TicketsAug. 13, 2007
WEST HARRISON, Ind.-- The University of Cincinnati football team moved to Higher Ground Conference & Retreat Center on Monday morning and held its first practice on the 268-acre site's fields in the afternoon. On a busy day, Cincinnati traveled 30 minutes and exchanged its Nippert Stadium surroundings for a more scenic setting across the Ohio-Indiana border.
"Our first impressions out here have been outstanding," stated head coach Brian Kelly. "The staff and volunteers here have been great. It's a first-class facility. I bet there a lot of professional franchises that would like to have a facility like we have here."
The support staff, consisting of football operations, team equipment managers, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, and video operations personnel, began making the transition weeks ago. The preparation from the support team translated into an easier move for the Bearcats.
"The most important things today were checking in and practicing," commented Kelly. "We are still learning where are rooms and meetings are located. The new members of the team are still getting used to the new grounds."
While the lack of high-speed Internet and the comforts of residence and off-campus housing may be inconvenient, the amenities at Higher Ground make up for it.
The first-year head coach added, "The geography is much better here. We have two fields and that makes a big difference in terms of when you are doing drill work. We don't have our guys jammed up against each other. The facilities help us in being effective in our practice. If we could bring our professors out here, we might stay under November."
Conducting their third two-a-days of 2007, Cincinnati returns to the fields for practices at 9:05 a.m. and 3:05 p.m. on Tuesday.
--GoBEARCATS.com--