Eagles Make Improvements in Increments
4/14/2010 5:13:00 AM | Football
STATESBORO, Ga. - One practice stands between the Eagles and the true final practice of the spring, their last scrimmage, when they will take the field at Paulson Stadium Saturday at 1 p.m. The Blue-White Spring Game, presented by Franklin Toyota, provides the opportunity for Georgia Southern football fans to see the progress the Eagles have made in the 14 previous practices.
"We are going to continue to improve as we have throughout the spring," said first-year Eagles Head Coach Jeff Monken. "We are better than we were March 23rd. I am pleased with that. We're not as far along as I would have hoped to have been, so we'll have some ground to make up in August."
Thursday afternoon the team will have its final practice in helmets and shorts before Saturday's scrimmage. Even though the players will not be in pads, Monken reinforced that it will still be a work day. The Eagles will "polish up" what they have worked on, review the offensive plays and concentrate on the defensive fronts. During the course of this spring, Monken and his coaching staff have not only been restoring Georgia Southern's offensive identity, the option, but they are also reconfiguring the other side of the ball, to a 4-3 defense, at the same time.
"I am satisfied with what we have tried to install and the ambitiousness of our installation schedule, but we didn't master enough things to make me feel comfortable that we really have a great base for coming back in the fall," Monken said. "We'll obviously start all over because the freshmen and new signees will be here, and they are going to need to learn the offense and defense brand new. It will be good for our guys to get a refresher course and it will go a lot faster in the fall. I wish we could have gotten better at more things."
Georgia Southern did not practice on Monday and practiced Tuesday with a consistent schedule of individual and position drills, skelly and two separate sessions of team contact. A brand new front on the defensive side provided an advantage for the offense during the offense vs. defense sessions. There are still plenty of questions, and Coach Monken reiterates the need for improvement.
"It will get there," said Monken. "'There' is a long way away still, but we'll get 'there.'"
Monken and his coaching staff have set a depth chart on both sides of the ball, and for Saturday's spring game, will put the number-one offense with the number-two defense and the number-one defense will be paired with the number-two offense. The rest of the team will be split between the two teams. The rosters for both teams will be posted to the www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com website by the end of the week.
"We'll make sure we have a pretty good idea of the what plays we are going to run on offense (Saturday) and the fronts we'll concentrate on defense, what our adjustments are going to be to the different formations by our offense, so that the guys can get out there and check the right play, or check the right front, or the right coverage, and they can just play," Monken said. "They can run around and play, and enjoy the day, which is what the spring game is for. I'm excited for our kids to have the opportunity to be in front of a crowd and (have) people clap and appreciate what they are doing. I think they'll get excited about being in Paulson Stadium and just that attitude about going into Paulson Stadium and playing there... is going to be an emphasis. That should be special, let's go play like it is."
BLUE-WHITE SPRING GAME WEEKEND
Eagle fans will have plenty of events to look forward to during the weekend of April 16-18th. Highlighted by the Blue-White Spring Game presented by Franklin Toyota on Saturday, April 17th at 1 p.m. at Paulson Stadium, the weekend begins with the Baseball Eagles playing host to Samford at 7 p.m. Friday, April 16th at J.I. Clements Stadium. Former Eagle baseball player Russell Hendricks (1986-89) will throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the series opener.
Children in the 4-12 age group are invited to participate in the "Little Eagles" Football Camp from 11 a.m.-noon Saturday morning prior to the spring game with registration beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Bishop Field House. Senior Day for the Eagle Men's Tennis team begins at noon on April 17th at the Hanner Fieldhouse tennis courts as Georgia Southern takes on Chattanooga.
Following the Blue-White Spring Game presented by Franklin Toyota, the Clements Crazies Tailgate begins Saturday evening's events from 4:30-6 p.m. with a grilled chicken dinner complete with roasted potatoes, green beans and iced tea. Fans with a ticket to Saturday's baseball game or a valid Georgia Southern ID card are admitted free to the Clements Crazies Tailgate, sponsored by the Student Eagle Club.
Eagle Head Football Coach Jeff Monken and the football coaching staff will be introduced before the start of Saturday's 6 p.m. baseball game with quarterbacks coach Mitch Ware, father of Georgia Southern infielder Jake, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. The Samford-GSU baseball series ends with Sunday's game at 1:30 p.m.
Saturday night, the third annual Eagle Football Alumni Association (EFAA) Reverse Raffle will be held at Bishop Field House. The $100 ticket price includes live entertainment, food and beverages for the ticket purchaser and a guest, as well as a chance to win $10,000. A limited number of tickets are available through the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation and EFAA by calling (912) 478-5520 or e-mailing Lucas Stuckey at lstuckey@georgiasouthern.edu.
Friday, April 16
Eagle Baseball vs. Samford, 7 p.m.
J.I. Clements Stadium
Ceremonial first pitch: Former Eagle baseball player Russell Hendricks (1986-89)
For tickets, call (912) GSU-WINS (478-9467)
Saturday, April 17
Little Eagles Football Camp, 11 a.m.-noon
Paulson Stadium
Children ages 4-12 will spend from 11 a.m. until noon at Paulson Stadium on Saturday, April 17th with coaches and players. A series of "combine drills" will be set up on the field and the "Little Eagles" can also learn how to run and throw the football, punt, and make a field goal.
Registration: 10:30 a.m., Bishop Field House
For more information, call (912) 478-5377
Men's Tennis Senior Day, Noon
vs. Chattanooga
Hanner Tennis Courts
Blue-White Spring Game presented by Franklin Toyota, 1 p.m.
Paulson Stadium
No admission charge
Clements Crazies Tailgate, 4:30-6 p.m.
Parking lot near J.I. Clements Stadium
Ticket to Saturday's game or Georgia Southern Student ID required for dinner
Georgia Southern Baseball vs. Samford, 6 p.m.
Coach Jeff Monken and Football Coaching Staff introduced prior to first pitch
Ceremonial first pitch: Eagle Quarterbacks coach Mitch Ware, father of baseball player Jake Ware
For tickets, call (912) GSU-WINS (478-9467)
EFAA Reverse Raffle and Auction, 7-11 p.m.
Bishop Field House
For tickets, call (912) 478-5520
Sunday, April 18
Men's Tennis vs. Samford, 11 a.m.
Hanner Tennis Courts
Georgia Southern Baseball vs. Samford, 1:30 p.m.
J.I. Clements Stadium
For tickets, call (912) GSU-WINS (478-9467)
