Aug. 8, 2005
The 2005 Notre Dame football season officially began on Monday, Aug. 8, 2005, at 3:45 p.m. when the Irish took to the practice fields on the west side of campus. As per the team's usual tradition, the Irish will practice on the west side of campus - adjacent to O'Neill Family Hall and the Hammes Bookstore, for two weeks. The location allows the team easy access to the new air conditioned dormitories, South Dining Hall and gives the program a "training camp" feel.
The Irish will move back to Cartier Field for practice on Aug. 16.
After the first practice on Monday (and after the team went through the media day activities earlier in the day), Irish head coach Charlie Weis met briefly with the media.
""I was happy with the condition of the team and how physical they were, and how our players took care of themselves," Weis said.
"I was a little disappointed at our mental carry over from the spring to today. I keep telling them this first week is going to be like cramming for final exams. They need to stay on top of things mentally."
Notre Dame will practice from 2:15 - 5:15 p.m. for the rest of the week - a mandatory `acclimation period' put forth by the NCAA. The first two-a-day practice will be Saturday, Aug. 13, with the morning session at 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. and the evening session from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Keep a close eye on www.und.com for all the updated information from Notre Dame's preseason practice schedule.
All photos by Alan Wasielewski.
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Offensive coordinator Michael Haywood give some quick pre-practice thoughts to several offensive players during the team's stretching exercises.
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Everything at Notre Dame's practice is team-oriented, including a helping hand for each player during stretching.
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Defensive coordinator Rick Minter talks with Dan Stevenson (#74) and Bob Morton (#76) during the team's stretching drills.
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Though difficult to pick out in this photo - the practice was threatened by a summer thunderstorm that just skirted campus. The team truly did "shake down the thunder," however, as constant rumbling thunder accompanied the first 20 minutes of the team workout.
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After a particularly loud thunderclap, Coach Weis walked over to briefly speak with his staff about the upcoming weather. On top of the situation, the Irish trainers and support staff knew that the storm was predicted to miss the southwest side of campus.
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Director of Strength and Conditioning Ruben Mendoza puts the team through its pre-practice stretching routine every day.
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The team huddles together for the first time in the fall of 2005 - they will quickly break off into position groups for agility/warm up drills.
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Coach Weis keeps a close eye on the running back group drills - and will visit each group drill during the next section of practice (which will range from 10-15 minutes).
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Assistant head coach for offense and offensive line coach John Latina gives Ryan Harris (#68) some pointed direction as the teams split into groups.
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After Harris shows the way, the rest off the offensive line takes off for their run through the drill - Bob Morton (#76), Dan Stevenson (#74), Dan Santucci (#50) and Mark LeVoir (#73) are pictured.
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Although wearing a red jersey, which designates him as a no-tackle player in practice, junior Brady Quinn (#10) isn't allowed to skip agility drills. Here he leads the quarterbacks/receivers through a warm up drill.
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Possibly the top two threats from Notre Dame's receiver corps follows Quinn through the agility drill - seniors Maurice Stovall (#21) and Rhema McKnight (#5).
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An idea of Notre Dame's preseason practice area on the southwest side of campus. O'Neill Family Hall is not pictured, but is just out of the frame on the right hand side.
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Another perspective photo of the practice area, this time looking toward the southwest. This also gives you another idea of the dark clouds that just missed hitting the practice fields on Monday evening.
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