Lumberjacks Open Fall Practices Tuesday
8/3/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The 2014 Stephen F. Austin football season officially gets underway this week as the Lumberjacks open fall camp on Tuesday, August 5th at Homer Bryce Stadium.
The ‘Jacks will have 22 practices during the camp portion of the schedule, concluding on Sunday, August 24th when SFA begins its regular in-season practice schedule.
“I know myself and my staff are very eager to get fall practices underway,” said head coach Clint Conque. “We’ve taken full advantage of the new NCAA legislation which permits us to work with our players on a limited basis during the summer as we’ve had our entire team on campus for the last six weeks. We have some tremendous challenges ahead, but also have some great opportunities.”
All players have reported back to campus as the first official team meeting is being held Sunday evening, August 3rd. After a day of testing and certification, the ‘Jacks will take to the field for the first time as a team at 5 p.m. Tuesday. SFA will hold 22 full squad practices as well as a pair of scrimmages, the first of which will be held at 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, August 16th and the second at 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, August 20th.
Practice sessions will be split between the turf of Homer Bryce Stadium and the newly refurbished grass practice fields just north of the turf. Following spring practices, the turf was ripped up and completely redone, both above and below ground, installing a new drainage/sprinkling system underneath the top-notch Bermuda grass surface.
“Our grass fields were completely redone and are completely revamped, including video capabilities and equipment,” said Conque. “It’s a pristine setting back there and we’re really excited to get going and get working on that new grass. Certainly Kansas State looms on the calendar as we head up there in less than a month, but our major focus will be on getting better daily and making ourselves into the best football team we can be.”
An additional note heading into fall camp has seven Lumberjacks named to the College Sports Madness preseason All-Southland Conference team. Running back Gus Johnson, wide receiver Tyler Boyd, linebacker Collin Garrett and kicker Jordan Wiggs were named first team selections with punter Nick Bruno earning second team nods. Offensive lineman Byron Williams and defensive lineman Ishmiah Miles were tabbed third team selections.
Johnson and Boyd were named first team preseason All-Southland Conference selections through a vote of SLC head coaches with Williams and Bruno both earning second team nods. Conque has emphasized the impact these upperclassmen will have heading into 2014 as the ‘Jacks look to begin a new era in SFA football.
“Hopefully the preseason accolades and recognitions that have come our way will serve as a motivating factor for those men,” Conque said. “It’s a respect factor based on what they’ve done to this point. I’ve been very pleased and impressed with their buy-in and embracing the additional responsibilities we’ve placed on them and I’m certainly looking forward to taking the field with them beginning on Tuesday.”
2014 SFA Football Fall Camp Practice Schedule
Tuesday, Aug. 5 – 5 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 6 – 5 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 7 – 5 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 8 – 3:45 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 9 – 3:45 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 10 – 7:45 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 11 – 3:45 p.m
Tuesday, Aug. 12 – 9:15 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 13 – 3:45 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 14 – 9:15 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 15 – 3:45 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 16 – Scrimmage #1 – 3:45 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 17 – 7:45 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 18 – 9:15 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 19 – 9:15 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 20 – Scrimmage #2 – 3:45 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 21 – 3:45 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 22 – 9:15 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.
-SFA-
