Practice has ended but Mark Parson does not stop running.
The cornerback who already spends much of practice moving at a frenetic pace covering Ohio's wide receivers figures he would rather be tired now than at the end of the Bobcats' game versus Wyoming in the high altitude.
At every practice you are already tired
but I feel like in the fourth quarter when everybody is tired I'll have that extra edge on them Parson said. And there is always overtime so I'm just trying to get ready.
Rather than spending a week in Laramie to adapt to the high altitude, Parson and his teammates will spend less than 24 hours at Wyoming, arriving Friday afternoon and leaving after Saturday's game.
Ohio will spend this limited amount of time in Wyoming to avoid any prolonged effects of altitude sickness.
I've never actually been up that high but I heard it's pretty rough and with the style of play they play at
no huddle non-stop
it's going to be a challenge
Parsons said. I feel like we have been conditioned pretty well trying to get ready for it.
Wyoming's War Memorial Stadium is located 7,220 feet above sea level. By comparison, Athens is around 620 feet above sea level.
Ohio's strength and conditioning coach Sonny Sano has stressed the importance of hydration and the consumption of carbohydrates in anticipation of the game, but he added that he is not worried because of the player's high level of conditioning.
It's nothing really we can prepare for other than getting in the best possible shape
Sano said. The whole team won't react the same way; you have to experience it.
Ohio defense tackle Jameson Hartke has not placed focus on the altitude factor, instead hoping to avenge last season's defeat where his unit was unable to stop the Cowboys' ground attack.
After building a 20-6 lead over Wyoming at Peden Stadium last season, the Ohio defense allowed 207 of the Cowboys' 267 rushing yards in the second half, eventually falling 34-33.
That was a game last year that we should have won
Hartke said. If we got the win we might have been in a bowl game last year
with a better record.
Ohio quarterback Theo Scott downplays the impact of last year's game as a motivational factor.
It's a new year
Scott said.-
Glenn said at his team's media day. He'll bring a good football team in here. But there is no way that they will board a plane
