by Matt Moore

Created on: May 22, 2009   Last Updated: May 26, 2009

It's a crisp fall Saturday afternoon. Your adrenaline is pumping, and you can barely contain yourself. This is what you work for. Its game day and you are a college football player running out of the tunnel to your schools fight song and thousands of screaming fans.

Fans of college football are seeing a finished product on game day. Most of us have never experienced or have ever seen what leads up to a game. Preparations for an upcoming game begin on Sunday fallowing the previous game.

On Sunday any players that need treatment for any injuries are to report to the training room by 7am. At 9am players meet with there position coaches to break down film and go over mistakes that were made and how to improve. During the meeting most players get an earful from there coach. As much as you try to execute each play to perfection, mistakes will happen and the coach will let you know about it. After breaking down film the players meet as a team with the head coach talking about their next opponents. At 11am the players take the field in warm up suits and helmets, and start with a light jog around the field to loosen up and work the kinks out. Its important the day after a game not to sit around and let your muscles tighten up. After a light jog and stretching the players get their first look at their opponents offense and defensive schemes. They conclude practice with a few sprints. The players spend the rest of their Sunday usually calling family hanging out the teammates but most have to study.

Since the NCAA requires that student athletes have 1 day off a week, most programs choose to take Monday off. College athletes schedule there classes in the morning since the afternoon is spent concentrated on football. Players that are injured are still required to report to the training room for treatment. And there is still Mandatory study hall on Monday night.

Tuesday through Thursday is basically the same schedule. Classes in the morning, players needing treatment have anytime up until they have to get ready for practice to report to the training room. At 2pm players meet with their position coaches to watch film of their opponents and go over the game plan backwards and forwards so everyone knows their assignment. At 3pm players start warming up and stretching. A practice is usually 3 hours long in full pads. After stretching players break up in to their individual positions to work on their technique and strategy for their opponent. For the last hour of practice

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