CRAWFORD | Louisville's first practice was more sweat than sizzle — and designed that way | Sports

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The first day of football practice is a little like the first day of school. Nobody’s turning in a final exam. But everyone’s taking notes on how you show up.

Louisville opened fall camp Wednesday morning under hot skies and higher expectations. The start time — just before 10 a.m. — was meant to help beat the heat.

It didn’t.

The heat in Louisville in late July is undefeated.

Still, there’s something about the first day that feels more important than the rest. Coaches often treat it like a declaration. Vince Lombardi liked to open by holding up a ball and saying, “Gentlemen, this is a football.” Bear Bryant’s first practices were famously physical. Nick Saban zeroed in on the smallest details. Even Bill Belichick — now at North Carolina — always favored mental sharpness over early contact.

Louisville’s Jeff Brohm used to fall in line with that old-school approach. A disciple of Howard Schnellenberger, Brohm believed in early intensity. But not so much now.

“Believe it or not, the first practice is talked about way more than you would even think — and debated,” Brohm said after practice. “Some of the coaches disagree with me. We go back and forth. But the key for me — because I make the ultimate decision — is getting out there on the field for a good long period of time. … It may not seem as juiced up, but we get a lot of work in.”

LOUISVILLE FIRST PRACTICE-20.JPG — Louisville tight end Jaleel Skinner on the first day of fall camp.
ERIC CRAWFORD

Brohm doesn’t want fireworks on Day 1. He wants foundation. Reps. Rhythm. Hydration. Concentration. And above all, no injuries.

“Sometimes as a coach, you think it’s kind of boring,” he said, “but it’s really not. There’s a lot we get accomplished.”

The Cardinals went through extended position drills and limited team periods. NCAA rules prohibit contact for the first two days — helmets only, no pads. That didn’t stop the sun from turning it into a conditioning test.

“Coach wants us to acclimate, run drills, run plays, stay hydrated,” said senior center Pete Nygra. “All the offseason stuff can’t really replicate what we do on Day 1. But it matters.”

Wide receiver Caullin Lacy, who sat out the second half of 2024 to recover from a collarbone injury, looked sharp and sounded sharper.

“I feel even better than I did last year,” Lacy said. “I’m focused on the small details — lining up right, stance, routes. I feel like I’m ready to be a pro.”

Brohm emphasized that across the roster — attention to detail, not highlight reels. Louisville added key transfers on both sides of the ball, including defensive end Clev Lubin, who transferred from Coastal Carolina.

“I've been to a lot of different places, so this feels a little different, definitely a little bit more excitement when it comes to this year,” Lubin said. “Looking at what we have as a group, and the success this program has had in the past few years, knowing that we’ve got a lot of weight on our shoulders and lot of people expecting us to do big things. At the end of the day, like, we're proud of this group. We're close. We enjoy each other's company, and I feel like that goes a long way.”

Among the early storylines: How will new quarterback Miller Moss mesh with the receivers? Who will emerge behind Lacy and Chris Bell? What does the secondary look like with new personnel? And which position battles could flip the defensive depth chart?

Yes, it was just the first practice. But it was long. It was hot. And it was planned down to the detail because Brohm believes how you start shapes how you finish.

“It’s a long camp,” he said. “Once we get the shells and full pads on, we’ll pick things up quite a bit. But this is part of it. Teaching your body to push through, concentrate, and not miss a beat — that’s what gets you ready.”

Louisville has six more practices open to the public, beginning with Friday’s 9:45 a.m. workout.