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Florida alters practice routine

 
Florida coach Will Muschamp hopes to avoid injuries by practicing in the morning more often than in the past.
Florida coach Will Muschamp hopes to avoid injuries by practicing in the morning more often than in the past.
Published Aug. 4, 2014

GAINESVILLE — A year after a rash of injuries helped derail Flo­rida's season, coach Will Muschamp and his staff will implement changes in training camp in an effort to maximize practice yet keep players healthy.

"We're going to go a little more in the morning than we have in the past," Muschamp said. "We usually incorporate a midday practice off of two-a-days even though we only have three or four. But the midday practice was hard from the standpoint of heat. And also weather, sometimes you get lightning. So we're going to practice early in the morning and when we do have opportunities, per the rules, have a two-a-day practice.

"It'll be a little later at night and a little lighter than we've been doing before, so it won't be so taxing for the players. My biggest concern is being able to have guys hydrated here in this heat, and so I think going in the morning then eliminating the midday practice will help."

ABOUT THOSE TWEETS: Over the past couple of weeks, Muschamp has discovered the difficulties of Twitter. By having his Twitter messages automatically sent to his phone, Muschamp responded to Twitter direct messages from his e-mail, unknowingly tweeting responses intended for specific recruits to his more than 56,000 followers.

"You live and learn," Muschamp said. "Social media is interesting. I can tell you that. But you've got to be able to understand how to do it to be able to communicate with recruits. That's a huge part of it."

He has no intention of giving up on that aspect of social media.

"It's a work in progress," Muschamp said. "My 9-year-old and 12-year-old have helped me."

FINDING SUCCESS: It hasn't always been easy for WR Andre Debose. He arrived in Gainesville in 2009 as a touted recruit whom some dubbed "the next Percy Harvin."

Injuries, including a season-ending torn ACL in preseason last year, have derailed Debose's career. But Saturday, Debose will accomplish one of his goals: earning a degree.

"I'm extremely happy about that," he said.

Debose, who was granted a sixth season of eligibility, has been cleared for full contact, but Muschamp said he will be eased back into the rotation. He could be critical to the Gators' success in their new offense, and Muschamp isn't taking any chances with his health.

BIRTHDAY BOYS: Muschamp and DB Dante Fowler, a graduate of St. Petersburg's Lakewood High, celebrated a birthday Sunday. Muschamp turned 43, Fowler 20.

Contact Antonya English at aenglish@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_ Gators.