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8/5/2015 8:36:00 PM | Football
The season opener at West Virginia is a month away.
Photo gallery | Buy season tickets | 2015 Schedule | 2015 Roster | Preseason Camp
STATESBORO, Ga. – The unmistakable sound of popping pads permeated the air on the banks of Beautiful Eagle Creek Wednesday morning as the Eagles held their third practice session.
Offensive line coach Alex Atkins' voice has started to go a little hoarse from urging on his guys the first two days of practice, but it did not hamper the intensity of his directions and message in day three. He demands competition and tenacity from his group, and likes the progress they are making.
"It's an open competition right now, which is different than last year," said Atkins. "They guys are really pushing each other and competing, and that helps us get better. We're not going to get it all in one or two practices. We need to gain experience and knowledge through reps, both live and simulated."
Georgia Southern coach Willie Fritz is pleased with what he has seen so far and thinks there's a great opportunity to develop depth on the offensive line. Six players saw a majority of the snaps last season and four graduated.
"We're getting excellent leadership from Darien Foreman, our returning senior starter and we've seen good things from Andy Kwon, Roscoe Byrd, who was hurt most of the spring, and Tommy Boynton," said Fritz. "There's great competition there."
"We're young, but we just have to keep working and getting better every day as a unit and get as many game-like reps as we can," said Kwon.
Experience and seasoning seems to be the key up front and reps against the Eagles' veteran defensive line certainly helps.
"Playing offensive line is about experience but you can overcome some of that with athleticism and want-to," said Atkins. "We just have to keep getting better from practice to practice and then game to game."
"They are working hard, and I think they are going to be a strength," said junior running back Matt Breida. "We had a great o-line last year, and I think they can reach that level."
The Eagles went about two hours and 15 minutes in helmets and shells today. They spent a good chunk of the beginning of practice on special teams, and the offensive and defensive lines squared off for a few periods before team situations at the end.
Practice is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. Thursday 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
8/6 - 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)
Hop on the Bus
Join the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation for its football bus trip Sept. 4-5, and watch the Eagles take on the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Click here for more info and to register online.
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. – The unmistakable sound of popping pads permeated the air on the banks of Beautiful Eagle Creek Wednesday morning as the Eagles held their third practice session.
Offensive line coach Alex Atkins' voice has started to go a little hoarse from urging on his guys the first two days of practice, but it did not hamper the intensity of his directions and message in day three. He demands competition and tenacity from his group, and likes the progress they are making.
"It's an open competition right now, which is different than last year," said Atkins. "They guys are really pushing each other and competing, and that helps us get better. We're not going to get it all in one or two practices. We need to gain experience and knowledge through reps, both live and simulated."
Georgia Southern coach Willie Fritz is pleased with what he has seen so far and thinks there's a great opportunity to develop depth on the offensive line. Six players saw a majority of the snaps last season and four graduated.
"We're getting excellent leadership from Darien Foreman, our returning senior starter and we've seen good things from Andy Kwon, Roscoe Byrd, who was hurt most of the spring, and Tommy Boynton," said Fritz. "There's great competition there."
"We're young, but we just have to keep working and getting better every day as a unit and get as many game-like reps as we can," said Kwon.
Experience and seasoning seems to be the key up front and reps against the Eagles' veteran defensive line certainly helps.
"Playing offensive line is about experience but you can overcome some of that with athleticism and want-to," said Atkins. "We just have to keep getting better from practice to practice and then game to game."
"They are working hard, and I think they are going to be a strength," said junior running back Matt Breida. "We had a great o-line last year, and I think they can reach that level."
The Eagles went about two hours and 15 minutes in helmets and shells today. They spent a good chunk of the beginning of practice on special teams, and the offensive and defensive lines squared off for a few periods before team situations at the end.
Practice is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. Thursday 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
8/6 - 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)
Hop on the Bus
Join the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation for its football bus trip Sept. 4-5, and watch the Eagles take on the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Click here for more info and to register online.
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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