this afternoon's practice, because everybody was sore and kind of tired from this morning. We went out in shells this afternoon. We didn't too much hitting. It was a light, light day. It's been really neat. Coach Gray has been building mental toughness and making us a good team. I'll say in past seasons we hadn't been as mentally tough as we needed to be. Now, we're stepping up and beginning to realize the importance of mental toughness. Coach Gray is doing an incredible job and we're lucky to have him. There really wasn't anything else exciting to happen today except for being in full pads and trying to get that mindset. I woke up this morning, and it didn't even phase me. I was like, I'm in two-a-days and I just have that two-a-days mode going. Everything just kind of clicks. I've just been thinking two-a-days, two-a-days, two-a-days. It's been all football. You go back to the room and try to get away from it for a little while, but you can't get too far; because it'll be right there in a few hours. It's good. Once the younger guys figure out that mentally, they'll start to come on strong.

August 11
Today's Sunday and we went to church. It was really good. We went to Coach Gray's church. He got up and spoke and did a really good job. Coach (Mike) O'Toole sang a song that was really good. I'd never heard the song before, but it was very powerful. The Pastor today gave a challenging sermon, about how people need to examine where they are and what they need to change about their life. We have to choose what's most important to us. I hope it got to the other guys' hearts. We had some good fellowship afterwards, eating together as a team. We had fried chicken. It was good to sit around laughing. It's kind of funny now when I tell a story about when I was a freshman and say someone's name no one knows who they are. We went out this afternoon in shorts and shirts. It wasn't bad, just trying to execute everything. See you tomorrow.

August 10
What's up this is Matthew. This morning we were in shells and it wasn't that bad. Third day in a row we've been out there so our bodies haven't really adjusted. We were a little sluggish coming out this morning as a defense. Coach kind of picked us up a little. This morning's practice was really fun, because we got to go against the offense. First play, we got a little fight going. I knew the offensive line was ready to go so Rob DeLoach and I mutually decided to pick on each other. You could tell we were having fun. It got everybody ready to go. After that, the scrimmage was a lot of fun. On defense, we need to work on driving our feet and not lunging. This afternoon was fun again because for the first time we got to go against the offense in seven-on-seven drills. We got to hit them a little bit. It's tough getting the pass drops though, because it's something I haven't done before. The offense probably got the better of us but we'll get them back before it's all over. The defense always comes out on top. We had a really good afternoon practice and we ran hard.

August 9
Hey this is Matthew. Practice went well today. We were still in helmets only, but it was the first day we actually ran plays and stuff. That kind of threw us off a little bit. The younger guys didn't really know what was going on. Practice was kind of slow. Coach had to get on to us a little bit. The first defense and the old guys on the second defense really stepped it up. We kept the tempo up and worked hard. I'm excited to see if the guys will keep pushing themselves and not have to make the coaches push us. After practice today, we got in the weight room and lifted weights and it was a little tough because my legs were starting to feel a little shot after doing all this running. I know it will make us stronger. Coach (Tommy) Rohling's got a plan for us, so it will be good. Just about to take a nap, because I am dog tired. Talk to you later tonight.

Hey this is Matthew. The practice for today's second half was hard. We got out there and everybody's feeling pretty sore. Coach puts us in shells for the first time. 15 minutes into it my whole body was soaked from sweating so much. It was really humid. We had a pretty good practice. Coach challenged us to pick it up. I think we did better from the morning practice, but we've still got a lot of room for improvement as far as just working and getting everybody to be a unit. I'm really excited to see what happens with the defensive line. Tonight in meetings, we put in a new defense. The Bears, when they won the Super Bowl in '85, used this 4-6 defense. It's an incredible defense and we put it in and should do really good with it. I just hope we play enough teams where we can run it a lot, because it is made for linebackers. Practice was definitely challenging. Tonight, we ran nine 100-yard strides at three-quarter speed. After the past two days of doing nothing but running, it took it's toll on me. I'm worn out and the biggest thing right now is just hopping in my bed and getting to sleep. I'll talk to you tomorrow.

August 8
It's funny how people think we started our season just a couple of days ago. We've actually been working since last January. It's really been neat to see how all of the guys have been working together. We've come out and had one goal in sight and that's to go far in the playoffs. To see everyone's hard work has really helped. It's put us in a good spot. We're where we need to be, in a position to win a lot of games. We had a conditioning test two days ago. I think it was the best conditioning test I've seen since I've been here. Everybody's in the best shape. A couple guys aren't where they need to be, but they'll get there. Wednesday, we had our lifting and meetings and it was kind of funny. The lifting went really well. I think for the most part everybody came back stronger. I came back at the weight I needed to be, and I'll still lose a little more weight before the season starts. I'm excited and I know that everything's going to work out for the good. This morning went really well for our first practice. It was nice. Coaches weren't getting on us too much. We were all working hard and pushing ourselves. I hope we can continue to do that throughout the season. My main goal for two-a-days is to not have the coaches get on us, because we're not working hard. It was really encouraging to see this afternoon how we came back after a meeting. We, linebackers, realized that we've been taking some strides every practice. We've been figuring the fundamentals of the defense out. Everything works together and it's not just individuals. The first morning practice went really well. We did a lot of running around. I don't know if you'd really call it a practice because we didn't have any pads on. Basically, we were learning where everybody lines up. Came back and had about an hour-and-a-half nap which was nice! That time will be more valuable as two-a-days go on. Everybody was kind of sore after the morning practice. But we pushed ourselves hard and had conditioning at the end. It was good to see everybody running and nobody was really slacking. Defensively, we had guys who looked like they improved a lot, looked like they knew what they were doing on the power drill. Cory Turner and the guys looked really good. So did the D-linemen. This could be one of the best defensive lines we've had since I've been here. Two great ends and I'm really excited to see what's going to happen with them. Darold Williams looks awesome. I can't wait to have him in front of me making plays and making it easier on me. We have to get into these young guys and make them know that we need them and they have to work hard. This isn't high school anymore. I guess with the next couple of weeks, if they don't figure it out then they'll never figure it out. I'm excited to see how some of these young guys step up. I didn't watch any of the offense, but it will be interesting to see what happens. I'll talk to you tomorrow. One more thing...I thought it was kind of funny. This freshman walked by me today and he was like, "Man, college football isn't that bad. I thought you'd have to do a whole lot of running." I just laughed because he doesn't even know what he's getting into. Wait until we put those pads on, he'll understand what college football is all about.