After a five-month layoff, the Escambia County Blue Devils get back on the football field today for the beginning of spring practices with the same aspirations as every other school in the state, to win a state championship.

The Blue Devils, a 2010 Class 4A quarterfinalist, will open their spring training with the state madated three day-period of helmets and shorts.

The three days are used as a conditioning period to get football players used to the temperatures they will be facing during the spring practices.

“It’s a great thing having the three days of conditioning,” Escambia County Blue Devils head football coach Mark Heaton said. “The state is always trying to find ways to protect student-athletes and this is a good thing to have before we really get going. There has always been a three days of just helmets before fall practice, but doing it in the spring really helps players who don’t play spring sports.”

During the first three days of spring practice, the Blue Devils will be put through several conditioning stations that not only help them get acclimated with the heat, but also give them some work in skill work.

The drills they will be put through include a shuttle drill and form running as well as individual and team-oriented drills.

“We like giving them this chance to work on their skills without a football involved because it can help with certain individual and team concepts,” Heaton said.

Following the three days of helmets and shorts, the Blue Devils will be put to the test next Monday when they put on their full gear and begin hitting.

Before they put on their pads though, the team will also go through some offensive and defensive schemes to get them ready for the next step of practice.

“We will implement offensive and defensive drills to help each player get accustomed to how we run practices,” Heaton said. “This will allow our coaches and players to get a feel for everything before we begin our first full pad practice.”