LORMAN &8212; With the weather continuing to play a role in how coaches can conduct practice, even coach Johnny Thomas and the Alcorn State Braves are having to shift things around.

With temperatures once again hovering in the mid-90s, Thomas said he was making sure his players were taken care of.

&8220;The only thing you can really do is give them more water breaks and allow them to have water as often as they want,&8221; Thomas said. &8220;You also want to give them more rest time during breaks and more time between drills. During springs you let them take off their shoulder pads.&8221;

Thus far after two weeks of practice, Thomas said the team only has one potentially serious injury.

&8220;We&8217;re still waiting on reports, but (running back) Michael Shepherd may have fractured his ulna or his tibia,&8221; he said. &8220;We&8217;re not sure yet, we sent him to the doctors today.

&8220;Outside of that, we&8217;ve got a lot of heat exhaustion and dehydration. We&8217;ve got a lot of pulls and strains, but nothing that&8217;s potentially season-ending.&8221;

With only two weeks to go until the first game of the season at Louisiana-Monroe on Aug. 31, Thomas said the goals were simple.

&8220;We&8217;ve got to be healthy,&8221; he said. &8220;If we&8217;re healthy, then we can work on conditioning. If we&8217;re well conditioned, then we can be well-prepared for the University of Louisiana-Monroe.&8221;

As for how well-prepared his team is right now to hit the field, Thomas said there were plenty of unknowns heading into the season.

&8220;That&8217;s hard to say,&8221; he said. &8220;Our starting fullback is out right now, our starting quarterback is hurt right now. Right now we&8217;re filling in spots with the personnel we have and trying to get the reps. It&8217;s hard to say right now when we&8217;ll be ready.&8221;

Alcorn will open up at Louisiana Monroe two weeks from today at 7 p.m. Their first home game of the season will come Sept. 23, when they take on Alabama State at Jack Spinks Stadium at 2 p.m.