Football practice opens Thursday
8/6/2009 8:30:00 AM | Football
For four years Sam Houston State linebacker Luke McCall has arrived the day before fall practice begins for the same meeting and speeches he has heard time and time again.
The Bearkats hear from the athletic training staff, the conditioning coaches and get a pep talk for the upcoming season from head coach Todd Whitten.
It does not sound like interesting stuff, but it means that football season is finally here and that is all that matters for McCall and the rest of the Sam Houston State squad, who reported to the Ron Mafrige Field House on Wednesday night for the start of fall camp.
"We are excited about this year and we are really looking forward to it," McCall said. "It's my last year and I really hope that we can have a good year. I really feel good about it."
The previous two season the Bearkats have entered fall workouts as one of the favorites to compete for the Southland Conference championship. But this year, things are different.
The league coaches and sports information directors both tabbed Sam Houston to finish sixth in the preseason polls, which were revealed at the SLC Football Media Day in Lake Charles, La., on July 29.
That's OK for the Kats. They aren't reading to much into the preseason predictions and are using it as motivation for the upcoming year.
"We feel like we underachieved last year," junior quarterback Bryan Randolph said. "We have our goals set high every season. Six really isn't a bad spot to be. Guys are going to take you lightly and you have a chance to sneak up on them."
One of the reason's the Bearkats head into the season ranked so low is that they have to find a replacement for quarterback Rhett Bomar, who was drafted by the New York Giants in the fifth round.
Randolph will compete with University of Houston transfer Blake Joseph for the starting job in camp. Both saw limited action last season. Freshmen Kyle Webster and Tyler Copeland also figure to get plenty of reps during practice while battling for the third-team spot.
"We just need to work on some of the little things," Randolph said. "Last year we went 4-6 and lost a game by two points and two others in overtime. If we pulled those out, we would have gone 7-3. We have been working hard over the summer, we return our entire offensive line and we are ready to go."
Another interesting thing to watch in camp will be the defense continuing to evolve under new defensive coordinator Scott Stoker. The former Northwestern State head coach likes to bring multiple blitz packages, so the Bearkats will be a lot more aggressive this season.
One of the areas Sam Houston State has struggled the past few years has been on the defensive side. In 2008, the Kats finished 97th out of 118 Football Championship Subdivision teams in yards allowed and gave up 33.1 points a game.
"It is a totally different defense and we never have been as aggressive as we are now," McCall said. "It's something new and exciting for us. We are going to be blitzing and doing different things on the defensive side of the ball."
The Bearkats practice for the first time today at 3:30 p.m. The first intrasquad scrimmage will be held Aug. 13 at 6 p.m.
