The NCAA's decision to eliminate two-a-day practices for football has led to changes in camp structure for programs across the country. For Ohio State, that means first week of training camp that isn't really training camp.
While head coach Urban Meyer approves of the NCAA's move to eliminate the demanding two-a-days, the move has prompted teams to lengthen the duration of camp, which is something he's not a fan of.
“We just extend – I think we're going to get 28 practices but we're starting this Thursday. Now we're into July, which is almost five weeks of training camp. That's too much. So we're not officially calling it training camp until a week from Thursday,” Meyer told BTN analysts in Chicago during Big Ten Football Media Days Monday.
Meyer said the first week will essentially be an extension of spring ball. Ohio State players will report to camp this Thursday for two days and then have the entire weekend off.
“They'll come in and do basically an extension of what we've been doing with the ball and get them out of there. No meetings before practice. They'll take it home on their iPads. I do not want to have these players come three weeks completely French-fried.”
With camp running near five weeks this year, the Buckeyes will keep an eye on injuries.
“We went back and looked at the third and fourth day of practice. That's when you get the hamstring [injury]. You're blowing it out,” Meyer said. “Our strength coach [Mickey Marotti] is over the top about it. He helped me put the schedule together. Go hard for two day, off for two days.”
