Georgia Southern
Fall Practice Report #9
Eagles return to workouts after weekend off
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern Football returned to the practice fields Monday afternoon (Aug. 11) after a weekend off. The Eagles will have a pair of three-a-day sessions this week (Tuesday, Thursday).
During Monday’s practice: Terence Hall made a one-handed catch over the middle on a pass from Lee Chapple... Dylan Douglas recorded a pass break-up during 1-on-1 coverage... Marcus Russ made an impressive leap over a defender to make a catch along the sideline... Defensive lineman Brent Russell caught a deflected pass for an interception... Senior defensive linemen Larry Beard, Casey Wingard and Dakota Walker each broke through the line for a quarterback sack... Chapple hit Russ in the back of the endzone for a touchdown... Oliver Davis broke up a pass in the endzone.
The Eagles resume fall camp Tuesday with practices at 8-10 a.m., 2:15-4:15 and 7:15-8:15 p.m. For comments from head coach Chris Hatcher and freshmen Adam Urbano, J.B. Shippy, A.J. McCray and Joe Behrmann log onto www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com and watch the free fall camp preview on Eagle Vision.
Samford
SAMFORD FOOTBALL PRACTICES TWICE MONDAY
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.?The Samford football team practiced twice Monday at Seibert Stadium. The Bulldogs practiced in full pads Monday morning and in shells Monday afternoon.
“We had a good morning practice, it was a physical practice,” Samford head coach Pat Sullivan said. “We are still making a lot of mistakes. But, we are getting better and working a lot of the younger players.
“This afternoon, we got our two-minute stuff in,” Sullivan said. “This morning, we had some short-yardage work, and then we will have a goal-line scrimmage tomorrow to end up practice in the morning.”
Sullivan mentioned a couple of the young players on the team who caught his eye during Monday’s practices.
“Keith Shoulders stood out a little this morning,” Sullivan said. “Wes Nichols is starting to do some things at guard for us, and all of the young quarterbacks are starting to pick up some things. We have a few nicked up from Saturday’s scrimmage, Nick Williams and Andy Davis, nursing some minor stuff.”
Sullivan said he and his staff have had a chance to look at the film from Saturday’s scrimmage, and they continue to see positives from the workout.
“The positive thing that jumped out after looking at it a couple of times was the continued effort and enthusiasm,” Sullivan said. “I thought it was probably our most physical practice since we’ve been here, and that’s where it starts.”
Samford will practice again Tuesday morning. The Bulldogs will practice at 8:20 a.m. in full pads at Seibert Stadium.
Samford opens the 2008 season on Thursday, Aug. 28, when the Bulldogs play host to West Georgia at 7 p.m. at Seibert Stadium.
The Citadel
Bulldogs Back in Practice After Break for Media Day
Charleston, S.C. ? The Citadel Football team returned to the field twice on Monday at the Maybank Triplets Practice Facility after breaking for Media Day held Sunday at Johnson Hagood Stadium. While getting in two solid sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, Bulldog Head Coach Kevin Higgins was not pleased with the level of concentration displayed by the Bulldogs in the second practice.
“We had our second day of double sessions and they didn’t do a great job concentrating,” Higgins said. “There was a lack of intensity in the second practice that we have to address as a coaching staff. However, we got a lot accomplished. We had a lot of different scrimmage situations and got several chances to evaluate our young guys.”
Higgins said there is still concern with receivers being able to catch the ball, stating there were too many dropped balls at Monday’s practices. Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Scott Harward was reported to have broken an ankle in the morning practice and will have surgery on Thursday
Wofford
Wofford Football Practice Report
SPARTANBURG, SC ? The Wofford College football team practiced twice on Monday after taking a break on Sunday. Both practices gave the Terriers a chance to implement more of the playbook on both offense and defense.
The morning practice began at 8:45 am and was conducted in full pads. Highlights of the two-hour session included skelly drills with live pass rush and twenty minutes of eleven-on-eleven.
In the afternoon, things got started at 6:15 for the two-hour practice in helmets and shoulder pads. The special teams worked on kickoff return, with four kickers taking turns on snaps. In the team period, the offense moved the ball well, with Sean Lees, Michael Rucker and Austin Palmer all having nice runs. Mychael Johnson had a pass break-up, with Ameet Pall looking good on the pass rush.
“We had a good day overall,” said head coach Mike Ayers. “I think the second practice was really good. There was a good focus tonight and we are understanding our assignments better. I think the better we understand from a mental standpoint the better the execution is going to be. The best thing is that we have execution with effort and I think if you have those two, you have a combination for success. We are getting to where we are expanding out throwing game. I think our guys understand what we want to do with the throwing game and our receivers caught the ball really well today. Michael Rucker had an unbelievable day as far as execution and effort. He was getting after it.”
The only players held out of practice due to injury were Keaton Thompson, Mitch Clark, and Jordan Ingman. Justice Joslin and Johnson Richardson were limited. Junior Kyle Lanham has moved from offensive tackle to tight end, while Jonathon Sharpe has moved to outside linebacker and Mike Niam switched to inside linebacker.
Practices will be held on the intramural field next to Gibbs Stadium until the end of Carolina Panthers training camp on August 13. All practices are open to the public; however keep in mind that the schedule can change without notice. The players will practice at 3:30 pm on Tuesday and then go twice on Wednesday.
Furman
51-PLAY SCRIMMAGE CAPS FURMAN’S FIRST TWIN PRACTICE DAY OF PRESEASON
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman wrapped up its first twin practice day of the preseason Monday with a 51-play scrimmage under the lights in Paladin Stadium.
Junior quarterback Jordan Sorrells threw a pair of touchdown strikes, including a 44-yard strike to R.J. Webb and 48-yard connection to Sederrik Cunningham, to highlight the session.
“I thought there was some pretty good play and intensity all around,” said head coach Bobby Lamb following the evening’s two and a half hour practice. “The touchdown pass to Cunningham came against blown coverage, but our secondary also turned in some big plays. Ryan Steed had a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown.”
Steed, a true freshman cornerback from Mt. Pleasant, S.C., is considered a strong candidate to earn a spot on the travel squad along with another true freshman, Jordan Griffin.
Webb, a junior split end from Pickens, S.C., is battling back from knee injury that sidelined him over the final seven games of the 2007 campaign. Cunningham, meanwhile, appears to be positioning himself as a potential impact performer at flanker this year following last year’s redshirt season.
Also gaining mention on Monday were the Paladins’ two starting linebackers, seniors Brandon Williams and Hunter Twitty, and tight ends Larry Hedden and Seth Skogen. Fullback Brantley Kendall also drew Lamb’s praise following several strong runs.
The Paladins converted just two of six field goal attempts in the scrimmage, with Matthew Cesari and Trent Hawk each converting one of two tries.
Monday’s evening session followed a morning practice that saw the Paladins engage in situational (down and distance) and kickoff return team work. A number of players are in the mix for return duty this fall, including veterans Mike Brown, Stephon LaFrance, and R.J. Webb. Among the younger players getting looks are Cunningham, Walt Lenard, and E.J. Vinsang.
Furman returns to the practice field Tuesday afternoon at 2:45 p.m.
Elon
Phoenix Preseason Football Practice Updated #10
ELON, N.C. ? The Elon Phoenix returned to the Hunt and Tucker Fields under clear skies and cool temperatures for the 10th session, and first of two practices Monday, of the 2008 preseason practice schedule.
“This was one our most well-balanced practices so far this season,” head coach Pete Lembo said. “As a head coach you like to see the offense and defense both have some success throughout the course of a practice session.”
Monday morning’s session consisted of three team periods. The first period emphasized the blitz, while the second focused on third and long situations. The team period featured the two-minute drill. The team also conducted two pass skeletons, with the special teams worked on PAT field goals and punt and kickoff coverage.
The session also featured excellent competition at kicker, backup quarterback, back up tight end, and some wide receiver spots.
“Guys really have to come out and be prepared to compete everyday because its back and forth in terms of who is the best guy and who is going to be ready to play come August 30,” added Lembo.
Despite some receiving unit woes with dropped passes, sophomore Lance Camp turned in a productive practice. Freshman tailback Jamal Shuman caught two screen passes and turned them into big plays during the team periods.
“For us to be effective as an offense, we have to be able to throw and catch consistently to keep the chains moving,” continued Lembo.
Defensively for the Phoenix Tim Happer. Andre Campbell, and Brandon Ward all generated excellent pass rush, while Terrell Wilson continued to be steady at the cornerback position.
The Phoenix will return to the Hunt and Tucker Fields at 7:30 p.m. Monday for the 11th session of the 2008 Elon preseason football practice schedule. All sessions are open to the public and fans are encouraged to attend.
Phoenix Preseason Football Practice Update #11
ELON, N.C. ? With temperatures hovering in the mid-70s for most of the evening, the Elon Phoenix football team returned to the Hunt and Tucker fields on a cloudless Monday night with for the 11th session of the 2008 preseason practice schedule.
We had beautiful night out here tonight that more like October than mid-August,” head coach Pete Lembo said. “We had another solid practice today. Today’s practices were probably two of the best practices we’ve had so far in preseason.”
Monday night’s session featured an inside run drill that pitted the offense against the defense and a stalk block drill against the defensive backs. The team also worked on routes, where the wide receivers went against the defensive backs. The special team focused on punts, PAT field goals, and punt blocks. The main team period was a “move the ball” scrimmage towards the end of practice.
Monday night’s scrimmage was highlighted by a big interception from senior linebacker Brandon Campbell.
Offensively, freshman quarterback made some nice completions tonight, while backup fullback Jake Goldsberry stepped in and performed well after Tim Applegate went down with a minor injury.
Monday night’s session ended with a 47-yard pressure field goal by freshman kicker Adam Shriner.
Appalachian State
ASU Football Fall Camp Report ? Mon., Aug. 11
BOONE, N.C. ? After its first day off in over a week, Appalachian State University football returned to the gridiron for perhaps its most grueling day of camp thus far on Monday.
Appalachian held its second two-a-day session in three days on Monday, practicing both in the morning and afternoon at Kidd Brewer Stadium. The morning session, which lasted just under two hours, was held in shorts and helmets while the afternoon drills took a little more than two hours and were held in full pads.
“We were able to take a little more time today, slow things down a little bit for the younger players and see what they can do,” head coach Jerry Moore said. “It was a productive day on both ends.”
Over the course of the day, the Mountaineers spent a half-dozen periods on special teams. Virginia Tech transfer Devin Radford has emerged as someone who may contribute in the return game, along with incumbent kick-returner CoCo Hillary and veteran wideouts B.J. Frazier, Josh Johnson and Clay McKnight.
Two-year starter Neil Young is the clear frontrunner at punter, but is being pushed by another veteran in Adam Kassouf. The biggest battles are shaping up at kicker and long snapper, where ASU lost stalwarts Julian Rauch and Russell Wilson, respectively, to graduation.
Sophomore Jason Vitaris and freshman Sam Martin are vying to become the Apps’ first place-kicker since 2003 not named Rauch. Both enjoyed solid days on Monday, highlighted by each knocking their only attempts at 42-yard field goals through the uprights as time expired on the final 11-on-11 period of the day.
At long snapper, redshirt freshman Sherman Holt and true freshman Wilson Fitchett are locked in a battle to replace the ultra-consistent Wilson.
Per NCAA regulations, Appalachian practices just once on Tuesday, followed by another two-a-day session on Wednesday.
Western Carolina
Catamount Football Continues Preseason Practice on Monday
WCU will again hit the turf for a two-a-day on Tuesday
Cullowhee, N.C. - Monday morning's practice was more of the same for the Western Carolina Catamount football team. The 26-period, just over two-hour long session was delayed by a couple hours in a schedule change as the team hit the turf at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field just after 10:00 am for its lone practice of the day.
The Catamounts again practiced in full pads on Monday, which they will continue to do mixed with helmet and shoulder pad only sessions as it counts down to the season opener.
On the defensive side of the ball, coordinator Matt Pawlowski stressed the new 40-second clock and being prompt in reads and executing personnel changes in game situations during pre-practice discussions.
Offensively, the Catamount coaching staff continued to emphasize controlling tempo in breaking the huddle and execution of the called plays.
Tuesday's schedule calls for the third two-a-day practice of the preseason, with the Catamounts slated to go once on Wednesday before breaking for the "Big Reveal," as Western Carolina unveils its new logo. WCU will also hit the practice turf once on Thursday, pausing for meetings and newcomer head shots during the afternoon prior to the first-ever, invitation-only Catamount Football 101 Women's Clinic.
Western is slated to have its first live scrimmage session this Saturday, Aug. 16, with an additional scrimmage scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 21 in the annual "Meet the Cats" night in Cullowhee. The Catamounts open the Dennis Wagner era on Thursday, Aug. 28 at 7:00 pm as they host Shorter College at 7:00 pm.