What's the best way to end a long week of practice? For UMass, it was simple: With ice cream.

The Minutemen concluded Friday's practice -- and the opening week of training camp -- with a frozen treat, as UMass had an ice cream truck on hand from Bart's Ice Cream in Amherst to dish out a scoop of ice cream to every player. The players crowded around the truck and had a variety of flavors to choose from.

Jovan Santos-Knox went with raspberry sorbet, and said he had plans to go back for seconds.

"This was great, no one expected this," he said. "It's been hot the last couple days and for us to get some ice cream was really exciting."

UMass ended Friday's practice with some intensity. The Minutemen's last drill of the day was the "four-cone drill," which pitted members of the offense and defense against each other and saw tensions rise, and was then followed by wind sprints. It appeared like a difficult way to end practice.

Until the music came on.

Blaring through the speaks was the traditional "ice cream truck" music, triggering childhood memories. It apparently did for players too, as many started running toward the corner of the field and the Bart's truck.

After five days of practice and with a scrimmage scheduled for tomorrow, UMass coach Mark Whipple said it was important to lighten things up. He said the players will have the rest of the night off and will return to work tomorrow.

"They've been good, both sides have competed," he said. "The last two days have been really good and you have to be smart, you can't wear them out."