The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for a heated game in Tampa this weekend. I mean that literally. It will be hot and humid, and the team has done everything it can to prepare for it.
San Francisco put up a custom sauna tent next to the practice field, where temperatures reach up to 110 degrees. The doors to the weight room were closed, and the temperature in the massive room was raised.
The 49ers will have a hard enough time dealing with the Buccaneers players on the field. The last thing they want to do is worry about another opponent — the heat.
That's why head coach Kyle Shanahan was surprised to hear that the Buccaneers have opted to wear their home jerseys on Sunday. That allows the 49ers to wear their white road uniforms, which are generally cooler.
The Buccaneers wore their away jerseys when the two teams clashed last season.
Shanahan remembers the Buccaneers wearing their white jerseys this early in the season when he was an assistant for two seasons (2004–05) in Tampa Bay. He felt it was an advantage forcing the other team to wear their darker uniforms in the heat.
Shanahan turned to the team's PR guy during Friday afternoon's press conference after being asked if the Buccaneers decision for Sunday surprised him.
"They can't change their mind on that, can they?" he asked before answering the question.
No, they can't, the PR staffer confirmed. Not at this point.
"I am surprised, and I'm very thankful" Shanahan then responded after making sure.
Every little advantage will help. The 49ers and Buccaneers kick off from Raymond James Stadium on Sunday at 1:25 p.m. PT (4:25 p.m. ET).