Colorado wide receiver Scotty McKnight chuckled when asked whether he was a “morning person.”
“I guess I’d better be,” he said.
For the 2010 season, Colorado coach Dan Hawkins plans to move the team’s daily football practices from their usual late-afternoon slot to the morning.
Early morning.
On a typical day, according to CU sports information director David Plati, players will arrive at the Dal Ward Center for meetings at about 6 to 6:30 a.m. After being taped, they’ll start practice around 7:45, usually going two hours.
Plati confirmed that players and academic advisers have been instructed to avoid scheduling classes this fall during that morning window. Plati, who began working in the sports information department in the late 1970s, said he is not aware of any CU team scheduling morning practices for an entire season.
The University of Oregon conducted morning practices during the 2009 season. Hawkins was out of town and unavailable for comment.
“The team is generally excited about it, being able to start a day with football,” said McKnight, who will be a senior. “It’s going to be a change. This team needs some changes. Maybe this will rejuvenate us. It’s just going to take some self-discipline and self-control to get going that early.”
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
