The Alabama State University football team got back on the practice field Thursday afternoon with a two-hour practice at Hornet Stadium. The Hornets return to practice Friday at 3 p.m. and will scrimmage Saturday at 9 a.m. 

Throughout the first month of the practice season, the Hornets have endured practice sessions in combinations of various forms of attire (full pads, no pads, shoulder pads/shorts), weather (heat, rain, humidity, cooler temperatures), time (early morning, mid-morning, mid-afternoon, early evening), and even thunderstorms that cancelled practice. 

Thursday was another 'first' for the team in August – practicing after being the 'student' portion of student-athlete: fall semester classes began Wednesday. 

After a slow start in today's practice, the intensity and performance improved. 

“I really believe because of the semester beginning and their minds have been everywhere – they've been in class, solidifying their schedules, getting books, etc. – initially you didn't feel the energy and enthusiasm,” head coach Reggie Barlow said about the start of the full pads practice. “From a focus standpoint, I think they were there. Early on I was disappointed, but as practice continued, I saw some guys playing fast and playing with energy and enjoying themselves out here. Our conditioning at the end of practice, I thought the guys did a really good job with that also.” 

Barlow was pleased at how the players overcame the beginning of practice to finish strong, something he believes could be a critical reminder during the season. 

“I really like analogies and those things that are direct correlations to life and football,” Barlow said. “It will come a time where things will happen on gameday this season and we're going to have to focus and overcome it and be able to do what we need to do. We'll be able to use this and naturally we'll talk about, to remember this day where we had a lot of distractions and things going on, and we have to stay focused when you are in the rectangle so we'll able to make the plays we need to make. I think we have a mature group of core guys that get it and we're proud of that.”