Final answer:
The term 'replenishing' best describes football players drinking sports drinks after extensive drills to restore lost fluids, electrolytes, and carbohydrates, a practice rooted in the history of Gatorade's creation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word that would best describe football players drinking sports drinks after running drills all day is replenishing. Sports drinks like Gatorade are specifically formulated to restore fluids, electrolytes, and carbohydrates that athletes lose during intense physical activity. By drinking these beverages, football players are replenishing their bodies, which is essential for recovery and maintaining performance on the field. The history of Gatorade highlights the importance of this replenishment for athletes, especially in demanding conditions such as the heat of Florida where the drink was first created to help the University of Florida football players.