Stomach Bug Shortens Sunday Football Practice
8/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
WINSTON-SALEM, NC -- Wake Forest head football coach Dave Clawson and his staff cut Sunday's practice short which only made sense because the Demon Deacons were short-handed. A stomach virus sidelined a group of players on Saturday and 10 players missed Sunday's practice which was shortened to just over 90 minutes.
"There's just a little stomach bug going around and it's hit about 10 of our guys," said Clawson following the workout. "Unfortunately, about half of them are on the D-line. We had a few missing yesterday but five of our D-linemen (missed today). So we shortened practice a little bit just because we don't have much depth on the defensive line so it's hard to have a (full group). It's a 24-hour thing so we're trying to keep the guys who are sick away from the others."
Clawson reiterated that the virus is short term and will not have any long term impact on the team as the sports medicine staff combats the illness.
"We had more water breaks for hydration," said Clawson. "All over the building, we have hand sanitizers and we're just making sure they don't pass it from one to another. There are guys who are already back from it. It appears to be a 24-hour bug. (Offensive tackle) Phil Haynes, he looked good today and he missed yesterday with the bug. (Quarterback) John Wolford looked good today and he missed (practice) yesterday."
Mondays' practice marks the first in full gear for the 2015 Demon Deacons. And the full gear will change the atmosphere of Monday morning's 7 am practice.
"We want to hear practice tomorrow," said Clawson. "Especially for some of the younger guys. The older guys, we've seen them go live and we know what they can do. But for the younger guys, it separates the men from the boys."
The Deacons will have their first double session on Tuesday with practices at 7:45 am and again at 7 pm. Wednesday, Wake Forest will practice at 1:30 pm before another double session on Thursday.
Wake Forest opens the 2015 season at home with Elon on Thursday, September 3 at BB&T Field.
