Little Eagles Camp, Meet the Eagles Day a Success
8/18/2007 4:26:00 AM | Football
STATESBORO, Ga. ? The Georgia Southern Football program hosted a Little Eagles Camp and Meet the Eagles Day Saturday morning (Aug. 18) at Paulson Stadium and Bishop Field House. In all 165 Little Eagles attended the camp.
The coaching staff and players ran the children through drills at different stations around Paulson Stadium. After the drills were completed all the kids gathered in the Eagles' locker room and received a pep talk from head coach Chris Hatcher. With all the Georgia Southern players and cheerleaders lined up on either side forming a tunnel, the Little Eagles ran through the banner and tunnel out to the 50 yard line. Everyone came together for a ?Go Eagles' cheer, and that excitement carried over inside Bishop Field House.
According to Athletics Marketing Director Brent Jones more than 2,000 schedule posters were handed out during Meet the Eagles as fans made their way around to different tables where the players and coaches sat to sign autographs.
“I thought we had a really good turnout today. We handed out more than 2,000 posters and nearly that many schedule cards as well,” said Jones. “I think everyone really enjoyed meeting the players and coaches today, and hopefully all that excitement surrounding our program will translate into a packed Paulson Stadium on September 8th.”
TIME OFF: After four hard days of practice and completing the first week of classes, Georgia Southern will take the rest of Saturday off and all of Sunday from practice. The team will get together for church service Sunday morning at First Baptist Church. The Eagles return to the practice fields Monday afternoon.
HATCHER GIVES EVALUATION UPDATE: Georgia Southern completed practice #13 Friday afternoon, and the season-opener against West Georgia is drawing near. With three weeks remaining until the game against the Wolves, head coach Chris Hatcher has liked what he has seen so far in practice but said consistency is the key. He gave an update on how every position is progressing.
QUARTERBACKS: “Well we have got to be more consistent, that's pretty much at every position. I see some good things. Both our quarterbacks are getting a better command of the offense and we're starting to get a little more in sync with those wide outs and running backs. That's huge in what we're trying to accomplish.”
RUNNING BACKS: “I think we have got some good ones back there. We've got some guys that have college playing experience. We're real pleased with Chris Teal and Zeke Rozier, our two freshmen. They've really picked things up, started to improve and probably going to play this year.”
RECEIVERS: “That's an area where we are doing a better job of blocking and getting after people on the perimeter. We've got to do a better job of catching the football, we're very inconsistent there. We need those guys to really step it up and become better pass catchers.”
OFFENSIVE LINE: “Those guys have really picked up what we're trying to do. I think they're a versatile group, they run well, they're mean and they do a good job of protecting the passer. Going into camp I thought that was our strength and I have not changed my mind.”
KICKING GAME: “(Place kicker) Jesse Hartley has done a good job. (Punter) Dan Jordan has been doing well but again we've got to be more consistent in everything that we do.”
DEFENSIVE LINE: “That was a big question mark coming into camp. I think we've helped ourselves with some new guys that we brought in. We look like we're a little bit stronger, a little faster. You've got to have a good D-line if you are going to be competitive.”
LINEBACKERS: “We definitely updated ourselves there. Quentin Taylor has been doing a really good job. Dakota Walker has come along real well. Terrione Benefield has been playing really well, and we've been really impressed with E.J. Webb. He has improved dramatically since spring ball so we're really fired up about that position.”
DEFENSIVE BACKS: “I thought it was a really strong suit for us. We don't have a whole bunch of depth back there. We're getting a little banged up back there right now. We moved Ronnie Wiggins the other day back over to defensive. That will give us some depth. I don't know if it'll be permanent but he's been playing really well. So maybe that will be a strong suit.”
