VU Tennis Drill-(Dan Phillips)

THE VANDERBILT FOOTBALL TEAM STARTS FALL PRACTICE IN TWO WEEKS.

BUT MANY OF THE DORES ARE GATHERING IN SMALL GROUPS RIGHT NOW.

THE GUYS WHO CATCH THE BALL ARE EAGER TO MAKE AN IMPACT THIS SEASON.

AND AS FOX 17'S DAN PHILLIPS REPORTS - THEY'RE TRYING A UNIQUE TRAINING METHOD THAT COULD MAKE IT ADVANTAGE DORES COME FALL!


GEORGE SMITH HAS 76 CATCHES IN HIS CAREER AT VANDERBILT...

((Nat Sound: "That's complete! Inside the 40, all the way down to the 35 goes George Smith!!"))

ONE REASON WHY? THIS TENNIS BALL MACHINE.

SMITH'S FOUND THAT SNAGGING A FUZZY YELLOW BALL--- ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S TRAVELING 70 MILES AN HOUR--- HELPS HIM HAUL IN THE PIGSKIN...

((George Smith: "It works on your eye-hand coordination. And it helps a lot catching balls from our quarterbacks."))

UNLIKE THE COMMODORE Q-B'S, THE MACHINE IS VERY UNFORGIVING AND IF YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION---- EXTREMELY PAINFUL...

((Chris Reinert: "I got hit in the nose once. It kind of drew a little bit of tears from my eyes. But for the most part, if you get your hands in front, it will absorb most of the blow. The worst thing that will happen is the ball will hit the palm of your hand in the wrong place, and you'll fall to the ground."))

PAIN IS ONE THING...EMBARRASSMENT IS ANOTHER.

((Austin Monahan: "You can definitely look dumb. It's important to just stay focused and when the machine pauses, it's definitely still coming so you can't lay down your guard or anything."))

HUMILIATION--- AND SORENESS ASIDE...THE DRILL IS A WINNER WITH THE 'DORES.

((Udom Umoh: "I'll take the challenge every chance I get. I'll come here and get better with it."))

((Austin Monahan: "It's going to help us improve on the field."))

SO VANDY FANS COULD SEE MORE A LOT MORE OF THIS...

((Nat Sound: "It's caught for a touchdown!!!"))

THIS FALL. DAN PHILLIPS, FOX 17 SPORTS.

MANY OF THE PROS HAVE TRIED THE TENNIS BALL MACHINE AS WELL.

THEY SAY IT'S SORT OF DIFFICULT. BUT I DON'T SEE WHAT THE BIG DEAL IS...

(PAUL ADLIBS)...
VU Tennis Drill-(Dan Phillips)