Summer ball

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Summer Wildcat Senior wide receiver Dennis Northcutt works on his receiving drills Monday at Arizona Stadium. The players hold informal practice sessions during the week at the stadium in order to keep in shape and get ready for the upcoming season.

The 1999 UA football team knows it won't magically get better during the offseason, so most of the team has stayed in Tucson for the summer to workout, practice and go to class.

The team has been having informal practices in the evenings at Arizona Stadium, and since NCAA rules prohibit coaches from taking part, the players have been leading these workouts.

"The biggest thing is getting ready for our season," senior wide receiver Dennis Northcutt said. "Each individual has their own personal goals to get ready for the fall."

For most players, such as Northcutt, senior wide receiver Brad Brennan and senior free safety Rafell Jones, the day begins bright and early with summer school. After class, the players grab something to eat and head to McKale Center, where they workout for a couple hours.

There are two running groups - one early in the morning and one in the evening - that most players take part in, and the informal practice session begins at 5 p.m.

"Basically, we've been working our butts off," senior quarterback Keith Smith said. "We're making sure everyone gets out here and gets better. We've dedicated our lives to this summer."

After practice, most players crash at home. Brennan, who had ankle surgery during the offseason, likes to swim to help strengthen and revitalize his legs. Monday was his first practice of the summer, and he said he felt heavy even though Smith said his cuts were looking good.

Jones, a native of San Diego, played a full season on the UA baseball team and is still going strong, though he likes to relax at home and take his mind off sports and classes.

"I play video games, watch TV, swim, something to get away from school," Jones said. "On the weekends, you keep to yourself, try to get home or travel, just to get away from everything. I go to the beach in San Diego, but I do that to get in shape and consider it a workout, not just to play in the water."

The players hope all this hard work will pay off once practice officially starts in August at Camp Cochise.

"Everybody knows this is getting us better," Northcutt said. "These fellas see the hard work we have to put in now before we can even think about beating Penn State."