Boulder – The two-a-day practice problem for Colorado coach Gary Barnett is all about picking up slack.
That slack is a reduced opportunity for Barnett to instill mental toughness into his players through the multiple – and sometimes back-to-back – physical challenges of two-a-day practices. But the NCAA nixed that before the 2003 season when it changed rules to reduce the number of two-a-days and prohibit coaches from holding them on consecutive days.
It has been a weight on Barnett’s shoulders.
“There’s no replacing two-a- days,” Barnett said. “There’s just something really important about having to pick yourself up and go to the second practice that day when you’re tired and your legs are weary. It develops a toughness and a camaraderie.”
Today is the first of four days of two practices for the Buffs. Last season, CU scheduled just three. Barnett’s teams historically haven’t been the fastest starters, so he has needed every bit of help from two-a-days.
“The mental toughness that you normally would have developed in early camp, you’ve got to figure out a different way to do it,” Barnett said.
With three years of streamlining his schedule under the new guidelines, Barnett hopes to hammer that mental toughness into his team through meetings.
There are more position meetings at night than ever before.
“All your night meetings become critical,” Barnett said.
Last season, CU rode the new strategy, in part, to wins in its first three games. It was the first time CU started 3-0 under Barnett.
Players are happy to not have to go through the two-a-day grind. A few even remember when Barnett put players through three-a-day practices.
“I’m not complaining,” senior wide receiver Evan Judge said. “When I got here there were 10, I think. An easy day was a single day.”
Still, Judge and senior tight end Quinn Sypniewski acknowledged the value of two-a-days, but said the team could get its toughness in other areas.
“I think we can still be mentally tough; we just have to do it in a different way,” Sypniewski said. “You have to go 100 percent from the beginning of practice to the end.”
Mackey out for season
Tests run on wide receiver Blake Mackey revealed a torn ACL, which will keep the sophomore from playing this season. Mackey was listed second on the depth chart. The Buffs could have used his ability to make plays downfield. He led CU in yards per catch (16.0) and receiving yards (417) in 2004.
Surgery is scheduled “in the next week to two weeks,” CU trainer Steve Willard said. Mackey should be able to starting jogging in three months and is expected to be full speed by spring football in 2006.
Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-820-5455 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
