NBC Bay Area
49ers attempt to block out thoughts of frigid Green Bay
Colin Kaepernick dealt with cold weather from time to time in his college career at Nevada.
And what’s his approach toward dealing with adverse weather?
“You just have to block it out,” Kaepernick said.
Kaepernick said he does not plan to wear a glove on his throwing hand on Sunday when the 49ers face the Green Bay Packers at frigid Lambeau Field in the first round of the NFC playoffs.
But Kaepernick did wear a glove in his coldest previous game – his signature college victory, a 2010 upset of No. 3 Boise State in temperatures that dipped into the 20s in Reno.
Those conditions will be balmy in comparison to what the 49ers figure to face on Sunday.
The National Weather Service forecast calls for mostly sunny with a high near 5 degrees for Sunday with a lows of minus-19 on Sunday night. The game kicks off at 3:40 p.m., local time.
Weather.com predicts a high – that’s right, a high -- of zero degrees with a low of minus-18 for Sunday in Green Bay.
When asked how he prepares for such weather, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said, “Eat a lot of chicken-noodle soup and dress warm.”
That sounded pretty good to 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis.
"Chicken noodle soup is pretty good,” Willis said. “I can't argue with that.”
Coach Jim Harbaugh appears to be taking the Kaepernick approach of blocking out any thoughts about the weather. He became agitated Wednesday with any question concerning the weather during his press conference. When it was suggested the perception is that a West Coast team could be at a disadvantage in harsh weather conditions, he asked for evidence of a specific "study."
The 49ers are practicing this week in 60-degree weather, while Packers coach Mike McCarthy said he plans to take his team outside in Green Bay to practice on Thursday and Friday.
Said Willis, “Get me a 'W' and that'll take care of all the warmth I need."