For Football Newcomers, the Evaluation Period Has Begun
8/4/2015 7:59:00 PM | Football
The season opener at West Virginia is just over a month away
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STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern finished its second day of practice on the Banks of Beautiful Eagle Creek, and Eagle coach Willie Fritz was happy with the improvement from yesterday's first session.
While the Eagles are learning technique and getting a considerable amount of conditioning, they are also learning how to practice. Fritz and his staff believe that injuries are caused more often from "going to ground" contact and want all their guys to keep their feet during practice. It's a learning process to give maximum effort while at the same time staying off the ground, but Fritz thinks his team is getting the hang of it.
"We showed a lot of improvement as far as the mechanics of practice from yesterday," said Fritz. "We have to keep coaching how we want to practice, especially as we start to get pads on."
Like most coaches, Fritz does not like to have to repeat himself. In all facets of the program, listening, comprehending and making the proper adjustment is extremely important. Mistakes, both mental and physical, are made but they should be corrected and not made twice.
"That's part of our evaluation," said Fritz. "If we have to keep telling you over and over and you keep making the same mistake, you probably aren't going to play."
The Eagles went about two hours and 15 minutes in helmets today and are slated to wear shells Wednesday. Stations of drills on ball security and tackling came again near the end of today's practice, followed by full team situations.
Practice is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. Wednesday on the banks of Beautiful Eagle Creek. Dates, times and locations of football practices are subject to change and may be impacted by weather conditions. Practices are open to the public, but any filming, recording or photography is limited to members of the media only.
Georgia Southern won the 2014 Sun Belt title in its first season in the league, finishing 8-0 in the conference and 9-3 overall. The Eagles return 58 lettermen and 13 starters to the 2015 squad, were picked to win the Sun Belt in the league's preseason coaches' poll and are receiving votes in the USA Today Amway Top-25 Coaches Poll.
Fans can purchase 2015 season tickets and select their seats online, by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS or by visiting the ticket office in the Cowart Building adjacent to Paulson Stadium (203 Lanier Drive). Ticket office hours are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Season tickets prices start as low as $75 for all six games. Season ticket sales have exceeded last year's total and are expected to reach an all-time high.
Preseason Football Practice Schedule
8/5 - 8:15 a.m.
8/6 - 8:15 a.m.
8/7 - 8:15 a.m.
8/8 - 8:15 a.m. (Eagle Creek)/7:45 p.m. (Paulson)
8/9 – 7:45 p.m. – Paulson (night practice)
8/10 - 8:15 a.m.
8/11 - 8:15 a.m.
8/12 - 8:15 a.m.
8/13 - 8:15 a.m.
8/14 - 8:15 a.m.
8/15 – 9 a.m. (Paulson, Scrimmage, Meet the Eagles)
Upcoming Events
Aug. 8 - Little Eagles Football Field Day - Paulson Stadium - 11 a.m. (registration begins at 10 a.m.) - Boys and girls, ages 6-12, can attend a free one-hour field day hosted by Coach Fritz and the Eagles at Paulson Stadium.
Aug. 13 – Women's Football Clinic – Ted Smith Family Football Center – 6 p.m. – Ladies will learn Football 101, tour the Ted Smith Family Football Center and participate in field activities. There will also be door prizes, food and beverages.
Aug. 15 - Meet the Eagles Fan Fest – Paulson Stadium - 9 a.m. - Fans can watch the final football scrimmage of preseason camp at Paulson Stadium. Concessions, the Adidas Store and inflatables for kids will be available. After the scrimmage, at approximately 11 a.m., student-athletes from the football, men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball and cheer team will sign autographs on the North Concourse.
Aug. 17 – Day 1 – Paulson Stadium – 9 p.m. - Students will fill up the entire student section in Paulson Stadium for Day One to learn our traditions, chants, fight song and alma mater. Coach Fritz and Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein will speak at the event.
Aug. 22 - Erk Russell Classic – Paulson Stadium - 5 p.m. – The fourth annual Erk Russell Classic has North Oconee High School taking on Coffee County at 5 p.m. and Statesboro facing Burke County at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door.
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. Fans can purchase tickets to Georgia Southern Athletics events by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS or by visiting GSEagles.com.
STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern finished its second day of practice on the Banks of Beautiful Eagle Creek, and Eagle coach Willie Fritz was happy with the improvement from yesterday's first session.
While the Eagles are learning technique and getting a considerable amount of conditioning, they are also learning how to practice. Fritz and his staff believe that injuries are caused more often from "going to ground" contact and want all their guys to keep their feet during practice. It's a learning process to give maximum effort while at the same time staying off the ground, but Fritz thinks his team is getting the hang of it.
"We showed a lot of improvement as far as the mechanics of practice from yesterday," said Fritz. "We have to keep coaching how we want to practice, especially as we start to get pads on."
Like most coaches, Fritz does not like to have to repeat himself. In all facets of the program, listening, comprehending and making the proper adjustment is extremely important. Mistakes, both mental and physical, are made but they should be corrected and not made twice.
"That's part of our evaluation," said Fritz. "If we have to keep telling you over and over and you keep making the same mistake, you probably aren't going to play."
The Eagles went about two hours and 15 minutes in helmets today and are slated to wear shells Wednesday. Stations of drills on ball security and tackling came again near the end of today's practice, followed by full team situations.
Practice is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. Wednesday on the banks of Beautiful Eagle Creek. Dates, times and locations of football practices are subject to change and may be impacted by weather conditions. Practices are open to the public, but any filming, recording or photography is limited to members of the media only.
Georgia Southern won the 2014 Sun Belt title in its first season in the league, finishing 8-0 in the conference and 9-3 overall. The Eagles return 58 lettermen and 13 starters to the 2015 squad, were picked to win the Sun Belt in the league's preseason coaches' poll and are receiving votes in the USA Today Amway Top-25 Coaches Poll.
Fans can purchase 2015 season tickets and select their seats online, by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS or by visiting the ticket office in the Cowart Building adjacent to Paulson Stadium (203 Lanier Drive). Ticket office hours are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Season tickets prices start as low as $75 for all six games. Season ticket sales have exceeded last year's total and are expected to reach an all-time high.
Preseason Football Practice Schedule
8/5 - 8:15 a.m.
8/6 - 8:15 a.m.
8/7 - 8:15 a.m.
8/8 - 8:15 a.m. (Eagle Creek)/7:45 p.m. (Paulson)
8/9 – 7:45 p.m. – Paulson (night practice)
8/10 - 8:15 a.m.
8/11 - 8:15 a.m.
8/12 - 8:15 a.m.
8/13 - 8:15 a.m.
8/14 - 8:15 a.m.
8/15 – 9 a.m. (Paulson, Scrimmage, Meet the Eagles)
Upcoming Events
Aug. 8 - Little Eagles Football Field Day - Paulson Stadium - 11 a.m. (registration begins at 10 a.m.) - Boys and girls, ages 6-12, can attend a free one-hour field day hosted by Coach Fritz and the Eagles at Paulson Stadium.
Aug. 13 – Women's Football Clinic – Ted Smith Family Football Center – 6 p.m. – Ladies will learn Football 101, tour the Ted Smith Family Football Center and participate in field activities. There will also be door prizes, food and beverages.
Aug. 15 - Meet the Eagles Fan Fest – Paulson Stadium - 9 a.m. - Fans can watch the final football scrimmage of preseason camp at Paulson Stadium. Concessions, the Adidas Store and inflatables for kids will be available. After the scrimmage, at approximately 11 a.m., student-athletes from the football, men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball and cheer team will sign autographs on the North Concourse.
Aug. 17 – Day 1 – Paulson Stadium – 9 p.m. - Students will fill up the entire student section in Paulson Stadium for Day One to learn our traditions, chants, fight song and alma mater. Coach Fritz and Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein will speak at the event.
Aug. 22 - Erk Russell Classic – Paulson Stadium - 5 p.m. – The fourth annual Erk Russell Classic has North Oconee High School taking on Coffee County at 5 p.m. and Statesboro facing Burke County at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door.
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. Fans can purchase tickets to Georgia Southern Athletics events by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS or by visiting GSEagles.com.
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