LAFAYETTE — Louisiana football players are in the middle of a week long break from bowl preparations to celebrate the holidays.
The team last practiced on Thursday, December 19 and the team won't return until Friday, December 27. Billy Napier choosing to not use the full time allotted college teams to prepare for bowls, which is three practices with contact per-week.
"There’s got to be a work-life balance here, not only for the players but also for the staff," Napier said earlier this month.
The week will provide rest, but could it provide too much rest? Players say it's a fine line to toe.
"This break will make or break the game. It really is," said senior guard Kevin Dotson. "It's just like if we go home for the break, and don't do workout or do anything. You'll come back sluggish. It's hard to get right back to the form you were in."
"I've said it many times. This break is going to test the maturity and discipline of our team," said senior defensive back Deuce Wallace. "It's tough to play your last regular seaosn game, or conference championship then play a bowl a month later. That takes discipline. I don't think it puts stress on the coaches, but the captains and leaders of the team."
Louisiana plays Miami of Ohio in the LendingTree Bowl on Monday, January 6.