Position battles dot football spring work
3/30/2010 7:17:00 AM | Football
By Cody Stark Assistant Sports Editor
HUNTSVILLE - Sam Houston State head coach Willie Fritz was pleased with what he saw when the Bearkats opened spring football practice Monday afternoon.
Most of the day was spent working on individual positions, but there was some time set aside for team drills toward the end of practice even though the players were only working in shirts, shorts and helmets.
Nothing spectacular really happened Monday. It was just like any other practice. But it was easy to tell that there is a new energy and sense of excitement as a new era of SHSU football got under way.
The coaches and players are still getting a feel for each other and both have things to learn this spring.
"We have a good group of young men who are working hard," Fritz said. "They are learning what we are doing and we are learning what they can do. I told our guys that I have been running the same defense since 1993, so I'm learning a new defense now. I know there is a learning curve. They are learning how I do things in practice, both the players and coaches.
"We will get there. We will look a lot different Wednesday than we did today and so on."
This program is certainly facing an overhaul. All the players had their last names taped across the front of their helmets and it looks like there are no guarantees.
Every player will have a chance to earn playing time and battle for a starting position next fall.
"It is wide open. We have a lot of new guys and if you look at it, we really only have three guys on offense that played substantial minutes last year," Fritz added. "We don't have very many yards rushing coming back, not very many yards passing and not very many yards receiving. We do feel like we have a very good nucleus. We're really excited about the players we signed who can join us and help us out."
The battle to be the Bearkats starting quarterback began Monday. There were six guys throwing passes and running some option plays. No one really stood out, but it was only the first day.
Juniors Bryan Randolph and Jeff Welch are the only quarterbacks on the roster with Football Championship Subdivision experience and that was only one game. Each played against Stephen F. Austin last season with Randolph getting most of the snaps when Welch, who was practicing Monday, re-injured his knee, which had kept him out most of last season.
Redshirt freshman Tyler Copeland and Kyle Webster are in the mix as is junior Greg Sprowls. Transfer athlete Kenneth Cluley worked out with the quarterbacks Monday as well.
"There were some completed balls, I know that," said Fritz, who also coaches the secondary. "We are going to go up and watch tape right now and really scrutinize it. Nobody really has much experience. Randolph played some and Welch got in for about 10 plays.
"The problem is that we have a lot of quarterbacks right now. I told those guys that they have to take advantage of every rep they can get and show us what they can do."
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.
