Football takes field for first practice Friday at 7 p.m.
8/6/2010 7:29:00 AM | Football
By Cody Stark
Huntsville Item
HUNTSVILLE - Thursday had a feeling like Christmas Eve for Sam Houston State offensive lineman Chris Crockett.
Like a young boy anxiously awaiting morning to roll around so he could see what goodies Santa Claus left under the tree, the junior from Converse Judson High School was pumped about the opportunity to finally hit the field today for the start of preseason football camp.
Crockett missed last season with an injury, so it is easy to understand why he is so pumped to get practice started.
"I'm real anxious. It was tough sitting on the sideline watching everybody play last year, knowing I couldn't do anything," Crockett said. "I can't wait. I'm chomping at the bit."
Crockett isn't the only one ready to get on the field. The Bearkats reported to camp Thursday, and after a day full of meetings and a lot of sitting around, it's finally time to get down to business.
Sam Houston State will host its first practice today at 7 p.m. For senior cornerback Jarvis Pippins, he's happy to have sat through his final meetings concerning NCAA rules and regulations, physicals and the mounds of paperwork that come with it.
Now that all of that is out of the way, the fun begins.
"These meeting are kind of redundant," Pippins said. "I'm looking forward to getting on the field and seeing all the new faces. It's time to get things started off right in the morning."
Before the first official practice, the Bearkats will be put through a grueling conditioning test today at 8 a.m. That's when the guys, newcomers and veterans, who truly worked hard over the summer get the opportunity to make a first impression on the coaching staff.
"We had 50 or 60 guys stick around most of the summer and work hard, and we had 15 or 20 of the new guys show up, so I expect most of them to be in pretty good condition," SHSU head coach Willie Fritz said. "It's a pride deal. Everybody is going to find out who worked hard this summer.
"Some guys will get out there and excel, and their stock will rise in front of the coaches. Some guys will struggle, and their stock will diminish."
The Bearkats are going to get to work quick because they don't have long to put together a team which only features 30 returning letterman for the upcoming season. The other 60 players who reported are a mix of practice squad players, transfers and incoming recruits.
For guys like Pippins and Crockett, they have to do their best to make the newcomers feel at home and fit right in on a team that wants to prove it is capable of finishing higher than its seventh-place Southland Conference preseason ranking.
"We have been in the same position they are, being newcomers, so we are just trying to make them feel welcome," Crockett said. "We are always here to help them out. We are just trying to build a team unity."
"The biggest thing for me, is to show them by example," Pippins added. "It's about giving all of your energy on the field."
Preseason camp will run from August 6 to the opening day of classes August 25. The Bearkats expect to hold four full-contact scrimmages during preseason work.
Sam Houston will open the 2010 slate Saturday, Sept. 4 against the Baylor Bears at Waco. The first home game will be Saturday, Sept. 25 when Gardner-Webb visits Bowers Stadium for Bearkat "Family Weekend."
The game Sept. 25 will feature a guest appearance by the Houston Texans Cheerleaders, a fireworks display and special halftime activities.
Other home games will be Oct. 16 (Homecoming) vs. Southeastern Louisiana, Nov. 6 vs. McNeese State and Nov. 20 vs. Texas State. The final three home games will kickoff at 2 p.m.
Season tickets for Bearkat football at Bowers Stadium are available through the new exciting "2-2-2" offer, order your tickets now by going to the Bearkat tickets page on www.gobearkats.com or call (936) 294-1729.
The "2-2-2" offer also includes two corner tickets to the "Battle of the Piney Woods" game with Stephen F. Austin at Reliant Stadium in Houston on October 23.
Fans also may visit the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House located in the south end zone of Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
