Competition in Theory and Practice
3/29/2011 2:36:00 AM | Football
STATESBORO, Ga. - A little bit of drizzle didn't stop the Georgia Southern Football team from getting down to business on Monday afternoon for its fifth practice of the spring. Day three of full pads and periods of offense versus defense and team contact provided the Eagles with another opportunity to get better. While some veterans are taking the spring to recover from injuries or surgery, several less experienced players now have the chance to step in and put what they have learned into practice.
"We have to get our guys to play with better effort and play faster and play tougher," said Georgia Southern Head Coach Jeff Monken. "We have a lot of guys in positions who haven't played a lot, a lot who were redshirt freshmen, guys that were on the scout team and didn't have the opportunity to play in games. They are really learning the speed and expectation of running to the ball and playing with great effort every time they are in there."
While Monken noted that the execution has improved over the course of the first week, the film from practice reveals areas where improvements are needed. The level of effort and competitiveness required by Monken and the coaching staff in practice - whether it is spring or fall -- is something they want to make sure is at its highest.
"We just like to see our team improve overall, fundamentally - blocking, tackling, taking care of the ball, all areas we need to improve on, and we can certainly do better," Monken said. "These (practices) are vital for our guys, from a mental standpoint, not just in learning their plays, but being reminded of the speed with which you have to play, the intensity level, the toughness, the effort - all those things are important. That's hard to teach in the weight room and the classroom, they have to come out here and do it. I think spring practice is always going to be important."
PITCH OF A DIFFERENT KIND
Eagle Head Football Coach Jeff Monken will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Saturday's baseball game as the Georgia Southern Baseball team takes on The Citadel at 2:30 p.m. Prior to the game, Georgia Southern students and ticket holders for the game are invited to join the Clements Crazies Tailgate from 1-2:30 p.m. for free food and beverages in the Hanner Fieldhouse lower parking lot.
SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Georgia Southern Football conducts weekday practices on the practice fields between "Beautiful Eagle Creek" and Tillman Road. Schedule and location are subject to change. Practices are open to the public, but any filming, recording or photography is limited to members of the media only.
2011 SPRING PRACTICE DATES
Tuesday, March 29
Friday, April 1
Saturday, April 2 (scrimmage - Paulson Stadium)
Monday, April 4
Tuesday, April 5
Thursday, April 7
Saturday, April 9 (scrimmage - Paulson Stadium)
Tuesday, April 12
Thursday, April 14
Friday, April 15 (Spring Game)
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
The annual Blue-White game will have a different look as it will be played on Friday, April 15th at 7 p.m. as the final scrimmage of the spring. Admission is free. Special events leading up to the game include a tailgate in support of the ADA "Kiss a Pig" fundraising campaign for the Statesboro/Bulloch County team of Bubba Hunt and Coach Monken, a Little Eagles Football Skills Clinic from 5-6 p.m. and the Blue-White Eagle Rally immediately following the clinic.
COACHES CLINIC DATE SET
Georgia Southern will hold a spring Coaches Clinic this weekend, Friday-Saturday, April 1-2, with coaching sessions and chalk talks with the Eagles' staff. For additional information, contact Vic Cabral at (912) 478-5522 or by fax at (912) 478-5059. The Coaches' Clinic brochure and the full schedule of events is available on the GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com website. Coaches who pre-register pay $30 while those who register on the day of the clinic will be charged $40.
EFFA REVERSE RAFFLE & AUCTION
The fourth annual Eagle Football Assistance Association (EFAA) Reverse Raffle and Auction is scheduled for Saturday, April 16th, the night after the Blue-White Spring Game. The evening of great live entertainment, food and opportunity to spend time with the Georgia Southern Football coaching staff and former Eagle players also features the opportunity to win $10,000.
The social hour, ticket check-in and silent auction begins at 6 p.m. at the Gene Bishop Field House. Items for the silent auction include Georgia Southern game day experiences, memorabilia, a round of golf with former Eagle football legends and other packages.
Created to assist former Eagles in need of financial help, the EFAA invites all former football players, coaches and athletics staff to support the association through annual membership and fundraising efforts. Proceeds from the Reverse Raffle event benefit perennial EFAA projects including the Erk Russell Memorial Scholarship, the Eagle Fund, the GSU Athletic Foundation and Georgia Southern Football.
Reverse Raffle tickets can be purchased from the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation for $100 each and each ticket covers food, beverages for the ticket purchaser and a guest. Reverse Raffle ticket purchasers need not be present at the event to win the grand prize.
For more information about the event or to purchase tickets for the Reverse Raffle, contact the Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation at (912) 478-5520.
