TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN 9) — Excessive heat warnings have been a summer trend and people have needed to find ways to beat the heat—and now that includes Arizona football.
The team started its fall training camp earlier this week and wore pads for the first time on Friday, Aug. 4.
The high temperature today was 107 degrees. And the heat does not seem to be leaving anytime soon, with high temperature forecasts for this coming week all in the triple digits.
However, the high temperatures did not slow down the team at practice.
Wide receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig played for Colorado for three seasons, before entering the transfer portal and finding a new home with Arizona.
“I would say once you get acclimated, it’s not as bad, but when you first get to it, it’s a different kind of heat when they say the desert," said Lemonious-Craig. "I’m from southern California, so you know—not too used to it, but it is something that you do have to get acclimated to and won’t be used to at first.”
Defensive lineman Orin Patu is also new to the team and said, “This is my first time in Arizona and the weather is obviously hot everyday, so just making sure we’re drinking water and electrolytes. Our nutrition staff makes sure we get enough of that. So shout out to them.”
Training staff is on-site with water bottles. The team also has fans with misters set-up at their practice.
Arizona’s football season kicks off September 2 against NAU in Tucson. Tucson should be seeing slightly cooler temperatures by then.
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Madison Thomas joined KGUN 9 in July of 2023 as a multimedia journalist. She graduated from Arizona State University in May of 2023 with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She has lived in Arizona her entire life and grew up in Douglas. Madison is thrilled to share the stories from the community she grew up in. Share your story ideas and important issues with Madison by emailing madison.thomas@kgun9.com or by connecting on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.
