Welcome to Camp Confidential here at GSEagles.com, where we'll go behind the scenes of the 2018 Georgia Southern preseason football camp. Practice starts tomorrow, but today is check-in day. As we speak, the players (returning and new) are streaming into the Ted Smith Family Football Center to begin the 2018 season. It's organized chaos, but as usual, it'll get done in a timely and efficient manner.



So as for today ... after checking in they'll head downstairs to fill out a few forms, as well as a variety of poking, prodding, measuring and so on. They'll meet with the strength staff to get updated weights to track during camp and will fill out forms and update their contact information. Although they've already been measured for all of their equipment, they'll finish up with Neal Spivey - the greatest one-man show in the equipment business - to pick up all of their gear and then head to their locker to get that all situated. They'll return at 4 p.m. for the first team meeting where things will officially get underway.

After the team meeting, the team will eat a team cookout in the Bishop Field House at 6 p.m. and then there will be another meeting at 7 p.m. to go over the training camp schedule and expectations for the team. Curfew is at 10:30 tonight, but that shouldn't be a problem with an early wake-up tomorrow. The real fun begins Friday at 6:15 a.m. with breakfast, meetings and then practice at 8:30 a.m. (hopefully ... it has been more like Seattle than the regular Statesboro heat recently). The media will get its crack at the players and coaches after practice so be sure to check out their blogs, tweets and stories online and in their respective papers.

The afternoon will feature lunch, meetings, dinner, meetings and then one last snack at 9:45 p.m. before the 10:30 p.m. curfew. They'll rinse and repeat that process for pretty much two weeks until classes start on Monday, Aug. 13.

This year, we'll send several reporters behind the scenes of camp to give you access to places fans don't get to go. They'll have a story on what goes on in the weight room, check in with the sports medicine staff, take a look in the equipment room, show you what it's like in working in video, the life of a G.A., and much more. There's so much more than meets the eye in terms of getting ready for a season from a departmental standpoint and hopefully their insights will bring you closer to the action during camp. We'll also have scrimmage reports and videos to give you a feel for what's going on as the Eagles get ready for the season opener on Sept. 1 against South Carolina State. Have you gotten your tickets?!?

So here's your first nugget of the blog. It's nothing earth-shattering, but still good information. The Eagle will be without offensive tackle Drew Wilson during camp and preseason due to an injury. Head coach Chad Lunsford is hopeful Wilson will be able to return to the practice field sooner rather than later, but in the meantime, it will give a young group of hungry linemen like Savannah's Brian Miller and some others a chance to gain valuable reps in Wilson's absence. Also, Lunsford has announced that RJ Murray, J.B. Kouassi and Zack Copeland will have to retire due to injury but will still be in the Ted Smith Family Football Center helping out as student assistants. He feels they're too valuable as leaders to not be a part of the team and wants to make sure they're around lending a hand in different areas. Murray and Copeland have already graduated and Kouassi is on track to receive his diploma this year.

So that's the sort of stuff we're looking to provide here. Our goal this camp isn't to break the news, but to bring you some behind-the-scenes video, interviews, stories, blogs, tweets, pictures and more as the Eagles begin their season. One last note, if you're not already, be sure to follow us on Twitter @GSAthletics_FB for timely tweets on the team. We're at just over 23,000 followers right now, so spread the word and let's get to 24K by that first game! Also, be sure to follow @GATALifestyle for your recruiting fix, as well as our coaches and support staff. Also, give our new creative services team of Maggie Tyler and Jen Richard a follow on Twitter @GSAthletics_CS. They'll be cranking out content from the She Shed in the Parrish Building all season and will have some great stuff on there, as well.

One last time (for today) ... don't forget that tickets are on sale for the season and can be purchased by going to GSEagles.com/Tickets. The season is less than 30 days away and we need a packed house for the opener against South Carolina State.

That's it for today. Check back with GSEagles.com tomorrow as we crank up the 2018 season!

Georgia Southern Preseason Football Schedule
Date (Time, Location)
Fri., Aug. 3 (8:30-10:30 AM, Eagle Creek)
Sat., Aug. 4 (8:30-10:30 AM, Eagle Creek; Women's Clinic)
Sun., Aug. 5 (4-6 PM, Paulson)
Mon, Aug. 6 (8:30-10:30 AM, Eagle Creek)
Tues., Aug. 7 (8:30-10:30 AM, Eagle Creek)
Wed., Aug. 8 No Practice
Thurs., Aug. 9 (8:30-10:30 AM, Eagle Creek)
Fri., Aug. 10 (8:30-10:30 AM, Eagle Creek; Eagle Creek Baptism; Operation Move-In)
Sat., Aug. 11 (6 PM, Paulson - Scrimmage #1; Fan Fest)
Sun., Aug. 12 (8:15-9:45 AM, Paulson)
Mon., Aug. 13 No Practice
Tues., Aug. 14 (4:30-6:30 PM; Eagle Creek)
Wed., Aug. 15 (4:30-6:30 PM; Eagle Creek)
Thurs., Aug. 16 (4:30-6:30 PM; Eagle Creek)
Fri., Aug. 17 (4:30-6:30 PM, Paulson - Scrimmage #2)
Sat., Aug. 18 (TBD, TBD)
Sun., Aug. 19 (7 PM, Paulson)
Mon., Aug. 20 No Practice
Tues., Aug. 21 (4:30-6:30 PM; Paulson)
Wed., Aug. 22 (4:30-6:30 PM; Paulson)
Thurs., Aug. 23 (4:30-6:30 PM; Paulson)
Fri., Aug. 24 (6-8 PM, Fan Fest to follow, Armstrong Campus - Savannah)
Sat., Aug. 25 (TBD, TBD)

The game week schedule will be released at a later time.
Times and locations subject to change