Pleasant Home is taking the start of fall football practice to a whole new level.

The Alabama High School Athletic Association designated Mon., Aug. 6, as the official start date of practice and the 2012 football season.

At 12:01 a.m. on the Eagles’ football field, players will don helmets and shorts for their first midnight practice, a practice that players are really excited about, PHS head coach Cody McCain said.

McCain went to high school at West Point in Cullman and he said he was a part of one there as well.

“It was kind of a good kick off for the season,” McCain said. “The kids got really excited about it when we brought up the idea.

“It’s something unique,” he said.

The Eagles have had preseason camps before at the start of practice, but have never done anything like this before, he said.

“We’re going to get to beat the heat a little bit,” McCain said.

Players will arrive at the field house tomorrow at 8 p.m. and will be fed dinner. After dinner, coaches and players will hang out until practice time at 12:01 a.m.

“We’ll head out to practice and come back in to shower,” McCain said. “Then, we’ll got to sleep and wake up at 7 a.m. for another practice.”

McCain said the Eagles will not be participating in two-a-days this year.

“From Monday, we’re going to go up until school starts,” he said. “Although, we’ll have one three-hour practice.”

Pleasant Home will practice in the mornings during the first week, and will transition to a late afternoon outing during the second week.

Later on Monday, all five other local football teams will get practice under way.

Andalusia kicks things off at 8 a.m. and then will go again at 4 p.m. on Monday. The Bulldogs will hold an afternoon practice on Tuesday; a morning and afternoon practice on Wednesday; a morning practice on Thursday; and then a morning practice on Friday to finish the first week.

Straughn will start at 7 p.m. on Monday.

Opp will practice at 5 p.m. every day next week, and will hold no two-a-days this year, Bobcats head coach Jack Whigham said.

For the first three days of fall practice, the Florala Wildcats will hold a camp at Blue Lake Methodist Camp. Then, FHS will start going in the afternoons starting on Thursday afrom 4 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.

Red Level will practice at 3:30 p.m. on Monday and will make a decision as to when the Tigers will practice for the rest of the preseason, coach Tony Ingram said.

Practice in full pads begins on Thursday.