Andrew Harris Blog

June 11, 2009

Hey Raider Nation!

Its day 4 of training camp but day 7 of two a days for me due to rookie camp before the veterans came in and my body is definitely feeling it! With a tweaked hamstring, tight hips and tired legs its tough to get going, but according to the Vets today is all about getting over the hump and then your body goes into auto-pilot... Promising!

The day starts off at 6:45 am for breakfast and then about a 45 min. warm up before the 8:30 am start of practice. This morning we only wore helmets and shorts so the physical aspect is kept to a minimum. When practice finished at 11:30 that's not the end, now there is a cool down, a light weight upper body work-out, the ever so crucial ICE BATH, and then lunch.

At this point, from around 12:30-2:00pm its "free time." Most guys have an afternoon nap, or study their playbooks. Today I called former fellow teammate and VI Raider Alumni Lorne Plante who was released from the Lions at the start of camp this year to hear great news from him that he has signed with our home town Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Good luck Lorne! I had some great news of my own, so I called my mom to wish her happy birthday and to break her the news that I will be getting my first action in the CFL in this years exhibition game against the Edmonton Eskimos @ BC Place on June 23rd.

2pm is meetings where we watch film and make adjustments for about an hour then get ready for practice at 4. Snoop and Hadi came by to watch practice, it was great to visit with them and talk to them about the whole experience. After every practice it's the same routine, cool down, optional work-out, ice bath, and eat.

8pm the whole team meets and the vets call up rookies to sing a couple songs before Coach Buono addresses the team. I got called up, and BUTCHERED the "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" theme song. There was the odd boo within the crowd, because believe it or not, I'm kind of shy around these guys! After Coach speaks we break off in to our position meetings with our coaches for about 90 minutes and install even more plays for the next day.

Tomorrow is head shot day for TSN and everyone is getting their pretty on! My roommate Jarious Jackson got his hair faded up in the our bathroom by Geroy Simon the team barber, and I might have to clean up just a tad too. First I'll hit the playbook and study because we just put in 27 new plays to add to the over 150 already in.... Maybe you can help me.. What do I do on "Deuce Z Lt Peel 881 X-Dig-Swirl/Polo?" I Better get to work!

Andrew Harris #33