Football Eagles Coming Out to Work When They Play
8/11/2010 10:13:00 PM | Football
STATESBORO, Ga. - At the end of 11 practices, with the final day of two-a-days now behind them, the Eagles still have more work ahead. The defense earned kudos for its efforts in the morning session, competing hard and getting after the offense in the first practice. The offense was challenged to bring that type of intensity onto the practice fields this afternoon.
"The good thing today was there was a little good on each side, some good for the offense and some good for the defense, and that's good for the team," said Eagles first-year Head Coach Jeff Monken. "That's good healthy competition. When you miss a play or miss a tackle or miss a block and come back the next play, and do it right, and play as hard as you can, fight back and not live off that last play, (but) live in the moment and go make a play, that's the kind of effort and attitude we are trying to get these guys to play with."
Monken and the coaching staff have emphasized throughout camp that the Eagles must practice and play with maximum effort, that they must compete and possess a warrior-like attitude.
"Our team's ability to be able to come out and practice hard for 20 periods this morning, have some interaction, and hit each other and have some real good competition," Monken said when asked about the positive aspects of today's practice. "This morning, the defense really had some enthusiasm and excitement and at the end of practice, they were laying it to the offense pretty good. At the end of practice, they let out a cheer, they were excited and that was great. I was glad to see that. I hope our guys play with enthusiasm and be excited when they make good plays and good things happen."
The Eagles came back for the afternoon session in full pads and got right back to work.
"It was good to see the offense come back -- I know the coaches challenged them and we talked to them just before we came out here -- that the offense needed to match the intensity and to come out and play," Monken said. "I thought in the option drill, early in practice, that the offense had a little attitude and things went better for them. I hope we're on the right track there and on the road to being a better team."
Monken reminded the team after the second session that all the effort - throughout workouts, spring practice and through camp -- is an investment. The investments the Eagles are making - and by continuing to work and push -- will make help them go forward.
"They (the practices) were better, they were probably, back-to-back, the two best that we have had," Monken said. "I am encouraged by what I saw, out of what we got out of the guys today in these last two practices. I wouldn't say it's exactly what we are looking for, or we are satisfied and we're ready to go. We've got a long way to go still. We are borderline being an average team right now. Hopefully, we'll get to average, then above average, and then good and keep going."
INDUCTION CEREMONY FOR HAM THIS WEEKEND - The Canadian Football Hall of Fame announced its 2010 inductees in February of this year, with former Georgia Southern All-American quarterback Tracy Ham to be honored for his contributions to the league. The ceremony to induct Ham and the other four members of the class, Bob Cameron, Don Narcisse, Elfrid Payton and Joe Pistilli, will be held this weekend, August 12-14 in Regina and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The events in Regina include the unveiling of the profile bust of the inductees and jacket presentation as well as the Hall of Fame game between the Saskatchewan Roughrigers and British Columbia Lions. The Hall of Fame Luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, August 12th in Regina. The Induction Golf Tournament will take place on Friday, August 13th and the Hall of Fame dinner on Saturday, August 14th will be held at the TCU Centre, both in Saskatoon.
In his 13-year career in the CFL, Ham amassed 40,534 passing yards for seventh all-time in the league, completing 2670 of 4943 passes (54 percent) and accounting for 284 touchdowns. He added 62 rushing touchdowns to his career totals.
MEET THE EAGLES: Several of Georgia Southern's fall sports teams will participate in a "Meet the Eagles" event next Saturday, August 14th, from 4-5:30 p.m. on Glenn Bryant Field at Paulson Stadium. Student-athletes and coaches from the Eagle football, men's and women's soccer, volleyball, cross country and the track and field teams will be present to promote their respective programs.
The event on August 14th will be the first opportunity for Georgia Southern fans to receive 2010 fall sports schedule posters and have the Eagle student-athletes and coaches autograph them. Not only will fans be able to snap photos of and with their favorite Eagles, they will also be able to take photos with Freedom, Georgia Southern University's live American bald eagle mascot. Fan favorite GUS and both Georgia Southern's all-girl and co-ed cheerleading squads will also be at Paulson Stadium for "Meet the Eagles." The University Store, with new items for the 2010 season, will be on site as well.
WALK-ON TRYOUTS: Students enrolled full time at Georgia Southern are invited to walk-on tryouts Monday, August 16th at 4:30 p.m. at the practice fields. Tryout participants must provide proof of a current physical (within six months of the date of the tryout), proof of insurance, and copy of class schedule with minimum of 12 hours coursework for Fall 2010 semester. Participants must be willing to comply with NCAA eligibility standards and must agree to and comply with the Georgia Southern drug testing policy. The information and forms may be found here.
AWAY GAME TICKETS ON SALE NOW THROUGH AUG. 20: Tickets to Georgia Southern's games at Navy and at Coastal Carolina are available to Eagle Fund donors and season ticket holders. Georgia Southern students with a valid ID are also eligible to purchase tickets to these away games.
Game tickets for Navy are $33 each and $15 for Coastal Carolina. Each ticket will include a $2.50 processing and mailing fee. Credit card payment is the only accepted form of payment allowed for these away game ticket orders. Forms and payment information may be mailed to the Georgia Southern Athletics Ticket Office at P.O. Box 8115-01, Statesboro, Georgia, 30460, or dropped off in person at the Cowart Building located adjacent to Paulson Stadium (203 Lanier Drive). For more information, call the Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-GSU-WINS (478-9467) during regular business hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
BULLOCH COUNTY KICKOFF DINNER AND PEP RALLY: The Bulloch County Eagle Club Football Kickoff Dinner and Pep Rally will be held Thursday, September 2nd at 6:30 p.m. in the Nessmith-Lane Ballroom at the Continuing Education Cener on the Georgia Southern campus. Join alumni and friends that evening for a buffet dinner, featured speaker Head Coach Jeff Monken, guests from the Center for Wildlife Education, the Cheerleaders and everyone's favorite eagle GUS. The pep rally will be held immediately following the program at the Russell Union Rotunda. Tickets are $15 each and may be purchased online at alumni.georgiasouthern.edu or by calling the Office of Alumni Relations at 912-GSU-ALUM (478-2586).
FALL CAMP PRACTICE TIMES: Sessions are open to Eagle fans and will be held at the Georgia Southern practice fields unless indicated.
August 12, 2010 - 2:45 p.m.
August 13, 2010 - 2:45 p.m.
August 14, 2010 - 10:05 a.m- 12 p.m. practice at Paulson Stadium
4-5:30 p.m. "Meet the Eagles" event at Paulson Stadium
