Football team enjoys first day of preseason work
8/7/2010 9:20:00 AM | Football
Huntsville Item
The Bearkats couldn't have asked for a better day to open preseason football camp.
On a cool, breezy Friday night under the lights at Bowers Stadium, Sam Houston State kicked off the 2010 campaign with a two and a half hour practice.
Almost everybody made it to the end on two feet, and all in all, it was a pretty good start to head coach Willie Fritz's first season.
"I thought they did a pretty good job," Fritz said after practice. "It was nice to have this kind of day. It was great to have this kind of focus, but the trick is to have the same focus you have on day one as you do in practice 18. As we continue to come out here, we will see who can keep their focus and who can't."
There wasn't a whole lot the Bearkats could do in helmets and T-shirts, but early in the first few practices, the main focus is going to be on teaching.
There are a lot of new faces, so the team mainly worked on position drills and assignments Friday. The offensive skill players did come together with the secondary and linebacking crew for some 7-on-7 drills.
There was also some work on special teams, mostly punting and field goal kicking. But right now, the coaches and players are trying to get a feel for one another.
The practice was crisp and organized, especially considering the fact the players and coaches had been going since 6 a.m. Friday morning.
"I really like this coaching staff," sophomore defensive back Robert Shaw said. "Everything was organized. When I first got here, we really weren't organized. People were just going through the motions. This year, everybody is on the same page and we are looking like a team."
Friday also marked the SHSU debut of Auburn transfer quarterback Tyrik Rollison, who is competing with senior Bryan Randolph and junior Greg Sprowls for the starting job.
Rollison was a redshirt freshman for the Tigers last season and didn't participate in spring drills. He was the first to admit he was a little rusty, but he was glad to be back on the field Friday.
"It's been a year since I really got out there and just had a real chance to compete," Rollison said. "I was kind of rusty, but it felt kind of good to get back out there and get in the flow of things."
There will be plenty of other position battles over the next few weeks. The returning players will be fighting the newcomers as Fritz and his staff give everyone the opportunity to earn some playing time.
"We have so many new guys that it is almost like starting over again," Fritz said. "We are having to teach a lot because there are four or five positions where we need some newcomers and freshmen to step forward and play for us. That is the big thing I'm looking forward to in the next few weeks."
The Bearkats will be in helmets and T-shirts for a couple of more days, then add shoulder pads before going in full pads for the first scrimmage Thursday night at 7.
Things will definitely pick up, but the good news is that almost everyone reported to camp in shape. Of the 86 players who took part in Friday morning's conditioning test, 74 made their goal times.
"The majority of the guys who didn't make it this morning were not here over the summer," the coach added. "I think we had 12 guys who didn't make it and 10 of those guys weren't here over the summer. That shows the type of summer conditioning program we have. Coach (Kyle) Speer and coach (Brian) Neal did a great job with our guys this summer.
"Most of the guys are pretty darn fit and in shape. I feel like that will be an advantage for us, to be in better shape than our opponents. We are really going to work hard on conditioning."
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.
