T-E-A-M
4/2/2010 2:25:00 AM | Football
STATESBORO, Ga. - When the drill is over, it's no longer a matter of offense versus defense. When the drill is over, it's not blue against white. When the drill is over, everyone is on the same team. That "team" mentality is taking hold on the banks of "Beautiful Eagle Creek" where Coach Monken and his staff have the players on offense and defense shake hands after the practice periods of offense vs. defense contact are complete.
In the normal course of football practices and games, the offense is charged with crossing the goal line, and the job of the defense is to make sure that doesn't happen. While the Eagles battle against each other on the practice field, the ultimate team objective is the same: win.
"Our guys want to learn, they want to win," said Eagles Head Coach Jeff Monken. "They are getting a good idea about their coaches, what their coaches want from them, and they are realizing what the expectations are. I'm encouraged by the tempo of practice and the effort."
Both offense and defense continued to work on individual drills today, then went to the far side of the practice fields for contact in the groups of the one, two and three offense and defense.
"Whatever we have in so far, we'd like to get on tape," Monken said concerning Saturday's upcoming scrimmage. "We've added stuff just today and Saturday will be the second time that we have run it, so, we're not going to be real polished on that stuff. We're not real polished on stuff we put in on the first day, but, we're getting better, there is improvement, and slowly but surely, we'll hopefully get there."
Monken noted that all the special teams plays have been installed and about one half of the offense is now in place. During the upcoming scrimmage, the coaching staff will be observing, seeing if the Eagles can play fast, keep after the ball and play with great effort. Monken's emphasis remains on having the team play hard and pushing the players to maintain a high level of effort.
"The other things we can teach and we'll get better at," Monken said. "If we don't play with great effort and play hard, we'll hardly have a chance."
FIRST SCRIMMAGE OF SPRING
The Eagles will travel in the yellow school buses to Paulson Stadium Saturday morning for a 9 a.m. scrimmage, practice number eight of the spring. The designated number-one offense will go up against the number-one defense, continue with the number-two offensive and defensive groups and then the number-three groups before rotating back through the lineups. GSU continues to prepare for the April 17 Blue-White Spring Game, presented by Franklin Toyota, with three practices next week and Scrimmage number two on Saturday, April 10.
TRADITIONAL PLAIN JERSEYS RETURN
Navy jerseys with white pants have been the standard at Paulson Stadium for home games at Georgia Southern, but there will be some small changes to the Eagles uniform for next fall. Ranked as one of the top 10 college uniforms in the country by Sports Illustrated, both the home and away jerseys will return to a plain traditional front, without the "GS" logo at the neckline. The only addition will be on the back of the uniform where players' names will be added at the cowl. White uniform pants will be worn for both home and away games and the Eagles will wear black Nike cleats.
SEASON TICKET RENEWALS IN MAIL APRIL 1
Season ticket renewal packages went out in the mail April 1 to all 2009 football season ticket holders with the option to renew those locations by June 1. For additional information or questions about season tickets, please call Kay Shuman in the Georgia Southern Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-GSU-WINS (478-9467) or (912) GSU-WINS (478-9467). Season ticket holders may renew online at www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com by clicking on the "Renew Season Tickets" graphic on the right side of the website, call the ticket office local or toll-free number or stop by the office at 203 Lanier Drive, Statesboro, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
