The total solar eclipse that will be seen on Monday afternoon has caused plenty of excitement, anticipation and schedule alterations for that day.
With Nashville being near the center of the longest view of the total eclipse (for just over two minutes), hundreds of thousands of people are expected to flock to the area to see this historic event. The total eclipse should begin around 1:27 p.m. CDT.
The eclipse will even have an effect on the Tennessee Titans, as Coach Mike Mularkey has decided to rearrange the teamâs practice schedule that day in order to allow his players to see this natural phenomenon.
âI actually did (change the schedule),â Mularkey said. âI adjusted the schedule so we will be practicing during it. I went back, once we found out about it, and rerouted the schedule so weâre out here together to see it.â
Mularkeyâs adjustment to allow his players to experience once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the eclipse can probably be filed under another one of those team-bonding exercises that he and the coaching staff have preached in order to bring about team unity.
âWhat a cool experience. Youâre on the practice field. I rearranged the practice schedule to make sure weâre out there to see it,â Mularkey said.
While getting ready for the 2017 season is a daily grind that is the primary focus of the Titans players, some of them are excited about seeing the eclipse on Monday.
âWe just talked about it today in the quarterback room, believe it or not,â backup quarterback Matt Cassel said Monday night. âWeâve talked a little bit about it, but itâs kind of hard when youâre engulfed in (training camp) right now and thereâs no light at the end of the tunnel. But usually once or twice a day, we get off topic and talk about whatâs going on in the world, and we talked about it.â
While the QBs talked about it, Cassel admitted the group has such tunnel vision at this time of year, that they werenât really sure which day the eclipse takes place.
âWe were all like, âI think itâs coming up.â We all guessed the date and we were all wrong,â he said. âBut itâs a big event and I know my kids are going to get a chance to see it. Itâs a once-in-a-lifetime experience.â
At least one Titans player has been excited about the eclipse for a couple of months â and already has his glasses purchased to view the solar eclipse.
âIâve got them at the house. Iâve got three or four pairs of glasses and Iâm looking forward to it.
âĤ. Iâve been excited about it for a while. I donât know if Iâll see another one of these in my lifetime. It looks like Nashville is going to be close to seeing a total eclipse. It should be fun,â kicker Ryan Succop said.