Fall Football Practice #5
8/10/2007 4:26:00 AM | Football
STATESBORO, Ga. ? The sounds of pads colliding could be heard throughout the Georgia Southern football practice complex on Friday morning (Aug. 10) as the Eagles wore full pads for the first time this season.
Per NCAA rules, this was the first time Georgia Southern could wear full pads after Monday's initial practice. First-year head coach Chris Hatcher did not allow full contact Friday, however, he anticipates implementing full contact Saturday. But that didn't mean the team slowed down any.
“Even when we're in helmets we go at full speed. Today we didn't go to the ground, tomorrow we will and then after tomorrow we will begin to know a little bit more about our players,” said Hatcher. “We don't always tackle (during practice), but we're full go all the way to the tackle every practice and that's the way we like to play. We like to toughen ourselves up when we don't have the pads on. But tomorrow we will full tackle and we'll find out if some of these tag-offs will really be tackles or not.”
Several new faces will be making those tackles. Of the 15 new faces that joined the Georgia Southern program since last May (excluding February signees), nine are on the defensive side of the ball including five along the front line. Of those nine new defenders, three transferred after playing at a FBS institution (DB Henry Chubb from Troy, LB Dakota Walker and DE Kerry Bonds both from South Carolina) and two more played at a junior college (DE Brandon Lee Williams and DE Jerome Pelham).
That should benefit the Eagles who lost four defensive starters from last year, including All-Southern Conference performers Charrod Taylor (DE) and John Mohring (LB). Those returning players to join the newcomers include preseason All-America defensive back Brandon Jackson (Ft. Lauderdale, FL/Plantation) and preseason All-SoCon defensive end Larry Beard (Fairburn/Sandy Creek).
The football team received little relief from the heat and humidity during this first week. With heat indexes in the triple digits all week long, this arguably could have been one of the hottest opening weeks in years. Hatcher thought his squad adjusted to the outdoor elements.
“I think we had another good day (of practice). We're getting a little more acclimated to the heat and playing at a faster pace, which is what I like to see. It was no different than being in shoulder pads or helmets... Overall I think we're getting a little bit better and if you're not optimistic this time of the year then you'll never be optimistic.”
The Eagles will go from 8:15-10:15 a.m. then 2:15-4:15 and 7-8 p.m. on Saturday. Sunday's practice is slated for 2:45-5 p.m. and the team is scheduled to have Monday (the first day of classes) off.
Georgia Southern opens the 2007 season on Saturday, September 8, against West Georgia with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. For ticket information call the Georgia Southern ticket office at (912) 681-0123 or 800-GSU-WINS.
GUS ON PATROL IN SAVANNAH: GUS, Eagle Sports Marketing and the Georgia Southern University Cheerleaders will make an appearance in Savannah this Saturday. The whole crew will be located in the food court of the Savannah Mall as part of a live radio remote for Lucky Dog 106.9 FM. All fans are encouraged to stop by between noon and 1 p.m. to pick up all kinds of GSU gear and prizes. Eagle Sports Marketing will be handing out visors, pom-poms, mini footballs and schedule cards. Also, the first 10 fans to show up will receive a pair of tickets to the Georgia Southern-Chattanooga football game on September 22. All Eagles fans are welcome to attend and show your support for Georgia Southern... and a special thanks to Lucky Dog 106.9 FM.
MEET THE EAGLES SET FOR AUGUST 18: The Georgia Southern Football program will be sponsoring a Little Eagles camp and a Meet the Eagles Day on Saturday, August 18. The Little Eagles camp will take place from 9-11 a.m. at Paulson Stadium. Registration will be from 9-9:30 a.m. As part of the camp festivities the Little Eagles will run on the field with the banner, music, PA, and the video scoreboard. Meet the Eagles Day will begin at 11 a.m. in the Bishop Field House... In the Bishop Field House, schedule cards and the 2007 Football posters will be available. In addition, GUS and the entire Georgia Southern Football team and coaching staff will sign autographs. Cheerleaders will also be on hand signing autographs, meeting and greeting the fans and selling bobblehead dolls. The Athletics Marketing Staff will hand out Chick-Fil-A coupons, sandwiches to the kids and the Chick-Fil-A cow will be in attendance. Season tickets, jerseys and football media guides will be on sale. Southern Boosters information packets will also be available.
