Fall Football Camp Comes to an End

STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern Football officially closed out fall football camp Saturday afternoon (Aug. 15), but inclement weather again forced the Eagles to make adjustments.

The Eagles worked out at the practice fields for roughly 80 minutes then storm clouds rolled into the area. Head coach Chris Hatcher cleared his team off the field and they loaded up the two yellow buses and drove to Hanner Fieldhouse before heavy rains fell in the area. GS worked out the final hour in the old gym at Hanner to close out camp.

"You only worry about things you can control, and the weather is one of those things I have no control over. We got the work we needed to get done in camp, it's not as big how many times you're out there but if you get all the reps you wanted to get in and we got that accomplished throughout the course of the week," said Hatcher.

The third-year head coach was encouraged following the first two weeks of practice.

"I think we improved in a lot of areas. Our team speed on defense is probably better than it has been in quite some time. Offensively at times we've look really good and other times we're very close to looking good, and our special teams are coming along nicely," stated Hatcher. "I think we came out where we need to be, of course we have a lot to work on between now and September 5th but we have four practices next week we consider preseason and that leaves us with two weeks to prepare for Albany."

Georgia Southern will take off Sunday and Monday (first day of classes) before returning to practice on Tuesday afternoon. According to Hatcher another 35 student-athletes (redshirts and walk-ons) will join the team and begin practice on Tuesday.

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.

SPECIAL TEAMS IMPROVING: Last year Georgia Southern had three redshirt-freshmen as key players on special teams, arguably the youngest kicking game in the Southern Conference and all the Football Championship Subdivision. All three return and should give the Eagles an edge again in 2009.

Carter Jones handled all the long snapping duties for punts and field goals/PAT... Charlie Edwards, who also served as the holder on kicks, ranked among the SoCon punting leaders for most of the season. He finished with a 40.0 yard average on 41 punts, good for seventh among the GS season 'Top 10' leaders. A SoCon All-Freshman team representative, Edwards launched eight punts of 50-plus yards and placed 14 inside the 20-yard line... Adrian Mora took over the place kicking duties in week four. He went on to earn Second Team All-SoCon and All-Freshman team honors, and this year was named preseason First Team All-Conference honors. Mora nailed all 31 extra point attempts and converted a field goal in every game played, 10-of-12 including a long of 42 yards in the finale at Furman. He led the team in scoring with 61 points.

Sophomore Christopher Rogers and true-freshmen Tyler Rhodes and Graden Bozeman are challenging Mora for the starting job and kickoff duties... Chris Williamson signed with the Eagles in February and has battled Edwards in fall camp for the punting duties... Brett Moore and Justin Wilson joined Jones in camp as long snapper.

SPECIAL TREAT FOR END OF CAMP: The Georgia Southern players enjoyed a special treat to close out fall camp. Several members of the EFAA (Eagle Football Assistance Association) were in town to serve a catered meal to the players and staff on Saturday night.

Category: Football

Published on Saturday, 15 August 2009 17:56