Go to taylorpress.net to see more photos of the Ducks opening fall practice.
The Taylor Ducks varsity football team officially opened fall practice Monday, Aug. 3, beginning the UILmandated four-day acclimation period that limits players to helmets and other protective equipment before teams are allowed to practice in full pads.
For a program entering its fourth season under Head Coach and Athletic Director Earven Flowers, the opening day looked noticeably different than it did a year ago.
Instead of introducing a roster filled with inexperienced players, the Ducks returned the majority of their production from last season, giving the coaching staff the opportunity to build upon an already established foundation rather than starting from scratch.
Flowers said the experience showed from the opening whistle.
“It was a good day,” Flowers said. “We have a ton of guys returning. I was really pleased to see the retention of what we are doing, and we had a pretty good day today.”
That continuity has changed the way Taylor is able to approach preseason practices.
Last season, much of the coaching staff’s time was spent teaching the fundamentals of the system to a young roster replacing several key starters. This fall, many of those players have a full season of experience under their belts, allowing practices to move at a faster pace while installing more advanced concepts.
“It’s more refreshing in terms of not having to coach as much,” Flowers said. “Now you have an opportunity to put more on the guys because they are able to handle more now since they have experience in the system.”
Flowers also credited the team’s offseason work for the energy and conditioning displayed during the opening practice. While the Ducks have yet to put on full pads, he said the effort level was one of the best he has seen since arriving at Taylor.
“I thought our guys flew around,” Flowers said. “A lot of times as a coach you look to see if guys are hustling, if they’re tired or if they aren’t getting where they need to be. Obviously we don’t have pads on, but for the first day it was one of the better ones since I’ve been here.”
The improved conditioning is another benefit of returning an experienced group. Many of the Ducks participated in the program’s summer strength and conditioning workouts, giving them a stronger physical base heading into August practices.
Taylor is also among the programs adjusting to the UIL’s new mandatory wet bulb globe temperature regulations, which officially went into effect Aug. 1. The policy measures temperature, humidity and other environmental conditions to determine how long teams may practice outdoors and what modifications are required to keep athletes safe during extreme heat.
While the rule is new for many schools across Texas, Flowers said the Ducks have already been using wet bulb technology for the past several years, making the transition seamless.
“In terms of the wet bulb stuff, we have been doing it for the past couple of years, so this is nothing new for us,” Flowers said. “It used to be recommended by the UIL, but now it is mandatory, so this is nothing new for us.”
Taylor has also adjusted its practice schedule by working earlier in the morning when temperatures are cooler, helping minimize disruptions caused by heat restrictions.
As the Ducks work through the four-day acclimation period, Flowers said his biggest priority is making sure the team remains healthy while continuing to sharpen its execution.
“The main thing is I want to stay healthy and continue to build on what we have in terms of retention,” Flowers said.
Once the acclimation period concludes, Taylor will begin practicing in full pads next week, providing the first opportunity to evaluate the team’s physicality before the preseason scrimmage schedule begins.
Flowers said he hopes the energy and attention to detail shown during the first few practices will carry over once contact is introduced.
“I just want to see the energy and the hustle that we have without pads and see if we can continue that with pads because if we can do that, it means we are in pretty good shape,” Flowers said. “If we are doing the little things right with pads on and have a little mental toughness to us, that’s going to help us in these upcoming games.”
The Ducks will continue fall camp throughout next week before traveling to face Cameron Yoe in their preseason scrimmage on Aug. 14 at 7 p.m., giving Flowers and his staff their first live look at the 2026 squad against outside competition.
