Practice Days Winding Down, Energy Still Up for Football Team
4/13/2011 3:43:00 AM | Football
STATESBORO, Ga. - The final day in full pads for the Georgia Southern Football team before Friday's Blue-White spring game saw much of the same as the previous 12 practices - a focus on fundamentals, execution and effort. Head Coach Jeff Monken reminded the Eagles that the sacrifices made during the spring translate into the opportunity to compete for a championship in the fall.
With only 15 practices in the spring, Coach Monken spoke to the team about the expectations for Thursday's practice and Friday's game. The level of energy at practice needs to stay consistent and then carry over to game day. Monken wants to make sure the players maintain not only their individual energy, but keep the energy level of their teammates high as well.
"Any time we are practicing or playing a game there needs to be positive energy," said Eagle Head Coach Jeff Monken. "That means there is enthusiasm, really some genuine excitement, guys enjoying playing, flying around, and having a good time when they play. I think they play harder and they are more focused on that particular play when they have an energetic buzz about them."
Some of the younger players may have had nervous energy while getting more experience during this spring.
"I think we have made some real improvements with our young kids," Monken said. "We have some kids who haven't played a lot who have had a significant number of snaps this spring. We have had some who have really made some improvements, so that has been encouraging."
Georgia Southern fans will get a good look at the Eagles' work in progress Friday, April 15th at the annual spring game. The final scrimmage will give both the players and coaches a different perspective after the less formal scrimmages on the last two Saturdays.
"I hope we will have a great crowd, I'm really excited about it," Monken said about Friday night. "I'm excited about being out there with our guys. It's an opportunity for them to go out and just play and turn it loose. They won't have coaches standing out there in the huddle with them correcting them after every play. It's more of a game type atmosphere and it's good for them."
On Thursday, the final session before the spring game, the Eagles will conduct practice in shorts and helmets.
BLUE-WHITE GAME EVENTS
Activities leading up to kickoff include a tailgate to support the Statesboro/Bulloch County team of Bubba Hunt and Coach Jeff Monken as they compete against other Coastal Empire teams to kiss a pig. Hunt and Monken have plans to win the "Kiss-a-Pig" fundraising contest for the American Diabetes Association. While Coach Monken is preparing the team for Friday night's game, Bubba will have his tailgate feast ready for hungry fans who are willing to donate to their team's total. The cookout starts at 4 p.m. in the parking lot of Erk Russell Athletic Park and ends just prior to kickoff.
Little Eagles Football Skills Camp
The hour-long Little Eagles Football Skills camp begins at 5 p.m., but registration starts at 4 p.m. with free T-shirts courtesy of the University Store for the first 50 children to register. Boys and girls between the ages of 4-12 may participate in drills with Eagle coaches and players. Participants can run a 40-yard dash, learn to punt and kick a field goal, test their accuracy throwing a football and run a shuttle drill. Parents can register their children between 4-5 p.m.
Eagle Rally
An Eagle Rally, presented by Georgia Southern's Traditions Council, will take place in the Eagle Fun Zone area north of Bishop Field House from 6-6:30 p.m. The Georgia Southern cheerleaders and GUS will participate in the event. Honorary captains for the spring game will be introduced and Coach Monken will address the crowd. The Traditions Council will also present a check for the funds raised for the American Diabetes Association "Kiss-a-Pig" campaign for Coach Monken and Bubba Hunt as representatives of the Statesboro/Bulloch County area.
Promotions
All official Georgia Southern student organizations have the opportunity to win a football tailgate valued at $1,000 with the most number of attendees at Friday's Blue-White game. All registrations will take place on the student concourse of Paulson Stadium. To be considered for the tailgate prize, students must provide their information and designate their student group when they enter the game. The winner will be announced during the game.
One student can win textbooks for an entire semester, valued at up to $500, thanks to the University Store. The student has three chances to kick a 35-yard field goal in the "Kick for Cash" contest. In the Verizon Wireless Long Distance Challenge, five students compete in a punt, pass and kick competition for a chance to win a Motorola Droid X.
Harvey's Supermarket is providing a $100 gift card for the Supermarket Scramble. Five students will be selected to compete against each other where the winner is the first to pick up items and return to the finish line. In the Dash for Cash, five students will race in a 40-yard dash for $100. With the Pawn City Golden Opportunity, a student will compete $500.
TWO TO GO
Georgia Southern Football practices are open to the public, but any filming, recording or photography is limited to members of the media only.
2011 SPRING PRACTICE DATES
Thursday, April 14
Friday, April 15 (Spring Game - Paulson Stadium), 7 p.m.
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.
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.
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.
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.
