The Poplar Bluff Mules offense works on handoffs under the watchful eye of new coach Shane Kearbey (back, right) at Bacon Park on Monday. The Mules open the season Aug. 29 at New Madrid County Central. (Paul Davis/DAR)

By BRIAN ROSENER ~ DAR Sports Editor

Normally on the first day of practice, Poplar Bluff athletes are baking at Bacon Park or Peters Gym. That wasn't the case Monday.

The high temperature was 82 degrees and by the time the Mules football team finished up at 8:30 p.m., Bacon Park was almost chilly.

Poplar Bluff's Jacob Smith catches a pass during workouts Monday at Bacon Park. (Paul Davis/DAR) [Click to enlarge]

"The weather was a 10, you can't beat that," Mules football coach Shane Kearbey said. "These kids have it about as easy as I've ever seen it."

Not only was it cool Monday, most of the coaching staff was in teacher meetings during the morning practice and with school starting Wednesday, that means a shorter two-a-day workout schedule this year.

At Peters Gym, the Lady Mules volleyball team almost didn't need the new air conditioner. Still, it came in handy as a squad of 24 met in the afternoon. New coach Mike Berry, who was an assistant coach last year, said "the gym was nice" but the first day stuff was hard to get through.

"Tomorrow will definitely be a lot more productive," Berry added.

At the Black River Soccer Park, new Mules coach Derek Reasons said 32 took part on the first day.

The first of two workouts started at 6 a.m. with conditioning drills and the team met again from 3-6:30 p.m. to work on fundamentals. The cooler weather allowed for more conditioning to take place in the afternoon session, Reasons said.

"It couldn't get any better, could it?" he added. "The weather was wonderful."

Reasons was also happily surprised by the turnout that includes eight seniors and the attitude of the team as a whole.

"One thing I'm trying to work toward is team unity," he added.

Team bonding during a tough, hot practice will have to wait. The National Weather Service report has temperatures staying in the mid to upper 80s the rest of the week.

At Bacon Park, new softball coach Dustin Benson said about 25 players were at the first practice which was 19 days before the first game.

"Every minute, every second is critical," Benson said. "We've got to get in everything we can right now. It's crunch time."

That's even more true for the Mules football team, which also opens the season Aug. 29.

"We're really crunched for time," Kearbey said. "We've got a lot done from camp so hopefully before the jamboree and the first game comes we've got some things happening."

To add an extra round of state playoffs this fall, MSHSAA moved up the first week of the season meaning the preseason jamboree at Farmington will be a week from Friday. The Mules are scheduled to hold a team scrimmage at 6 p.m. Saturday night at Bacon Park but it will be just the third practice in full pads.

"We don't know what it's going to look like but we're just going to line up and get after it," Kearbey said.

About 50 players in grades 10-12 were at the first practice and Kearbey hopes to do some recruiting at the freshmen level once school starts Wednesday. When the Mules finished their 5-5 season last year, 27 varsity players dressed for the final game but seven defensive starters and 10 starters on offense can return.

The Mules wrapped up their first day with the moon and a star overhead as they ran laps.

"We kind of ran out of light here," Kearbey said. "Everything looked good, the offense looked pretty good coming back after a couple of weeks layoff, the defense was flying around and good things were happening over there so not a bad first day."