Mistakes mar first game condition scrimmage
8/4/2014 1:50:00 PM | Football
Sam Houston head coach K. C. Keeler thinks of himself as an optimist. But the Bearkats' performance Monday morning in their first game-condition scrimmage of 2014 preseason camp tested him.
“Usually I'm a glass half-full kind of person but this was a bad scrimmage,” Keeler said. “When you put the pads on and the officials there, things are different. It's a process. We have a lot there that we can do some things with, but today was a disappointment.”
The team scrimmaged for nearly an hour-and-a-half. The practice was the first of three scrimmages scheduled before preseason camp ends August 18. Sam Houston opens the season with the FCS Kickoff game at Eastern Washington August 23 on ESPN.
“We had too many procedure penalties and personal fouls,” Keeler said. “It's an educational process. There's a lot of work in front of us. We all – coaches and players – recognize that this is a team that is not ready to play a ball game the next couple of days. The good news is, we have enough to work with and some time left before the opener.
The Bearkats worked on several different game situations and also had an opportunity to work on the special teams units.
“Today was the first day we got some heat,” Keeler said. “We were very fortunate during our first week with having cloud cover and milder temperatures. We wanted to go through all the segments of a game. It was great to get out with the officials and see the little things that need work.
We worked on special teams more than we will in the other scrimmages. But we feel good about our talent level and our depth. We need to see who can be the best guys on the team.”
The battle for the starting quarterback job remains a three-way contest involving sophomores Don King III and Jared Johnson and redshirt freshman John Rodrique. All three quarterbacks threw for touchdowns during the scrimmage.
“Sometimes you need a day like today to wake everybody up,” Keeler said. “Everyone should realize just how far we have to go before we play Eastern Washington. Thankfully we have time in front of us. We have some tweaks we have to make and we will get those things fixed.”
Sam Houston's next scrimmage will be Saturday August 9. A special "Season Ticket Holder Pick-Up Party" will be held at Bowers that morning from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Bearkat fans who already have ordered their season seats are invited to the event which will feature a complimentary breakfast in the Bearkat Lounge while watching the football team scrimmage.
Attendees may pick up their season tickets and their "Orange Out" t-shirt as well.
Reserved chair back season tickets are $250 for all five home games at Bowers Stadium in 2014 plus the 89th “Battle of the Piney Woods” at NRG Stadium in Houston are on sale online at www.gobearkats.com The price includes midfield sideline tickets to the “Battle of the Piney Woods” at Reliant Stadium, one complimentary parking pass at Bowers Stadium, a $100 tax deductible donation to the Bearkat Champions Fund that helps support scholarships for student-athletes and a 2014 premium gift item.
For more information call the SHSU Athletic Ticket Office at 936 294-1729.
