DES MOINES, IOWA -- On the eve of their first scrimmage of preseason camp, members of the Drake football team competed in an obstacle course Friday at Helmick Commons and end in front of Old Main on the Drake campus.
Ten teams, consisting of 10 players, competed in 14 different stations which involved strength and agility and team work.
It marked the third year players have participated in the obstacle course under Drake head football coach Chris Creighton. The obstacle course has been part of his preseason curriculum ever since he became a college head football coach in 1997.
"This proves that all 10 players in one group and all 10 groups together can do anything we set out minds to," said Creighton whose team will open the season Sept. 4 playing host to Lehigh in a 6 p.m. kickoff.
"We even had some injured players ask to perform the toughest parts of the obstacle course. I was really encouraged.
"The players had to figure out how to do things the right way when competing," added Creighton. "Some stations are just as challenging from a mental standpoint as they are physically, testing the heart and discipline of the team.
"We wanted to have this obstacle course on campus since it is Welcome Back Week," said Creighton. "We wanted the faculty, staff and students to be a part of this and be excited about we are all about."
To ease the transition of first-year players in the football program, Creighton assigned seniors to head each of the 10 teams from the very beginning of preseason camp.
"It is easier getting to know nine players than everybody on the team," said Creighton. "We mixed players up from different backgrounds and geographic areas as much as possible. I've found this really helps team bonding for the newcomers."
