Lovie Smith and the Fighting Illini football team hosted their first practice of training camp Monday afternoon. On the Campus Recreation Fields east of Memorial Stadium at Florida Ave. and Goodwin Ave. in Urbana. 

The squad practiced for almost 3 hours on a hot, humid evening in Central Illinois.

 

Smith, who is in his second year as head coach, said quote - "Opening training camp is always pretty hard. You're not in pads so you can't go full speed and everybody wants to win the job the first day. But, the excitement was good. We had the chance to at least get the guys out there and go through the routine."

 

The Fighting Illini continue practice Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. The first 18 practices of training camp, through Saturday, Aug. 19, are free and open to the public. 

 

 

 

[Story courtesy of fightingillini.com]