At 12:01 a.m. Monday, Aug. 8, the Oxford varsity football team commenced its first practice on the new synthetic blue turf field beneath the stadium’s bright lights. A crowd of spectators gathered to watch this historic moment. Over and over again, Coach Bud Rowley told his players that ramping up their ‘intensity? will be key this season. The Wildcats practiced until 5:30 a.m. Photo by C.J. Carnacchio.