By JOE BUIE
Staff Writer, Tyler Morning Telegraph

The temperature was 96 degrees, but the scorching hot sun was no longer a factor by the time the Tyler Junior College Apaches gathered for Wednesday evening's football practice at the Pat Hartley Complex.

This was actually TJC's second practice of Day 1 of the 2010 season, but the first with footballs. The Apaches used softballs during the morning session since, by rule, footballs are only allowed for one practice per day.

The big difference for this year's opening workout was the field -- the football practice facility now has artificial turf with NCAA-regulation goalposts. TJC head coach Danny Palmer said it's the same turf that's in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

"The guys that are back (from last year) had a good time," Palmer said Wednesday. "Even coach (Steve) Clements, the soccer coach, came out there with us and he said, 'We don't have to practice in holes anymore."

The new practice facility was made possible by an anonymous donor, according to a sign that is displayed on the campus at the corner of East Fifth Street and South Palmer Avenue.

"It's really a pretty setting, we're really proud of it," Palmer said during the Southwest Junior College Football Conference Media Day. "Of course, we feel like we're long overdue for that. I know a lot of our kids at summer school have watched it progress and they did a great job with it. I'm very thankful for the administration at Tyler Junior College."

Palmer said there were approximately 93 players out for the night practice, which was held with helmets, shoulder pads and shorts. The first full-contact practice is Saturday.

Wednesday's second practice, scheduled from 7:30-10 p.m., featured 22 five-minute periods -- not counting what Palmer called "pre-practice."

The assistant coaches stressed individual technique, conditioning and agility drills while working with their individual groups.

"The defense is working on defensive fundamentals … angle-tackling, form-tackling … and conditioning at the same time," Palmer said. "The receivers are doing what we call SMU drill, which is throwing the football, catching and running routes and getting their conditioning running to the end zone.

"The running backs are doing agility drills with footballs -- anti-fumble drills … avoiding false steps. The offensive linemen are doing agility with their feet and proper technique blocking."

Palmer liked the play of his top two quarterbacks -- starter Jeffrey Claybon of Lufkin and backup Luke Halpin, a former Mesquite standout who transferred from West Texas A&M.

Palmer said he was also impressed with true freshman quarterback Dominique Jefferson (Channelview) during the morning session. Jefferson had an excused absence for the second practice.

Link to Original Article:  http://tylerpaper.com/article/20100812/SPORTS06/8120325