Georgia Southern head football coach Chris Hatcher and his staff spent this week making final preparations for today, the day when 90 players report to fall camp.
Players are scheduled to report on today, with Monday as the first scheduled practice.
Football players that are not part of the 90-man fall camp roster can begin drills following the first day of classes (Monday, August 13).
Hatcher said everyone is looking forward to a new beginning and the upcoming 2007 season.
"I think we’re anxious and excited… we’re looking forward to having a new start, a new beginning. We’re trying to get our guys ready to perform to the best of their ability. That is the ultimate goal for any coach, getting the team to play the best they can. So that’s what we’re striving for from day one," said Hatcher. "The main goal is to find out what we do the best and if there are any newcomers that are going to be able to help the team immediately. The sooner we solidify who is going to play on Saturday the better we’ll be early in the season."
Practice begins Monday (Aug. 6) and for the first three days practices will begin at 8:15 a.m. and run until 10. The second session runs from 1:15 p.m. to 3. On Thursday and Friday practice goes from 9:15-11:30 a.m. Friday’s practice will be the first in full pads, per NCAA rules. There will be practice on Saturday from 8-10 a.m., 2:14-4:15 p.m. and 7:15-8:15 p.m. All sessions are scheduled to take place at the practice field complex.
Only media members are allowed to take pictures during any practice.
Three Eagles were named preseason All-Southern Conference. Senior wide receiver Jayson Foster (Canton/Cherokee County) was the lone Eagle named to the preseason First Team. Foster, a First Team pick by the coaches following last season, was one of two wide receivers named to the First Team. Senior offensive lineman Russell Orr (Thomasville/Thomas County Central) and junior defensive end Larry Beard (Fairburn/Sandy Creek) were Second Team picks. Georgia Southern was picked to finish fourth in the Coaches’ and Sports Media Association preseason polls.
Junior defensive back Brandon Jackson (Ft. Lauderdale, FL/Plantation) was named preseason Second Team All-America by College Sporting News while Foster landed Third Team honors as a return specialist.
Georgia Southern opens the 2007 season on September 8 at Paulson Stadium against West Georgia. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. For ticket sales call 800-GSU-WINS or (912) 681-0123.
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MEET THE EAGLES, LITTLE EAGLES CAMP SET FOR AUGUST 18
The Football program will be sponsoring a Little Eagles camp and a Meet the Eagles Day on Saturday August 18. The Little Eagles camp (for children ages 5-12) will take place from 9-11 a.m. at Paulson Stadium and is FREE. Registration will be from 9-9:30 a.m. As part of the camp festivities the Little Eagles will run on the field with the banner, music, PA, and the video scoreboard. Meet the Eagles Day will begin at 11 a.m. in the Bishop Field House.
In the Bishop Field House, schedule cards and the 2007 Football posters will be available. In addition, GUS and the entire Georgia Southern Football team and coaching staff will sign autographs. Cheerleaders will also be on hand signing autographs, meeting and greeting the fans and selling bobblehead dolls. The Athletics Marketing Staff will hand out Chick-Fil-A coupons, sandwiches to the kids and the Chick-Fil-A cow will be in attendance. Season tickets, jerseys and football media guides will be on sale. Southern Boosters information packets will also be available.
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EAGLE ATHLETICS OFFERING JUNIOR EAGLE CLUB MEMBERSHIP
Georgia Southern Athletics will once again offer the Junior Eagle Club, an organization for Eagle fans up to the 8th grade (per NCAA regulations).
Parents can sign up their children for just $15, membership runs through the 2007-08 season. All kids will receive an official membership card, a GSU prize pack, complimentary admission to the Eagles’ football game against Chattanooga (Sept. 22), the Junior Eagle Club’s e-newsletter, birthday surprise from GUS and inclusion to various Junior Eagle Club events, including clinics and autograph sessions with Eagle student-athletes.
"The Junior Eagle Club provides a terrific way for families to spend time together enjoying Georgia Southern games and events," said Athletics Marketing Director Brent Jones. "We feel that this is a great opportunity to cultivate Georgia Southern fans at an early age."
The membership drive is currently underway and runs throughout the 2007-08 season. For more information, contact the Athletics Marketing staff at (912) 871-1500.