The days where college football players arrive at fall camp after a three month break and use several weeks to get into game shape ended several decades ago. The push to make preparation a 12-month endeavor has been speeding down the road ever since and it took another leap forward this year.
For the first time, coaches, for two hours each week, can supervise summer practices. There are limitations, important enough that coach-run practices have not completely supplanted the traditional player-run practices that have been staples for years, but a UTEP team looking to qualify for back-to-back bowls for the first time since 2005 is taking advantage.