Head coach excited about importance of spring ball
3/28/2010 8:00:00 AM | Football
By Cody Stark, Huntsville Item
Sam Houston State head coach Willie Fritz is chomping at the bit to begin his first spring football practice and the wait is finally over.
The Bearkats start workouts on Monday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. and will have 15 practice sessions before the annual Orange and White game on April 24.
This is the first time since Fritz was hired back in January that he and his staff will actually get a chance to see the hand they have been dealt with 36 returning lettermen.
"We are really excited. I'm proud of the staff we have assembled here at Sam Houston," Fritz said Friday afternoon. "They are excellent coaches with a lot of energy. We can't wait to get on the field and work with our student-athletes."
There is a lot of uncertainty heading into spring practice. The Bearkats lost 27 seniors and return only 11 starters.
The offense was really hit hard with graduation. Offensive linemen Cameron Pound and Kaleb Hopson and tight end T.J. Jones are the only returners who saw significant playing time last season on a Bearkat squad that went 5-6.
One of the key offensive positions that needs to be addressed in the spring is at quarterback. Senior Bryan Randolph has the most experience, having started one game last season.
But the starting quarterback battle will be wide open with juniors Greg Sprowls and freshmen Kyle Webster and Tyler Copeland also in the mix. Junior Jeff Welch could also join the battle, but he suffered another knee injury in the fall and his status for the spring is uncertain.
"Quarterback is going to be a position of interest," Fritz said. "There are a lot of guys there that are on scholarship. They are all going to get an opportunity to show us what they can do and show us if they are the type of guy that can lead us to the Southland Conference championship."
The Bearkat coaches will also be looking for some receivers to step up. Sam Houston lost its top four wide outs to graduation, including Jason Madkins who led the team with 56 catches for 1,073 yards and eight touchdowns.
"We probably lost 90 percent of our receptions last year, so the spots are wide open right there," the coach added. "We have some young guys that have shown some things in the offseason, but that doesn't always translate onto the field. That will be fun to watch."
Defensively, Sam Houston lost nearly its entire front except for defensive end Edward Decambre, so that needs to be addressed this spring as well.
The good news is that Fritz has been impressed with what he has seen in individual workouts from the linebacking crew and the young secondary, which grew up toward the end of last season.
"We have some good young linebackers, a lot who played some last year," Fritz said. "They need to make the step up to the next level now. They have gotten their feet wet in this league. They need to be competing and be all-conference type guys. I've been impressed with those guys in workouts - Will Henry, Kash David and (Darius) Taylor who is coming back from injury.
"In the secondary, I think we have a good, young secondary."
Filling all the voids will be the top priority this spring and Fritz is ready to do it his way. This is his team now and he is ready to break it down and build it back up to get the program headed in the right direction.
"I purposely haven't watched a lot of film from last year because number one, there were a lot of seniors that won't be playing this year," Fritz said. "I also want to keep my eyes open as far as talent and moving guys to different positions. We are starting fresh and everybody has an opportunity to show us what they can do.
"I told them the depth chart really doesn't mean anything right now. It will at the end of spring," the coach added.
"We need to teach the guys fundamentals and techniques that are maybe different than what they have been taught in the past, our philosphy, our verbage, our way of doing things. This is an important spring."
The Bearkats will hold 15 practice sessions during 2010 spring ball before the annual Orange-White spring game on Saturday, April 24. Kickoff for the Orange-White game is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.
The night before (Friday, April 23), the opportunity to coach either the Orange or the White teams will be one of the items on the block at the 22nd annual SHSU Football Dinner and Auction starting at 5:30 p.m. at the HEARTS Veterans Conference Center off state highway 75 North. Go to SHSU Football Dinner and Auction link for more information.
The rosters for the Orange and White teams and the format of the spring game will be announced during the final week of spring ball.
The complete Sam Houston State football spring training schedule is:
March 29 Monday 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Practice
March 31 Wednesday 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Practice
April 2 Friday 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Practice
April 5 Monday 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Practice
April 7 Wednesday 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Practice
April 9 Friday 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Practice
April 10 Saturday 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Practice
April 12 Monday 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Practice
April 14 Wednesday 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Practice
April 16 Friday 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Practice
April 17 Saturday 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Practice
April 19 Monday 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Practice
April 21 Wednesday 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Practice
April 22 Thursday 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Practice
April 23 Friday 6 p.m Auction
April 24 Saturday 9:30 a.m. Spring Game
