Furman
FURMAN KICKS OFF FOOTBALL PRESEASON TUESDAY
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman kicked off its football preseason Tuesday with morning conditioning tests and a two-hour afternoon practice in shorts and helmets.
“I was impressed with the conditioning of our team,” said head coach Bobby Lamb after putting his squad through a series of 100-yard runs with short rest intervals. “We had 89 of our 90 players pass their test, so that tells us they have put in some good work to get ready for the preseason.”
Furman opened its afternoon practice with work on field goal and swat (kick rush) squads before breaking up into group sessions. The Paladins finished off the two-hour session with scale (7-on-7) work.
“I thought we looked pretty good in our first practice,” said Lamb. “That’s a tribute to what the guys have done over the summer. “I was really impressed with our defense. They had four interceptions today in the 7-on-7 session. William Middleton and Thomas Twitty looked sharp.”
Among Furman’s highest priorities this year is replacing graduated All-Southern Conference placekicker Scott Beckler, who finished his career in 2007 as the program’s all-time leading kick scorer (314 points). Among the players battling take over for Beckler are senior Matt Cesari, junior Trent Hawk, and redshirt freshman Chas Short.
Wednesday will include weight room sessions in the morning and position meetings in the early afternoon followed by a 2:45 p.m. practice.
Samford
SAMFORD FOOTBALL CONTINUES FALL PRACTICE
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.?The Samford football team practiced for the second time this fall Tuesday afternoon at Seibert Stadium. The Bulldogs practiced for about two hours in shorts and helmets.
Samford head coach Pat Sullivan said some of the newcomers have already caught his eye.
“Two of our young receivers, Riley Hawkins and Chinedu Amah, had a great day,” Sullivan said. “On the defensive side, Corey White and Isaac Cooper have both made some plays.”
Sullivan also mentioned some returning players who have gotten off to a good start in fall practice.
“Dante Williams has had a good two days at quarterback, as have the other quarterbacks,” Sullivan said. “I’ve been pleased with them.
“I’m anxious to see some of these freshmen linemen (in pads),” Sullivan said. “Nicholas Williams and Jeremy Towns look like the real deal. Sean Thompson is another one that has caught everyone’s eye.
“Ben Aaberg has come out and punted well,” Sullivan said. “He and Bob Hooper have both punted the ball well for us. Also, our two long-snappers have done a good job, Chris Corley and Ryan Dudchock.”
Sullivan also said that Seth Harkness, who served last season as a backup quarterback, has been moved to linebacker.
“We’ve moved Seth over to linebacker,” Sullivan said. “Right now, we are looking at some different people and we will probably make a couple more moves after we get into pads.”
Samford will return to practice on Wednesday at 3:10 p.m. The practice will be team’s first workout in shells. The Bulldogs’ first full-pads workout is scheduled for Friday.
Samford opens the 2008 season on Thursday, Aug. 28, when the Bulldogs play host to West Georgia at 7 p.m. at Seibert Stadium.
Elon
Phoenix Preseason Football Practice Update #3
ELON, N.C. ? Donning upper pads for the first time this preseason, the Elon Phoenix football team returned to the Hunt and Tucker Fields on a hot and humid Tuesday afternoon for the third session of the 2008 preseason football practice season schedule.
“The most exciting thing for me today was seeing some of our young guys step up and make plays under pressure,” head coach Pete Lembo said. “We’ve thrown a lot at them from an installation standpoint the last three days. A number of freshmen freshmen came out here today poised to get better.”
The Phoenix conducted three team periods, with two emphasizing the run and play action, while the third focused on the blitz. The Elon special teams turned their attention to PAT/field goals, punt protection and kickoff returns. The Phoenix also worked on one on one routes that pitted the wide receivers against the defensive backs.
“Sophomore wide receiver Sean Jeffcoat is really playing like a veteran and with a lot of confidence. I also thought that freshman tight end Andre Labinowicz showed progress understanding the offense,” added Lembo.
Freshman quarterback Thomas Wilson flashed a strong arm today when he hit Darius McQueen and Jordan Robinson on deep balls. McQueen had several catches during practice and showed explosiveness and great change of direction with the ball in his hands. The offensive production continued as the running backs demonstrated their ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.
On the defensive side of the ball, defensive backs Karlos Sullivan and Brett McQuilkin each hauled in interceptions.
Tuesday’s practice ended with a pressure field goal by senior Andrew Wilcox.
The Phoenix will return to the Hunt and Tucker Fields at 8 a.m. Wednesday afternoon for the fourth session of the 2008 Elon preseason football practice schedule. All sessions are open to the public and fans are encouraged to attend.
Tickets for individual games went on sale Friday morning. Individuals wishing to purchase tickets and inquire about a parking pass are encouraged to do so at www.elonphoenix.com or by calling (336) 278-6750.
Season tickets for priority bleacher back seats are being sold for $100 each, faculty/staff priority bleacher back seats are $50, reserved bleacher seats are $70 and faculty/staff reserved bleacher seats are $35. Individual tickets for priority bleacher back seats are $20 and reserved bleacher and grass seats are $15.
Appalachian State
ASU Fall Football Camp Report ? Aug. 5
BOONE, N.C. ? Ticket sales overshadowed the news from the practice field on Tuesday, as Appalachian State University had a record day at the box office on the first day that 2008 single-game tickets were available.
As of the athletics ticket office’s close at 4 p.m., all 20,150 permanent seats at Kidd Brewer Stadium were sold out for the Oct. 4 homecoming date versus The Citadel and the Oct. 25 Black Saturday showdown with longtime rival Furman.
A very limited number of seats for the home opener versus Jacksonville on Sept. 6 and what looks to be a huge Southern Conference matchup against Elon on Nov. 15 remained as of 4 p.m. and not many more were on hand for night games versus Presbyterian (Sept. 27) and Wofford (Oct. 31).
With over 80 percent of Tuesday’s ticket sales coming online, it is likely that seats for the Jacksonville and Elon games will be sold out by the open of business on Wednesday morning and the Presbyterian and Wofford games will likely follow shortly thereafter.
General admission grass seats remain for all six home games and can be purchased online at GoASU.com, by phone at (828) 262-2079 or in person at the ASU athletics ticket office in the Holmes Center.
Practice Report: While fans were snapping up many of the remaining tickets for the 2008 campaign, the Mountaineers were hard at work on the practice field during their fourth day of fall camp.
After defense dominated Monday’s 11-on-11 drills, the offense made its presence known during Tuesday’s full-team sessions. Particularly impressive was running back Devin Radford. The transfer from Virginia Tech showed a combination of breakaway speed and deceptive power on a number of good runs throughout the afternoon. In one particular series, Radford ran four times for 62 yards, including a 10-yard score that capped a seven-play, 80-yard touchdown drive for the first-team offense against the first-team defense.
Other highlights of full-team drills included a nifty pass through traffic from Armanti Edwards to T.J. Courman for a 20-yard gain and a 38-yard run by Devon Moore.
Cornerback Jared Reine broke up a pair of passes in the end zone to highlight the defensive efforts, while freshman linebacker Terrence McLean snuffed out a screen pass and made an open-field tackle on running back Josh Jackson to turn what looked to be a promising play for the offense into a loss.
The Apps strap on full pads for the first time on Wednesday as they continue to make the progression to the 2008 season opener at LSU on Aug. 30.
The Citadel
Freshman Making Strides in Fall Camp
Charleston, S.C. ? The Citadel Football team was back in action for their second day of fall camp on Tuesday morning at the Maybank Triplets practice field. The Bulldogs worked out for three hours as the coaching staff looks to fill major gaps in both the offense and defense.
“The freshmen are beginning to separate themselves from one another as they get more confidence with the schemes,” said Bulldog Head Coach Kevin Higgins. “The biggest challenge for the freshmen is learning new information and then being able to apply it on the field.”
Coach Higgins said the staff continues to be optimistic about the development of redshirt freshman Rickey Anderson in the running back spot, a position of big concern for Higgins going into the 2008 season. Freshmen Terrell Dallas and Asheton Jordon, of Summerville, will be good football players and are expected to compete for playing time, as well as Ryan Williams in the fullback position, according to Higgins.
“We are excited about this freshmen group and feel that several will have the opportunity to play in the first game,” Higgins added.
There were no injuries reported from Tuesday's practice.
The Bulldogs will return to the Maybank Triplets practice field for another 3-hour workout in helmets and shoulder pads on Wednesday at 8 a.m.
Georgia Southern
GSU Fall Practice Report #5
STATESBORO, Ga. ? Defense set the tone during the final segment of Georgia Southern’s fifth practice of fall camp. Tuesday morning’s session, the first practice in full pads, lasted for two and a half hours at the practice field complex.
The team held a mini-scrimmage at the end of practice, the first time the down marker and chains were used. Georgia Southern’s defense forced the offense to a 3-and-out on the first four possessions. Damon Suggs (Lithonia/Southwest Dekalb) recorded a sack on the very first play then later the senior defensive lineman and Harland Bower (Edison, N.J./East Ridge {FL}) teamed for another sack to force the offense off the field.
On the fifth possession, the offense started to click needing six plays to score. Zeke Rozier (Cochran/Bleckley County) took the opening handoff and went for 10-plus yards. Jonathan Bryant (Cairo/Cairo) caught a Kyle Collins (Atlanta/Lovett) pass for a first down, then Collins scrambled for another first down. Three plays later freshman running back Lamar Brown (Louisville/Jefferson County) scored a touchdown.
True-freshman running back LaVelle Larry (Roswell/Roswell) caught a TD pass on the next drive. E.J. Webb (Roanoke, VA/Fleming) stopped the offense from making it three straight scores intercepting a pass. The defense forced another change-over on downs thanks to a key third down sack by Kerry Bonds (Tallahassee, FL/Lincoln). Later in the session Derek Heyden (Atlanta/Marist) thought he had an interception but the defensive line was called for offsides. Two pass break-ups later resulted in fourth down. Junior defensive back Ronnie Wiggins (Summerville/Chattooga) picked up a loose ball and ran it back for a touchdown.
Head coach Chris Hatcher was encouraged by what he saw at practice by his preseason 17th-ranked Eagles, especially on defense.
“Well we had some good work on both sides of the ball. Our first team defense really flew around and just put it to the offense. That was good to see those guys playing with great intensity. I saw some good things out of some of the young players,” said the second year head coach. “Some of our young backs looked good out there which was a real pleasant surprise for us. We’re not ready to play right now and we don’t have to be, so we are trying to get better each day.”
Did Hatcher expect the veteran defensive unit to have the upper hand in such a workout?
“Yeah, I hope so. As the offensive coach I’m trying to whip them every single day, but in the grand scheme of things we want those yards to be tough to come by.”
Wednesday will be the first multiple-workout of camp. The team is tentatively scheduled to practice from 8-10 a.m., 2:15-4:15 p.m. then for another hour walk through at night. Following a Thursday afternoon practice and another multiple-workout on Friday, Hatcher plans on giving the team Saturday and Sunday off.
LITTLE EAGLES CAMP, MEET THE EAGLES SET FOR AUG. 23: On Saturday, August 23rd, Georgia Southern University Football will again offer the Little Eagles Camp followed by ?Meet the Eagles’ presented by Trapnell Dodge. The event will take place at Paulson Stadium... Head football coach Chris Hatcher, his staff and players will offer the Little Eagles Camp in the morning. Sign up will take place from 9-9:45 a.m. for children ages 4-12 and the event is free. Little Eagles Camp will run from 9:45-10:45 as campers will participate in various football drills... Following the Little Eagles Camp, the public is invited to Bishop Field House for ?Meet the Eagles’ presented by Trapnell Dodge. This will be the first chance to get the 2008 schedule posters as fans can get autographs and their picture taken with members of the Eagle Football program... Fans can also purchase football season tickets, the 2008 football media guides and the University Store will be on hand to sell Georgia Southern merchandise, all while meeting GUS and the cheerleaders... For more information call (912) 478-1500.
Western Carolina
Western Carolina Football Concludes Day Three of Preseason Practice
Catamount Football Practice Photo Gallery
CULLOWHEE, N.C. ? Western Carolina football concluded day three of preseason football practice on Tuesday as the team inches closer to two-a-day practices which begin Friday, August 8.
Head Coach Dennis Wagner put the team through some controlled scrimmage drills as the practice concluded on Tuesday.
The schedule for WCU most days includes a practice session in the morning beginning at 8:00 am with team and position meetings through the afternoon. Preseason workouts also include afternoon sessions in the weight room, as well as meetings with individuals throughout the athletic department and across campus.
Two-a-days begin on Friday, Aug. 8, which will include a morning session and one mid-afternoon beginning at 3:30 pm. The Catamounts will have 20 practices in anticipation of the annual "Meet the Cats" scrimmage on Aug. 21.