MACON, GA--  The Mercer Bears are a little less than a year away from their first game, but Monday they took another step towards getting ready.  For the first time, the Bears practiced in full pads.

Coach Bobby Lamb and his staff bring their team in at six every morning and hit the field.  The first 12 practices were all about conditioning and getting some work in wearing shoulder pads, helmets and gym shorts.

"Basically, we had to stay on our feet and everybody had to stay up," said Lamb.  "You couldn't tackle to the ground."

Monday, the energy was high and the hits were hard.

"Today, we were all out football.  We were able to tackle to the ground.  We were able to cut-block.  So we were able to work on a lot of things that we hadn't put in yet.  So I think it was a good introductory to full gear."

"It felt really good out there," said outside linebacker Corey Lockett.  "Everybody was out there flying around and playing real good.  It's been a while since everyone's been in full pads, so it was just a good atmosphere to there today."