Hey, it’s progress.
Only three players failed Ron Prince’s conditioning test, and for their negligence, their fate is the dreaded and ever-shameful physically unable to perform list.
In past seasons, the number of Wildcats on the PUP – which usually applies to NFL teams but why go down that road in this post? – has reached double digits. Heck, Josh Freeman flunked the test twice last year, but we all know by now that he focused on lifting and not conditioning during the last off-season.
But, and you knew this was coming, I have questions about the PUP. Why is it only designed for veterans? Understandably, there is no reason for anyone who has experienced a fall camp to come in physically unprepared. I get that. But why don’t the same rules still apply for newcomers, especially junior college transfers, those players who supposedly have more experience than incoming freshmen?
This was Prince’s quote from last year’s media day:
“The veterans should never have a time where they do not pass the test. Our expectation is that they can do it. They are going to take it every day until they do pass. It would be irresponsible, especially in the climate that we practice and play in, to put players out there who are not physically conditioned and ready to go.
“What it does is give reps to somebody else, and that’s a positive thing.”
Agreed on all counts, but if you’re serious about the safety and welfare of your players, the newcomers should abide by the same set of rules. If the test defines whether Wildcats can handle the climate, as Prince suggested, then it should also define whether the newcomers can handle it as well.
Makes sense to me.
6 Comments
Don’t over think this one. Let Prince do his thing, the PUP list is the least of our concerns.
Any word on our party boy Kwamaine?
Also, isn’t Prince keeping a tighter lock on summer practices this year, as in not allowing media in?
If so, should we expect a slow couple of weeks here from JMart?
Your subtle swipes at Prince do not go unnoticed.
Good post as usual Mr. Martin. Ahead of the crowd as always.
Hopefully X man never passes the test so this season he can actually redshirt.
No no J Mart, you’ve got it all wrong. The JC transfers and probably most of the newcomers all had winning seasons, unlike the current veterans. That in itself ought to give them a leg up at the start of the camp. At least that kinda seems like a plausible explanation – or maybe not.
X man has to play or no depth. Prince indicated that they are going back to the 4-3 full time.
Can someone tell me the rules again for the conditioning test?
I believe the newcomers have to take the test it’s just not reported in the paper.