Football tryouts draw 100

CSU-Pueblo football took another step towards becoming a reality Wednesday afternoon. Coach John Wristen and his staff held open tryouts for the team that will play the first season of Thunderwolf football in more than two decades.

More than a hundred young men showed up on what turned out to be a very warm September day at Dutch Clark Stadium. Everyone was hoping to catch the eye of the coaching staff and secure a place on the nascent squad as a small crowd of nearly 50 spectators looked on.

After registration, which began at 11 a.m., Wristen’s staff broke the prospects up by position and got down to business with the respective coaches. There was a group of 47 wide receivers and defensive backs who paired off for drills. Tight ends and quarterbacks combined to number 34 with 16 offensive and defensive linemen and a handful of kickers and special teams’ personnel.

The first round of drills consisted of agility and speed exercises followed by position drills. Finishing up with some wind sprints Wristen said, “This is your chance to show me you really want to be here, that you’re willing to work hard.”

Cries of “Keep your head up!” and “Don’t you lay down on me” started coming from the coaches between sprints as the men began to sag from the heat and exertion.

“Only 351 days, it’s only 351 days until opening day,” said Wristen to fire up the tired prospects. During the final round of wind sprints coach had the hopefuls yell out “Beat Panhandle,” (complete with a repeat because the first effort was not satisfactory) a reference to the Thunderwolves first opponents, Oklahoma’s Panhandle State.

Despite plenty of water on hand and a break, the sun eventually took its toll on the potential players. There was an abundance of huffing and puffing, cramps and even a few would be football players vomiting along the sidelines as the heat and intensity of the day mounted.

After the coaches had seen enough the group was called together for a final address from Wristen and his staff.

“Welcome to college football men,” said Wristen to open things up. The coaches thanked everybody for showing up and expressed excitement at the number and quality of those that turned out. “It’s (college football) not for the faint of heart,” said Wristen.

He emphasized the importance of academics and the responsibility of being a conscientious representative of a team among other things. “As a football player you have to remember that the spotlight is going to be on you,” said Wristen.

The coach finished by telling the aspirants that the coaching staff would be getting together to review and that letters of notification would be coming soon. Wristen advised anybody who made the team to be aware that spring training would take place at Dutch Clark while the T-Wolves home is under construction. In addition, the field will only be available between 7 and 9 a.m. so players will have to schedule spring classes accordingly.

The staff thanked everybody again for their hard work and reiterated their excitement about what they had seen.

After the mid-field meeting broke up the session continued for kickers and punt returners.

The event lasted nearly five hours finishing up just before 4 o’clock.

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