Eagles Continue Preparation for Albany
8/28/2009 1:52:00 AM | Football
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern head football coach Chris Hatcher and his team continue preparation for the 2009 season-opener against Albany (N.Y.) on Saturday, September 5th. Kickoff at Paulson Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.
This week the Eagles turned their full attention to preparing for the Great Danes, 2008 champion of the Northeastern Conference. Georgia Southern went through a normal four day practice week and will have the weekend off before returning on Monday afternoon.
Hatcher, entering his third year in charge of the Eagles and beginning his 10th overall as a head coach, knows the opening game will be a challenge.
"It is an exciting time. We are looking forward to the challenge that Albany presents to us. They are a big, physical team and our team is built a little more on speed. So we are going to have to bow our necks. Offensively we are really going to have to execute well, take care of the football and hopefully we'll have more points than they do," said Hatcher. "I think we've done a very good job (at practice this week). Last week we had a game week simulation, and now our guys know how to practice at the game week tempo. We've cut back a little this week to get our legs back under us so we'll be fresh and ready to run on Saturday."
When asked if he thinks his team is ready for the season, Hatcher has liked what he's seen so far.
"You never know until you go out and do it but I think we are. This is my 10th season and I feel really good about this team, and hopefully that will equate to a lot of big wins. Right now they've been practicing hard and have a great attitude. They are probably just as excited as I am to go out there and see what kind of football team we have."
BARKER NAMED ERK RUSSELL SCHOLARSHIP WINNER: Senior offensive lineman Josh Barker (Duluth/Greater Atlanta Christian) will receive the second annual Erk Russell Memorial Scholarship, as announced by head coach Chris Hatcher. Barker is a fifth-year senior walk-on and the main reserve on the O-line.
Erk Russell helped restart the Eagle Football program and in just the fourth season of competition won the first of the program's six NCAA National Championships. He finished with three national titles and a record of 83-22-1. The scholarship is funded through the Eagle Football Assistance Association. Fans and friends of the Russell Family and Georgia Southern Football have made contributions in Erk's memory toward a scholarship. In April 2008 the EFAA announced the completion of a $50,000 endowment in memory of the legendary coach.
The scholarship is awarded annually by the football coaching staff to a student-athlete who most exemplifies the qualities Coach Russell sought in a football player.
Barker has worked his way up the depth chart throughout his career. He did not see any game action his freshman year, and made four appearances as a sophomore. Last year he played in the win at Chattanooga.
"Right now he is our back-up lineman, kind of our sixth man on the offensive line. We (the coaches) take a walk-on that exhibits all the characteristics of what I think Georgia Southern Football is - that's tough, aggressive, hard-nosed football players. Josh Barker is that guy this year. Anytime you're a lineman and you stay on a team five years as a walk-on it says a lot in itself. That is probably the hardest position to be a scout team player on year in and year out. Due to his consistency and endurance if you will being on the team, that's what put him over the top," said Hatcher.
FOUR NAMED TEAM CAPTAIN: Head coach Chris Hatcher also announced Thursday, four Eagles were voted on by their teammates as team captains. Sophomore quarterback Lee Chapple (Alpharetta/Greater Atlanta Christian), senior offensive lineman Cole Fountain (Cartersville/Woodland), sophomore linebacker Dion DuBose (Norcross/Norcross) and senior defensive end Harland Bower (Edison, N.J./East Ridge {FL}) were selected.
According to Hatcher, only the team votes on captains, players can nominate teammates, about 15 were nominated and they get to vote on four.
"It was an overwhelming choice. Lee Chapple, Cole Fountain, Harland Bower and Dion DuBose were named the team's 2009 captains which I thought was an excellent choice. There were a lot of good players that could have been the captain but those would have been four out of maybe a couple more that I would have picked myself which really makes me feel good that our team is on the same page I'm on.
EAGLES RECEIVE VOTES IN PRESEASON POLL: Georgia Southern received votes in both the Sports Network and FCS Coaches preseason polls.
According to the Sports Network, GS just missed out on the 'Top 25' coming in 27th place (335 points). The Eagles' season-opening opponent Albany is in 40th place with 64 points... The Eagles also received 66 points in the coaches' poll, good for 28th place. The Great Danes also made an appearance in the poll with nine points.
Once again Georgia Southern will face one of the toughest schedules in the country as all but one opponent (Chattanooga) made an appearance in a preseason poll. Appalachian State (1st), Wofford (10th), Elon (11th), South Dakota State (22nd), Furman (36th), Samford (46th), Western Carolina (60th) and The Citadel (66th) were listed in the initial ranking... North Carolina is also another 'Top 25' opponent as the Tar Heels were 20th in the preseason USA Today poll and 21st according to the Associated Press.
