FORT DRUM, N.Y. — Following a rifle demonstration at the conclusion of Wednesday’s practice, Syracuse head coach Scott Shafer stood in the center of a circle of SU players preparing to pugil fight.
Shafer told his team that there would be two whistles: one at the start of the 20-second fighting period and another at the end. Players matched up one-on-one for the military-style bout, each with a pugil stick that was thick on each end and thin in the middle where the players placed their hands.
Senior center Rob Trudo and senior defensive end Donnie Simmons started off the action as the surrounding players yelled and jumped whenever a swing was landed successfully.