• Wes Bloomquist •
• Originally published August 2, 2009 at 11:45 p.m., updated August 3, 2009 at 12:10 a.m.

• FIRST-WEEK PRACTICE

  Memorial VipersMonday-Friday

  8 a.m. - 1 p.m. at MHS senior campus

  St. Joseph FlyersMonday-Friday

  7:30 a.m.- 9:30 a.m.; 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 a.m. at St. Joseph campus

  2008 Advocate-area playoff teams

  Class 5AMemorial Vipers ...

• SHOW ALL »

FIRST-WEEK PRACTICE

Memorial VipersMonday-Friday

8 a.m. - 1 p.m. at MHS senior campus

St. Joseph FlyersMonday-Friday

7:30 a.m.- 9:30 a.m.; 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 a.m. at St. Joseph campus

2008 Advocate-area playoff teams

Class 5AMemorial Vipers (Div. 1, bi-district finalist)

Class 4AEl Campo Ricebirds (Div. II, regional finalist)

Calhoun Sandcrabs (Div. II, regional finalist)

Class 3ACuero Gobblers (Div. I, semi-finalist)

Yoakum Bulldogs (Div. II, area finalist)

Goliad Tigers (Div. II, bi-district finalist)

Wharton Tigers (Div. II, bi-district finalist)

Class 2ARefugio Bobcats (Div. II, quarterfinalist)

Hallettsville Brahmas (Div. II, area finalist)

Karnes City Badgers (Div. II, area finalist)

Industrial Cobras (Div. II, regional finalist)

East Bernard Brahmas (Div. II, regional finalist)

Tidehaven Tigers (Div. II, bi-district finalist)

Class 1AGanado Indians (Div. II, semifinalist)

Shiner Comanches (Div. I, quarterfinalist)

Woodsboro Eagles (Div. II, bi-district finalist)

Yorktown Wildcats (Div. I, bi-district finalist)

TAPPS Division IISt. Joseph Flyers (regional finalist)

TAPPS Division IVSacred Heart Indians (regional finalist)

St. Paul Cardinals (regional finalist)

The Swine Flu scare shut most teams down last spring, but nothing is going to stop football teams from starting practice on Monday.

All Advocate-area schools, besides Calhoun, begin their football seasons Monday with four days of conditioning drills before strapping on the pads on Friday.

Last spring, El Campo, Memorial and Bay City canceled spring practice when the UIL put a ban on athletics for two weeks because of the Swine Flu. The Sandcrabs conducted it's spring practices after the ban was lifted and will not start until next Monday. Only Class 5A and 4A teams have the option of spring practice.

"Almost everyone in the country who had spring practice would like to trade places with us and have this week to start working out," Memorial head coach Mickey Finley said. "This extra week, that we're not used to, could really come back to help us. I think it's a big plus."

The Vipers, coming off a 5-5 record and their first trip to the playoffs since 2005, start working out at 8 a.m. and will finish at 1 p.m. Finley said he's optimistic leading into the season and has seen a lot of dedication from his players over the summer to report to practice prepared.

"You assess and improve your conditioning these first four days," Finley said. "You get them used to the heat without the pads and teach them what you need to."

St. Joseph is coming off an 8-4 record last year and a disappointing 38-24 loss to Dallas Christian in the regional round of the TAPPS playoffs. The Flyers start practice at 7:30 p.m. and will finish at 12:30 p.m. on Monday.

"The big thing we're looking to do is fill in our offensive and defensive lines," said John Mares, who is only two wins away from his 100th win as the head coach of the Flyers. "We feel really good about the rest of our team, but we lost a lot along the lines. We are ready to come back to work with a good attitude."

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