Football | 7/25/2017 5:26:00 PM

STATESBORO, Ga. – Overcast skies and a cool 77 degree temperature welcomed the Georgia Southern football team Monday morning. Junior Wesley Fields was the first to cross the bridge despite arriving back to Statesboro at 3:15 a.m. following some gnarly travel delays coming back from the Sun Belt Conference Media Day with senior Chris DeLaRosa.

Monday officially ushered in the 2017 Georgia Southern football season. Along with head coach Tyson Summers, the Eagles gathered before the bridge, crossing over Beautiful Eagle Creek at 9:36 a.m. The energy was high and players and staff were "giddy", as the Eagles began camp.

Dressed with helmets only, the players split into position groups and started special team's instruction. At 10:09 a.m. the offense and defense split into individual position groups and coaches began hands-on instruction.

"The guys really came out and do what we asked them to do," Summers said. "I'm very pleased with how much further along we are even today and how we practiced through the first hour fifteen/hour twenty minutes of our practice. It was very clean and we feel very comfortable about the practice schedule and what we need to get done."

With the new NCAA rules allowing teams to begin practice earlier, Summers took advantage starting camp a week earlier than last season. The Eagles practice schedule is slated to have stretches of three practices, with a day off in-between to allow for recovery. 

"We are in a mindset of trying to take advantage of the new NCAA rule, that gives us the opportunity to come in a little bit earlier, which is one of the reasons we started today," Summers stated. "We feel like it gives us more down time, and more opportunities to be smart with their legs. We will practice for three days and then have a recovery day off, and continue that through the next five weeks."

As practice progressed throughout the morning, the weather began to heat up significantly which allowed the freshman to get a taste of the summer heat in Statesboro.

Georgia Southern finished the 2016 season 4-4 in the conference and 5-7 overall. The Eagles, who return 10 position starters to the 2017 squad, were picked seventh in the Sun Belt Conference preseason poll.
 
MEET THE EAGLES FAN FEST
The annual Meet the Eagles Fan Fest will be held on Friday, Aug. 4 at Allen E. Paulson Stadium. Gates will open at 5 p.m. and the football team will hold an open scrimmage from 6-8 p.m. at Paulson Stadium before the event. The Fan Fest will begin shortly after the scrimmage is completed and will last approximately 90 minutes. The public is invited to the scrimmage and fans will be allowed to come on the field at 8 p.m., or when the scrimmage is over. The North Concourse will be the only side open and fans may enter through Gate 12 near Bishop Field House.

The event is being held in conjunction with the team's first scrimmage. Although it is usually on a Saturday, the team is not practicing that day, thus the event will be on Friday night to combine it with a practice and to have it in milder weather conditions.
 
 
Georgia Southern Preseason Football Schedule
Date (Time, Location)
Wed., July 26 (9:45 AM-12 PM, Eagle Creek)
Thurs., July 27 (9:45 AM-12 PM, Eagle Creek)
Fri., July 28 No practice
Sat., July 29 (9:45 AM-12 PM, Eagle Creek)
Sun., July 30 (9:45 AM-12 PM, Eagle Creek)
Mon, July 31 (9:45 AM-12 PM, Eagle Creek)
Tues., Aug. 1 No practice
Wed., Aug. 2 (9:45 AM-12 PM, Eagle Creek)
Thurs., Aug. 3 (9:45 AM-12 PM, Eagle Creek)
Fri., Aug. 4 (6-8 PM, Paulson - scrimmage #1; Fan Fest 8 PM, Paulson)
Sat., Aug. 5 No practice (Little Eagles Camp 6-8 PM, Paulson)
Sun., Aug. 6 (8-9:30 AM, Paulson)
Mon., Aug. 7 (9:45 AM-12 PM, Eagle Creek)
Tues., Aug. 8 (9:45 AM-12 PM, Eagle Creek)
Wed., Aug. 9 No practice
Thurs., Aug. 10 (9:45 AM-12 PM, Eagle Creek)
Fri., Aug. 11 (9:45 AM-12 PM, Eagle Creek)
Sat., Aug. 12 (9:15 AM, Paulson - scrimmage #2)
Sun., Aug. 13 No practice
Mon., Aug. 14 No practice
Tues., Aug. 15 (4-6 PM, Eagle Creek)
Wed., Aug. 16 (4-6 PM, Eagle Creek)
Thurs., Aug. 17 (4-6 PM, Eagle Creek)
Fri., Aug. 18 (6-8 PM, Armstrong State; 8 PM Fan Fest, Armstrong State)
Sat., Aug. 19 No practice
Sun., Aug. 20 No practice
Mon., Aug. 21 (4-6 PM, Eagle Creek)
Tue., Aug. 22 (4-6 PM, Eagle Creek)