Pace Picks Up on the Banks of “Beautiful Eagle Creek”
8/3/2014 8:59:00 PM | Football
Drills, drills and live drills help Eagles prepare for games
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STATESBORO, Ga. – The Nat King Cole song referencing those "lazy, crazy, hazy days of summer" certainly didn't apply to Georgia Southern's preseason football practice. The Eagles had their second day in pads, shorts and helmets and with some drills becoming routine, Head Coach Willie Fritz introduced another aspect to today's 28-period practice – the pace period.
"We are trying to change tempos," said Head Coach Willie Fritz. "Sometimes you want to go real fast, and then others, waiting a little while and using the whole 40-second play clock. If you do a really nice job of changing tempos, that keeps the defense on their toes the whole time, makes them expend more energy, and probably not be able to stay mentally focused all the time."
Coach Fritz's own pace at practice is difficult to match. He brings a positive intensity to practice every day, both congratulating and correcting as necessary. He darts from area to area, observing, offering advice, recording notes and always, teaching.
The details are in the drills and Fritz believes the more live drills, the better. That becomes especially important for the quarterbacks and their decision-making process."
"We want to replicate a real game situation as closely as possible," Fritz said. "With passing, it's good to do seven-on-seven, pass skelly, when there is no defensive line or offensive line out there, but in the game, there will be bodies up around them," Fritz said. "They (the quarterbacks) have to learn to step up in the pocket, step out of the pocket, find the creases and the holes in the offensive line, and also the defensive line, finding those windows to throw it, so we like to do a lot of passing drills with people rushing the quarterback."
Video from practice is reviewed and Fritz refers to the notes he records during practice for corrections and commendations.
"How can we do the drill better, a little safer, and different aspects of the drill, whether it is a team drill, individual drill, special teams, offense or defense, we want to do it the right way," Fritz said. "There are always ways to do things better. I tell them all the time, 'Our goal is perfection, but excellence will be tolerated.'"
GET ON THE BUS
Bus trips for five of Georgia Southern's away games are being offered to Georgia Southern fans through the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation. An overnight trip to the Eagles' season opener at N.C. State will depart Paulson Stadium at noon on Friday, August 29th and return following the game in Raleigh, N.C. Each seat is $126.58 and hotel room price is contingent upon accommodations depending on the number of guests sharing the room.
A pre-game tailgate, which includes food and beverages, is available for an additional $20 for all bus trips. Game ticket and other meals are not included in the price for a seat on the bus. Reservations can be made through August 14th for the N.C. State game by calling the 912-478-5520 or e-mailing Justin Callaway at jcallaway@georgiasouthern.edu.
The Georgia Tech trip is a one-day trip which will depart at 6:30 the morning of September 13th and return following the game. For $86.75, fans can ride the bus to Atlanta for the game against the Yellow Jackets with an additional $20 for the game day tailgate spread. The deadline for a reservation for this trip is August 29th.
Additional information on the South Alabama, Georgia State and Navy trips is available at GSEagles.com/getonthebus.
AWAY GAME TICKETS AVAILABLE ON MONDAY
Game tickets for Georgia Southern's road games, including two in Atlanta at Georgia Tech and at Georgia State, will be available for purchase to the general public beginning Monday, August 4th. Contact the Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-GSU-WINS or stop by its temporary location on the second floor of the Bishop Field House weekdays from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
COACHES' ADIDAS SIDELINE POLOS AVAILABLE
The official coaches' adidas sideline polos for the 2014 season are available in the official online store and in the University Store on campus as well as at in the adidas store on the north concourse on Saturday, August 16th for the Eagles Fan Fest. Fans can peruse the selection online at fanzone.GSEagles.com.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
Season tickets for the Eagles' first campaign in the Sun Belt Conference and FBS are on sale online now at GSEagles.com/fbtix and weekdays 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS. The five-game home campaign opens September 6th vs. Savannah State with two historic Thursday night games on ESPNU September 25th vs. Appalachian State and October 30th vs. Troy.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA.
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