[bbm233]

I remember when all of the practices were open. I used to work close enough to campus that I could leave the office early and watch some of the practice before heading home. I did that many, many times. It was fun to lean on the practice field rail and talk with fellow fans as we watched practice. I think it might have been Jack Elway who coined the term "railbirds" to describe the regular observers at practice.

Then Harbaugh came. At first, practices continued to be open. Then, for a short time, practices were technically open, but Harbaugh would change the time and/or location to make it hard to find the practice. Then Harbaugh just closed practice entirely. I understand, but I still miss the old days.

I was involved with the team back in the 80s and the way Elway ran his practices was warm up and skills practice were open on two practice fields (one for offense and one for defense). The team would then move inside "the Fort" (a practice field surrounded by an obscuring fence) to do 7 on 7, 11 on 11 and scout team work in which game prep was done. Then back out in the open for special teams and conditioning to end the day.

Rail birds was definitely the term used for the regular observers (John Paye's dad was there almost every day). The assistant AD for football would spend time at many practices hobnobbing on the rail to ensure that these folks felt welcomed.

[bbm233]

I remember when all of the practices were open. I used to work close enough to campus that I could leave the office early and watch some of the practice before heading home. I did that many, many times. It was fun to lean on the practice field rail and talk with fellow fans as we watched practice. I think it might have been Jack Elway who coined the term "railbirds" to describe the regular observers at practice.

Then Harbaugh came. At first, practices continued to be open. Then, for a short time, practices were technically open, but Harbaugh would change the time and/or location to make it hard to find the practice. Then Harbaugh just closed practice entirely. I understand, but I still miss the old days.

I was involved with the team back in the 80s and the way Elway ran his practices was warm up and skills practice were open on two practice fields (one for offense and one for defense). The team would then move inside "the Fort" (a practice field surrounded by an obscuring fence) to do 7 on 7, 11 on 11 and scout team work in which game prep was done. Then back out in the open for special teams and conditioning to end the day.

Rail birds was definitely the term used for the regular observers (John Paye's dad was there almost every day). The assistant AD for football would spend time at many practices hobnobbing on the rail to ensure that these folks felt welcomed.