SAN ANTONIO – In the peak of summer with temperatures reaching well above 90 degrees, the sounds of helmets and pads clashing, and players hollering at one another can be heard throughout the University of Texas at San Antonio campus.
Welcome to "The Birdcage."
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“Offense against defense, man against man, we been waiting and that’s what gets us going in the morning,” said Kevin Strong Jr., sophomore defensive end. “We start out with a little hitting and that’s what gets practice going and keeps the energy alive.”
Having practiced in a split squad-style system the past days – rookie players in a morning session and veteran players in an afternoon session.
With music blasting and hands smacking on helmets, "The Birdcage" drill named after the popular Oklahoma drill – ultimately signified the beginning of team unity, but of course with a little competition between the offensive and defensive teams.
First-year UTSA head coach Frank Wilson said he liked the physicality he saw from the players in "The Birdcage" with the added competition – offense challenged the defense by winning the drill 5-4 – but added he would like to continue seeing that energy-level throughout the year.
“We practice one-way, full speed (and) we try to mirror the National Football League and so we tell them to practice like young pros,” Wilson said. “Our team, whether we have been in full pads or just helmets, has practiced at a tempo that allows us to be at our very best.”
Becoming fundamentally sound and continuing to build off the intensity – much like from the birdcage drill – are one of the many challenges the Roadrunners will have to face in order to become a championship-ready football team.
And it starts and ends with every player at every position.
“It’s the core of what we do in everyday football, at every position in playing with leverage and power angles and the things that are necessary to be successful,” Wilson said.
"The Birdcage" represents a new era of college football at UTSA, and the Roadrunners are looking to break out of the cage and make some noise this upcoming football season.