Eagles Start Fall Camp 2009
Team battles heat in the first practice
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern Football opened preseason fall camp on Wednesday (Aug. 5) with a split squad practice session. The two-hour morning session consisted of 45 Eagles - mainly newcomers - while the afternoon session that also lasted two hours was comprised of the majority of the returning players. In all, 90 players are in fall camp.
Third year head coach Chris Hatcher has traditionally started the first three days of his fall camp with split squad practices to give the newcomers more repetitions. He noted that despite a slower tempo on day one his team's eagerness was evident.
"I was very pleased with what I saw, of course we are in shorts and it's the first day where our tempo is slowed down tremendously just for the learning curve for a lot of the new guys. However, we are very eager and our guys seemed to be fired up about being outside again practicing football," said Hatcher. "I started my 10th year as a head coach today (seven years at Valdosta State, third year at Georgia Southern), so I'm a little bit more excited. And I tell you, I really like our team, I really do. They worked hard in the spring, they worked hard all summer. I really like the guys that we have out here and we're very excited about the opportunity that we have."
Wednesday marked the first of 29 scheduled practices prior to the season-opener on September 5th against Albany (N.Y.). Kickoff for the Albany (N.Y.) game is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Paulson Stadium. All sessions are tentatively scheduled to take place at the practice field complex and Herring Pavilion. Only media members are allowed to take pictures during any practice session. For ticket information call 800-GSU-WINS.
KICKERS CONVERT: Last month three Eagles were named preseason All-Southern Conference, led by the Eagles' lone First Team selection in Adrian Mora. The sophomore placekicker was one of four to take reps in extra point attempts. Mora, sophomore Christopher Rogers and freshmen Graden Bozeman and Tyler Rhodes hit all their extra point attempts Wednesday. Mora led the team in scoring last year with 61 points.
NEW LOOK RECEIVING CORPS: If there is one area that true-freshmen will have ample opportunity to earn playing time, it's at wide receiver. Of the 12 receivers currently in fall camp they have combined for two catches totaling 39 yards - all by senior Garryon Taylor. Sophomore Nico Hickey played on defense and special teams last season. Junior Nick Kyles had to sit out in 2008 to meet transfer requirements. Freshman Jonathan Bryant joined the team in the spring as a grayshirt and Tyler Sumner redshirted last year.
"There are a lot of unknowns when it comes to those guys. I thought Garryon Taylor had a good day today. Jonathan Bryant looked good, Nick Kyles had a nice day. Tyler Sumner I think is better now than he was in the spring. You can tell that he's a guy that came to camp determined that he wasn't going to let anybody beat him out," said Hatcher. "Now, whether that happens or not, we'll have to wait and see. The young guys had a good practice. Again, it's the first day, and there was very limited work versus the defense, a lot of teaching just to make sure we start with a good foundation. But, all in all, I saw some really good things out of those guys."
According to sophomore quarterback Lee Chapple, he and the other quarterbacks started working out with the freshmen during individual workouts this summer.
"We got to throw with them during the summer and they look real good. They know the system, they ask questions and want to learn it fast. And when they want to learn the system fast, you build relationships, start to develop timing with everybody, and you develop that cohesiveness. The offense can get clicking."
HEAT INDEX: During the afternoon practice the heat index was around 105-110 degrees. The team, staff and fans in attendance received a break when cloud cover rolled in and the breeze picked up. A few in attendance noted the gnats were out in full force.
TWO NEWCOMERS ON DEFENSIVE LINE: Georgia Southern's defensive line needs to replace all three starters lost from last year. The Eagles welcomed two Division I FBS transfers over the summer. Junior Neil Harrell (Tampa, FL/Plant) played two seasons at Western Kentucky, seeing action in 17 career games. Sophomore Brandon Lampkin (Tucker/Tucker) redshirted his first year at Arkansas and did not record any statistics last year for the Razorbacks.
FALL TRYOUTS ANNOUNCED: Students who are interested in trying out for the Georgia Southern football team can pick up information at the Parrish Football Center on Monday, August 17th. All paperwork must be filled out prior to the tryouts on Friday, August 21. For more information contact the football office at (912) 478-5522.
FALL CAMP PRACTICE TIMES
Thursday, August 6: 2A 8:10-10 a.m.; 2B 1:10-3 p.m.
Friday, August 7: 3A 8:10-10 a.m.; 3B 1:10-3 p.m.
Saturday, August 8: 9:15-11:45 a.m.
Sunday, August 9: 2:15-4:45 p.m.
Monday, August 10: 8-10 a.m.; 2:15-4:15 p.m.; 7:15-8:15 p.m.
Tuesday, August 11: 1:30-4 p.m.
Wednesday, August 12: 8-10 a.m.; 2:15-4:15 p.m.; 7:15-8:15 p.m.
Thursday, August 13: 1:30-4 p.m.
Friday, August 14: 8-10 a.m.; 2:15-4:15 p.m.; 7:15-8:15 p.m.
Saturday, August 15: 1:30-4 p.m.
Sunday, August 16: Off
Monday, August 17: Off (First day of classes)
Day/time subject to change
Wofford Football Reports On Sunday
SPARTANBURG, SC ? The Wofford College football team will begin preparations for the 2009 season when they report to campus on Sunday, August 9. The team will have their first practice on Monday, August 10, with the first full pads practice scheduled for Friday, August 14.
On Sunday, the 90 players on the camp roster will report to campus. Players not on the 90-man roster are not allowed to take part in practice until the first day of class due to NCAA regulations. The first two practices will be in helmets only, while the third and fourth practice will be in shoulder pads only. The team will have six days with two-practices, beginning on Saturday, August 15, and two scrimmages.
Practice will be held on the intramural field next to Gibbs Stadium until the end of Carolina Panther training camp. All practices are open to the public; however keep in mind that the schedule can change without notice.
The Terriers will open the 2009 season on Saturday, September 5 at South Florida. The home opener will be Saturday, September 12 against Charleston Southern. Tickets are available by calling the Wofford Ticket Office at 864-597-4090.
Date Time
Aug. 10 6:15 pm
Aug. 11 3:30 pm
Aug. 12 3:30 pm
Aug. 13 3:30 pm
Aug. 14 3:30 pm
Aug. 15 9:00 am and 6:15 pm
Aug. 17 9:00 am and 6:15 pm
Aug. 18 3:30 pm
Aug. 19 9:00 am and 6:15 pm
Aug. 20 3:30 pm
Aug. 21 9:00 am and 6:15 pm
Aug. 22 7:00 pm Scrimmage (Gibbs Stadium)
Aug. 24 9:00 am and 6:15 pm
Aug. 25 3:30 pm
Aug. 26 9:00 am and 6:15 pm Scrimmage
Aug. 27 3:30 pm
Aug. 28 3:30 pm
Aug. 29 10:00 am
Samford Football Holds Annual Media Day
Head Coach Pat Sullivan and selected players spoke with the media about the upcoming season
Media Day Photo Gallery
Samford held its annual Football Media Day Wednesday at the new Cooney Family Field House. Below are quotes from the media day from Head Coach Pat Sullivan and players attending the event. Click on the link above to see photos from the media day. If you missed the live broadcast of the event, it will be replayed on WVSU-FM 91.1 or www.samford.edu/wvsu tonight at 10 p.m.
SAMFORD HEAD COACH Pat Sullivan
ON HAVING A YOUNG QUARTERBACK IN Dustin Taliaferro
"Obviously, we hope that he has a great year. Dustin is not only a very good football player, but he's also a really good person and a good student. He's earned our team's respect and I expect him to have a good year this year. (Assistant head coach Steve) Brickey does a great job with him and we're anxious to get out on the practice field tomorrow."
ON HIS EXPECTATIONS FOR THE OFFENSE THIS YEAR WITH BOTH Dustin Taliaferro AND Chris Evans RETURNING
"Hopefully, we'll be productive and especially more productive than we were at this time a year ago. I think the big thing for us will be our offensive line. We lost some key players there and we have a few younger guys that will have to come through for us this year. If they can do that then I think it will give us a chance to spread our wings a little bit on offense. It's been a long time since spring practice, but everybody's ready to get it started tomorrow."
ON IF HE HAS USED BEING PICKED SIXTH IN THE PRESEASON SOCON POLLS AS MOTIVATION FOR THE PLAYERS
"Oh, I don't have to mention it to them. They all see that, and realistically that's probably where we ought to be picked. Every team in this league is very tough to play against and we play four conference opponents this season when they are coming off a bye week. That's a tough deal, but there isn't anything that we can do about that. All we can focus on is getting better each day and now that the season is here, that's our main focus."
ON KNOWING THE SOCON TEAMS BETTER IN THE SECOND YEAR IN THE LEAGUE, AND THEM KNOWING SAMFORD BETTER AS WELL
"Yeah, for example, last season when Appalachian State came down here we'd seen them play on T.V., but none of our people had seen them play in person. That was the same with all of our games last season, but it was also the same with all of them against us. They hadn't seen Chris or Dustin or Bryce Smith or any of our other guys play before, so they were in the same boat. This year, we'll have a better understanding of what to expect and we'll just have to get ready to go."
ON IF THE SOCON WAS AS TOUGH AS HE EXPECTED LAST SEASON
"I think it was and I honestly think that it's only going to get tougher. The top six teams have basically stayed status quo with their coaching staffs and this year the only change was at Chattanooga. When you really look at it, Western Carolina kept getting better and better last year. We were lucky to catch them early in the season. I fully expect them to have a good football team this season and I think they'll be right there in the mix with everybody else."
ON THE NEW COONEY FAMILY FIELD HOUSE
"I'm happy for the players and I'm happy for Samford. It's really kind of overwhelming for me in some ways, especially with the way people have supported this program. It's special, and we're very thankful for everything that the donors have done to make this such a wonderful facility."
SENIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN Jon Weber
ON BEGINNING FALL PRACTICE
"I'm really looking forward to it. I've been getting pumped up about it all summer long. We've been working really hard in the offseason and I'm just looking forward to beginning my senior year with all of my boys on the field."
ON IF BEING THE ANCHOR OF THE OFFENSIVE LINE PUTS ANY MORE PRESSURE ON HIM
"I'm excited because we also have Thomas Gray coming back this year. Yeah, we lost some players, but a lot of guys stepped up during the spring and we've really been able to do a good job of building trust among the teammates. I think that we'll be pretty good on the offensive line. We have some guys that will need to step up this year, but they've already started doing their part by working hard all summer long."
ON HAVING A RETURNING STARTING QUARTERBACK IN Dustin Taliaferro
"It gives us a lot more confidence because we know that he's going to be even more comfortable in the pocket this year. That will definitely help us to keep our sacks down and I also think that it will help him to become an even better player. He was great last year, but this season he'll be more confident and that will help us a lot."
ON HAVING Chris Evans BACK
"He only has a little over 800 yards to go to break the Samford all-time rushing record, so our goal is to get him around 1,500 yards this year to make sure that he gets it. It's awesome to be able to block for a running back who is that good."
ON BEING ONE OF THE MOST EXPERIENCED PLAYERS ON THE OFFENSE THIS SEASON
"It's a big privilege to be a leader. I think that the best thing to do is to lead by example and I've been here working out every day this summer. We've been working hard and I believe that if I just show the kind of hard worker that I am then the younger players will follow. I feel extremely honored to be a team leader this season."
ON THE UPCOMING SEASON AND IF THERE IS ANY PARTICULAR GAME THAT HE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO
"Yeah, I'm really looking forward to the UCF game because that is where I transferred from. During my freshman year, that's where I played and I still have a lot of buddies down there on the team. It's going to be really fun to go down there and play against those guys."
JUNIOR RUNNING BACK Chris Evans
ON BEING NOMINATED FOR THE WALTER PAYTON AWARD
"Yeah, it was a big shock for me. Anytime you are recognized for your efforts and accomplishments, it's a big deal. I've got to thank my teammates, you know, for the success that I've had and them getting me on the list."
ON WHETHER THIS WAS THE BEST MOVE FOR HIM TO COME TO SAMFORD
"Oh yeah, it's been great. I don't regret it for a second. Just seeing what's been going on here at Samford, we are excited about this year and working towards our ultimate goal - a championship."
ON WHETHER HAVING ONE YEAR IN THE SOCON UNDER THEIR BELTS WILL HELP THEM COMPETE BETTER
"It helps a little bit. We aren't walking into the dark anymore. We kind of know what to expect now."
SENIOR DEFENSIVE END Rumiko Forrester
ON THE TEAM BEING PICKED SIXTH IN THE SOCON PRESEASON RANKINGS
"It's definitely a motivating factor because we're a very close-knit team and we're definitely using that to form a bond right now. By being picked sixth in the league, we'll definitely have a chip on our shoulder again and we're expecting to come out and play hard in every game. If we do that, then I don't see any reason why we can't come out on top. We're just ready to go out there on the practice field and go to work."
ON THE IDENTITY OF THIS YEAR'S DEFENSE
"We're still going to be physical and we're definitely going to work towards stopping the run. What we really want to do is to work on getting our pass defense better. It's going to be all about hard-nosed football."
ON IF RETURNING SO MANY STARTERS ON OFFENSE TAKES SOME PRESSURE OFF THE DEFENSE
"Yeah, I think so. Our offense is going to be just as good as it was last year and we also have a lot of good recruits coming in as well who are ready to step up."
ON IF THERE IS ANY PARTICULAR GAME ON THE SCHEEDULE HE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO
"Of course it will be the Elon game. It was our first SoCon game last season and it came down to the wire. It was such a close game. I still talk to some of the seniors from last year and they are still mad about it, so that's definitely the biggest game for me right now."
ON IF THERE IS A NEW ATTITUDE ON THIS YEAR'S TEAM TO GO ALONG WITH THE NEW FACILITY
"We want to come out and show everybody that donated to this building that we are going to work hard and give back to the fans by playing the best that we possibly can out on the field.
ON THE SWITCH FROM LINEBACKER TO DEFENSIVE END
"They decided to make the switch right after the season last year. They said that I'd be a faster matchup off the edge, so I've been working on it all spring."
Chattanooga Football Practice ? Day 5
UTC Chancellor Dr. Roger Brown and his wife Dr. Carolyn Thompson addressed the team during practice.
The first day in full pads brought out a bit of crowd to the fifth practice day in fall camp for the Chattanooga football program. It also included a visit from Chancellor Dr. Roger Brown and his wife Dr. Carolyn Thompson.
"We get incredible support from the administration and community," said head coach Russ Huesman. "Dr. Brown and Dr. Thompson have been very good to us and it's important that our players know the support that is here on this campus to not only be successful on the field, but in the classroom and most importantly, in life."
Be sure to check out the video highlights and an interview with Huesman and senior linebacker Joseph Thornton which is available at the top of the page, along with a photo album from today's action.
The Mocs kick-off the 2009 season with their home opener against Glenville State on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. (E.D.T.) at Finley Stadium. Season tickets begin at $22 for youth, alumni, faculty and staff and can be purchased at the UTC Ticket Office - (423) 266-MOCS (6627) - or online at GoMocs.com by clicking here.
With some student-athletes taking final exams and finishing summer classes, Chattanooga will have early sessions throughout the week. Monday's practice begins at 7 a.m. (E.D.T.) on Scrappy Moore Field. For a full practice schedule, visit the football page on GoMocs.com or click here.