First Day in Pads ‘Like Christmas Day’ For Soddy Daisy

Soddy Daisy, TN-(WDEF) Monday was the first day Tennessee high school football teams could put on the pads for the upcoming season.
Soddy Daisy was eager for the physical contact, although the players and coaches knew it was going to be a grind on a hot summer day.
Said Trojans defensive line coach Tyler Phillips-“First day in pads. It’s almost like Christmas Day for us. Being big guys, we get to get out there and be a little nasty.”
Said head coach Justin Barnes-“That first day in pads. There is a little bit of over-aggressiveness, but it’s always a little better to say whoa than sic’em.”
Said Phillips-“Actually the whistle I got on right now. I’ve already chewed the rubber off the end of it. Chomping at the bit to get out here.”
Said lineman Own Vice-“It’s fun. I like the hitting and everything, but it it a little hot.”
Added linebacker Ty Boeck-“Well, it’s going to be a long day. You just kind of have to face it and deal with it.”
Said Barnes-“You don’t want a ton of down time. They’ll fade in and out, so you want them moving at all times. We always try to practice at game speed as much as possible.”
Reporter-“What is that one-on-one drill like? How would you describe it?”
Said Boeck-“It’s a lot of fun. Your will against his. Just hitting each other as hard as you can.”
Reporter-“Describe what the locker room smells like after the first day in pads.”
Chcukles Phillips-“The first day in pads. You go in the locker room. It hits you in the face so hard, you want to turn around and walk back out.”
Said Barnes-“I think it’s 25 days until the first regular season game today, so we’re full steam ahead.”