Repetition Until It Is Right: Drills Prepare Eagles
8/7/2010 2:28:00 AM | Football
STATESBORO, Ga. - With just over three periods left in practice, probably the most critical periods of the week, a rainstorm hovered over the practice fields. The Eagles kept practicing as nearly inch of rain fell in about 30 minutes, but lightning detected nearby put the team under Herring Pavilion for a little over an hour until Coach Monken sent them to dinner. It was the second practice cut short by weather, being what it is in Statesboro in the summertime.
"We wanted to be able to see them compete at the end of practice," said Monken. "We wanted to see who turns it loose and plays hard when they are tired. We didn't get a chance to do that today."
The evaluation of players in that live situation will wait until Saturday morning's practice when Georgia Southern experiences its first day of two-a-days. The Eagles will take the field at 9 a.m. for the first session, in full pads, and then return in shells for their second session at 4:30 p.m.
With good work in the first day in full gear, there was evidence that some pieces are starting to fall into place.
The Georgia Southern coaching staff was impressed by the work of some of the newcomers on offense, including freshmen offensive linemen Dorian Byrd (Macon, Ga.) and Zach Lonas (Acworth, Ga.) as well as wide receiver Tray Butler (Stockbridge, Ga.) and slotback Darries Robinson (Brunswick, Ga). On the defensive side, junior cornerback Laron Scott (Warner Robins, Ga.) had a good first week of camp with sophomore linebacker Kyle Oehlbeck (Gainesville, Fla.) putting together some solid performances.
"The effort is progressing," Monken said. "It takes time for the guys to know what our expectations are. Right now, they feel like they are wrong on everything - wrong in their fundamentals, wrong in their footwork, wrong in their assignments and they are getting blasted in every direction."
While Eagle fans are counting down the days in anticipation of kickoff versus Savannah State on September 4, the coaching staff looks at the calendar with a different perspective.
"We still have a lot of work to do. We have 24 practices after today and we're going to need every one of them," Monken commented.
INJURY REPORT: Sophomore offensive guard Ryan Byrne will be out for several practices after sustaining a concussion in Thursday's practice.
RINSE AND REPEAT: The Eagles will experience their first two-a-day on Saturday with a 9 a.m. practice beginning with special teams and then 16 periods of practice. They will return for 18 periods in the afternoon, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
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."
PRESEASON SHOW PREMIERES AUG. 14: Georgia Southern fans will get an up-close look at Head Coach Jeff Monken's first Eagle team during a special preseason edition of "Inside Georgia Southern Football" on WGSA-TV (CW-13) in Savannah. The 30-minute preview show will debut next Saturday, August 14, and air nine times prior to the Eagles' Sept. 4 season opener against Savannah State. "Inside Georgia Southern Football" will also be available on the www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com website.
Coach Monken will join host and former Eagle standout Terry Harvin to give an in-depth look at the 2010 Eagles and discuss all things Georgia Southern football. The preview show will also feature Georgia Southern Offensive Coordinator Brent Davis, Defensive Coordinator Brent Pry and Director of Athletics Sam Baker.
Air Times for "Inside Georgia Southern Football" Preview Show:
Saturday, August 14, 6 p.m.; Tuesday, August 17, 8 a.m.; Thursday, August 19, 8 a.m.; Saturday, August 21, 6 p.m.; Tuesday, August 24, 8 a.m.; Thursday, August 26, 8 a.m.; Saturday, August 28, 6 p.m.; Tuesday, August 31, 8 a.m.; Thursday, September 2, 8 a.m.
FALL CAMP PRACTICE TIMES: Sessions are open to Eagle fans and will be held at the Georgia Southern practice fields unless indicated.
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
