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Head coach Richard Barrett has held many practices at Kennedale High School and he starts each season the same…with a midnight workout.
Today is the first day of UIL football practice for teams that did not have spring drills. All volleyball teams also begin workouts today. {{more}}
Entering his 14th season with Kennedale, Barrett and the Wildcats started 2014 at 12:15 this morning. Barrett has gone through a midnight routine in all 20 years he’s coached high school football.
?I heard someone else was doing it and thought it was pretty cool,? Barrett said. ?It caught on, the kids here like it and they get excited being under the lights and the weather is cool so it’s a great thing.?
Friends, family and fellow students stayed up and gathered in the stands at Wildcats Stadium to witness the team?s first session of conditioning drills. Players go to full pads on Friday.
?It’s good for them to come out and see what we do everyday. They get a chance to watch and support us, so it’s real good for the team,? said senior running back Juwan Washington, a second-team All-State selection in 2013.
?The kids appreciate it. You don’t usually see people sitting in the stands during regular practices,? Barrett added.
All three teams, freshman, junior varsity and varsity, participated in helmet-only drills, which included position drills, offensive-only snaps and sprints.
?We know we’re going to have holes to fill. Let’s start right now, let’s see where we stand and what we got so we got ourselves a good start,? Barrett said.
Barrett holds one midnight practice per year as the Wildcats will go through 6:30 a.m. practices now, starting on Tuesday.
The Wildcats enter the season with 13-straight postseason appearances.
