Football Holds First Scrimmage Saturday
4/2/2011 5:38:00 AM | Football
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern Football will participate in its first full scrimmage of the 2011 spring with the Eagles hitting the field at Paulson Stadium at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 2nd, with the action beginning after the stretch period. The scrimmage is expected to last approximately two hours. Coach Jeff Monken and the coaching staff will get a good look at the progress of the team in offense versus defense game-like scenarios and live special teams work and then further evaluate the film after the practice.
"It will be a typical scrimmage for Georgia Southern in that we are going to have quite a few plays with our offense against defense, the No. 1 offense against our No. 1 defense, No. 2 offense against No. 2 defense, right on down," said Eagles Head Coach Jeff Monken. "We have some guys, right now, who are playing up in the depth chart because of injuries and other reasons. It will be good, it's good competition and it's very game like, we'll have officials and a play clock. We are going to try and get some special teams done. We'll kick extra points and field goals at the appropriate time, but also try and get some other special teams plays, kickoffs, kickoff returns, in particular, tomorrow and try to get other live work at that."
One of the benefits of spring practice and scrimmages is getting the underclassmen more experience on the field with time to adjust and learn without the pressure of game preparation.
"I hope they are learning their assignments, and learning how to play with great effort and toughness, and that is not something that just comes naturally for every kid," Monken said. "There is a speed and a tempo and an expectation for effort that we have to constantly coach. I think that is the thing that will hopefully improve the most, and probably the thing that has improved the most with some of those young guys. I think they are playing harder and tougher and as the weeks roll on here, they will get better at their assignments."
PITCH OF A DIFFERENT KIND
Eagle Head Football Coach Jeff Monken will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the 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
Saturday's scrimmage at Paulson Stadium is open to the public but any filming, recording or photography is limited to members of the media only.
2011 SPRING PRACTICE DATES
Saturday, April 2 (scrimmage - Paulson Stadium), 9:30 a.m. stretch
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), 7 p.m.
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.
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.
