UNLV joins ranks, limits two-a-day football practices to four times

Long an annual rite of passage for football players, two-a-day practices were banned by the NFL in 2011 and also have become scarce at the college level, where the NCAA in 2003 eliminated consecutive days of two-a-days.

UNLV has joined many other programs in scheduling only four two-a-days during its fall camp. The Rebels’ first two-a-day is Wednesday, with the team practicing under the morning sun at Rebel Park before returning to the field for an evening workout at Sam Boyd Stadium.

After six straight days of practice, UNLV will get Thursday off before returning Friday for another two-a-day.

Rebels coach Tony Sanchez said holding two practices in one day is more about preparation now than conditioning, which was the main focus in the 20th century, when Sanchez played wide receiver for New Mexico State (1994-95) and Laney College (1992-93).

“You’ve just got to get everything in,” he said. “It’s not a knock and it’s probably the right thing to do, but these kids have got it so easy. When I played, we did three-a-days. You had two hours in the morning, you did special teams and 7-on-7 in the afternoon and then you’d come back in the evenings.

“These guys have four two-a-days, which is kind of commonplace around the country. We’re a little soft nowadays but that’s all right. We’re getting them all ready.”

NOTE — NFL scouts from the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans were at Wednesday morning’s practice.