INTENSITY

That's the word that comes to mind when I think about the Texan football practices going on this week.

From the coaches to the players, the intensity is well... intense.

"These guys have come out here the last three days and given everything they have had," said Tarleton head coach Sam McElroy. "They are out here flying around and executing. They are focusing and doing a good job of working hard."

From the faces on the coaches as they interact with players to the players themselves, one can tell they know kickoff is just 18 days away.

Starting quarterback Scott Grantham has embraced the team leader role and makes sure the offense is focused, even when it is not his turn to call the signals and touch the ball.

"We have a lot to do out here over the next couple of weeks to prepare for the season, so we have to be focused throughout the entire practice," Grantham said. "We get out here and help and encourage each other. We have to be intense if we want to win."

McElroy said the intensity should last throughout the season.

"We will work hard to keep the intensity througout the year," the fourth-year head coach said. "Of course, it will grow as we approach Aug. 28. We don't have the intensity we have just for show, it is because we really love this game and we really love these guys and want them to do well. We want to put them in the best position possible to be successful. I think it's good to have intentsity, and there is definitely no shortage of that around here."

Take a look at the photo album on the Training Camp web site to see some more intense pictures as well as pics from the rest of the day.

The dictionary defines intensity as a high degree of emotional excitement; great energy, strength, concentration; exhibiting a high degree of some quality or action... I would define it as Tarleton Football.

Texan Tidbit - The Texan donned shoulder pads for the first time on Sunday as the full squad practiced together for the first time. The freshman had been practicing for the last two days in the morning while the varsity was practicing in the afternoons. Today, they joined forces and had a good practice after the whole team attended services together this morning at Rocky Point Baptist Church.