Football Practice Day Two: No Lollygaggers Allowed On These Fields
8/4/2010 1:20:00 AM | Football
STATESBORO, Ga. - Day two on the banks of "Beautiful Eagle Creek" was a little bit different than day one. There were some up-downs and less-than-gentle reminders, but this is Georgia Southern Football, and the legacy can only be upheld if the expectations, and the standards, are set high. The players may have the physical attributes of size, strength and speed, but Coach Monken also expects mental toughness, and the Eagle coaching staff won't stand for a lack of effort.
If the expectations of the program and the effort expected of its players were not fully understood, the second day of preseason practice was a direct result of those day one deficiencies.
"We weren't satisfied, we weren't happy with the effort and that was the thing that was most glaring," said first-year Eagle Head Coach Jeff Monken. "We would like for the guys to practice harder and give better effort. As we thought, we still have a long way to go."
The Eagles went through 23 five-minute periods on Tuesday, working on position drills, including center-quarterback exchange, ball drills for wide receivers, stances and positioning. After practice, Monken emphasized to the players the commitment they have to make to practicing well and practicing hard.
"(Mental toughness) is the most important thing to me," Monken said. "We will make mistakes and we will miss making plays, but the toughness part, if we don't have that, I fear we are not going to have a very good chance to succeed. So, that is first and foremost."
When asked about players who exhibited that mental toughness, Monken immediately referenced a former Eagle for his drive and determination.
"Rich McGrath comes to mind," Monken said. "He played with such great tenacity and toughness, and was a talented player, but he just, every play was just a battle and it was fun to watch him play. He was the guy that I think you could point to and say, 'let's play like that.'
"The guy that I think of overall, position-wise that I have coached was a guy, Zerb Singleton at Navy, he was relentless, just fighting every play and getting after guys. Snap to whistle, he was a 'no quit', ever. He had a 'never-say-die' attitude, and you would love for all of them to play that way. I've been an offensive coach, so it is easier for me to call those the names of those guys, but those are two guys who stick out in my mind."
As the NCAA mandates four days of acclimation before players can put on full pads, 89 men will head to the field in helmets and shoulder pads for Wednesday's and Thursday's 2:45 p.m. practices. Friday will be the first day in full pads for the Eagles.
"We have the opportunity for it to be a little more physical, guys running into each other in their shoulder pads," Monken said. "We obviously won't be getting on the ground, or tackling, or scoop blocking or cut blocking or anything like that. We won't worry when guys run into each other in skelly, you are very cautious when you are just in helmets. I'm excited about getting more gear on, and I'm really looking forward to Friday when we can put all the pads on and see the guys block and tackle and do the whole thing."
During the first two days of skelly and team action, the whistles blew fast, signaling the end of the play to keep players from making contact. The addition of shoulder pads for the next two practices and full pads beginning Friday should provide Monken with a better gauge of the team's toughness and resiliency.
"It shouldn't make a difference, but a lot of time it does. Sometimes these guys just feel like a day in shorts and helmets is a cruise day and a learning day, so they get to go a little slower. We forget they are young and they don't necessarily see things the same way we do. Hopefully pads will be a little bit of a kick in the pants for them."
Back to D: A.J. McCray, who played at the quarterback position during the spring, moved back to the defensive side of the ball and will be listed as a safety. McCray played nine games, with two starts at the bandit spot, in 2008.
Meet the Eagles: Several of Georgia Southern's fall sports teams will participate in a "Meet the Eagles" event on 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."
Fall Camp Practice Times: Sessions are open to Eagle fans and will be held at the Georgia Southern practice fields unless indicated.
August 4, 2010 - 2:45 p.m.
August 5, 2010 - 2:45 p.m.
August 6, 2010 - 2:45 p.m. (first day in full pads)
August 7, 2010 - practice 1 9 a.m., practice 2 4:33 p.m.
August 8, 2010 - 3:55 p.m.
August 9, 2010 - practice 1 9 a.m., practice 2 4:33 p.m.
August 10, 2010 - No practice
August 11, 2010 - practice 1 9 a.m., practice 2 4:33 p.m.
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
