Hey All! Jake B. here, coming to you live from Shocco Springs AL with my first blog post of the summer. So get pumped, for real.

I know what most of ya’ll are thinking. That?s right, I CAN read minds. And it?s alright to be a little freaked out by Preseason Camp. (Ed. note: And by the fact that he can read minds.) It?s a big, daunting task that is hard work. But the rewards far outweigh the struggles that camp provides. Before you know it, you?ll be in uniform parading outside Jordan-Hare on your way to your first game.

So what exactly can you expect at our Preseason Camp? Let me be very clear with this: HEAT. It?s August in Alabama guys; expect to sweat it out in the sun. That being said, it?s important to go ahead and start getting your body used to the weather. If you spend you summer on the couch eating and watching The Office you will regret it when camp gets here. Get outside and get used to the heat, and also drink lots of water. During camp, hydration is key. I suggest getting some kind of water jug to carry with you. I have one that holds about 35 ounces of water and I?ll drink it about four times a day.

The day to day goes kind of like this: R.A.T.s will have R.A.T. Drills at 7:30 every morning, where ya’ll get a chance to get to know one another, play some games, and learn the traditions of Auburn and the Auburn Bands! After that, we will all get started about 8. After some time on the field, we will go to sectionals or group music rehearsal. Next is our lunch break, followed usually by sectionals. You can expect to be on the field till about 8 every night. Almost every day after practice we, as in your R.A.T. Leaders, will have some kind of fun activity planned for everyone. Keep checking the blog to find out what they are going to be this year.

Before you say it, I know, I know, you?re thinking that all this work is insane, but trust me: you can handle it. It?s not as bad as you think. Like I said before, once you start your first game you will totally understand why we do what we do.

So now I get to talk about my favorite part of the AUMB, traditions. We have been around for a long time so there are lots of things that we do just because we have always done them. If you leave something somewhere, expect to jump for it. When we start pregame practice, expect to run it back out of the tunnel over and over (with EXCITEMENT). And we end every day the same way: we all circle up and sing our Alma Mater. Personally, this is my favorite one. It always reminds me that the AUMB is a family, one that I belong to.

So that?s all I got for you guys. Sorry I got cheesy there at the end, but hopefully you guys will find the same excitement in our traditions that I do by the end of camp. So that?s all I got for you guys, keep checking the site and feel free to Facebook me.

War Eagle,
Jake B.