SFA Fall Camp Report - Media Day
8/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – For football programs and coaches all across the country, it is one of those necessary evils that occur every year.
Media Day.
“I do know this, Media Day is an equipment manager’s nightmare, a head coach’s nightmare and a sports information director’s nightmare,” said head coach Clint Conque. “I’m just glad we got through it smoothly and have it behind us to focus on the stretch run of camp.”
Under the scorching August Nacogdoches sun, SFA checked another item off the preseason “to-do” list as the 2015 Lumberjacks officially took their place in program history with the official team picture. For some, it was the first time they got to put on the SFA uniform as a member of the program, something coach Conque hopes instilled a sense of reality.
“For some this where the reality comes that I’m a Lumberjack and I represent something bigger than myself and there’s a responsibility that comes with being a member of this football program,” Conque said. “We have a great legacy here and we need to build upon that and stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us.”
The Lumberjacks also knocked out a handful of housekeeping obligations, everything from individual shots to video board material and the senior class picture on the midfield logo. A handful of ‘Jacks shot promotional material for new uniform combinations which will be unveiled at a later date.
It provided a chance to relax slightly following another spirited morning practice on the turf at Homer Bryce Stadium which once again saw the offense continue to make strides. The ‘Jacks ran through a number of situational formations, including third-and long, redzone and pressure situations, including taking snaps inside their own five-yard line.
SFA’s quarterback duo of Zach Conque and Hunter Taylor continued to settle into a rhythym as timing with new receivers such as De’Quann Ruffin, Judah Jones and Lucas Askew, as well as returners Robert Sylvester and Aaron Piper, continues to get sharper.
The Lumberjacks’ veteran offensive line seems to be getting a renewed sense of confidence, starting to open up holes and create wide lanes for the Lumberjack running back corps.
But without a doubt, the biggest play of the morning practice was the last as with the offense up against its own goal line, Conque eluded pressure and found a wide open Sylvester racing down the right sideline, hauling in a long pass and racing the rest of the way into the endzone for a 99-yard touchdown strike.
With practice wrapping up around 11:30 a.m. this morning, it marks one of the longest breaks between practice sessions during fall camp. SFA returns to the practice field at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday afternoon as coach Conque expects the next week to be very telling for those who will be ready to suit up against Northern Arizona on September 5th.
Q&A with Head Coach Clint Conque
On the progress of the team after the first week of camp:
“I’ve been really impressed with the offense the last three practices or so. The execution, particularly with the ones and at times with the twos, I’ve really been pleased. The offensive line has been covering people up and have made it easier on the running backs, who are really doing a good job of staying on their tracks and finishing runs. The passing game has really come around. We’re doing a lot of situational work and the last few days, the offense has really stepped up. I haven’t been pleased with their tempo, being we’ve got to play a little bit faster. Defensively, not as much progress as I’d hoped we’d have made through nine practices. We’re rotating a lot of guys and putting a lot of players in different situations to see who will respond. But at the end of the day we’ve got to be able to stop the run, stop the pressure up front and respond in the redzone, and we’ve got some work to do in that regard defensively.”
On players starting to make themselves known to the coaches:
“Once we get past this weekend, it starts to become about the refinement. You’ll see some players’ reps start to go up and others start to go down. We know we won’t have all 95 guys ready to play once the season starts, so we’re going to continue to focus in on those 60-65 guys that are have shown they are ready. Young men are starting to understand their roles right now and they’ll need to continue to define those roles. Everyday they paint the picture they want the coaching staff to see. The coaches don’t pick who plays, the players are the ones that do that by establishing themselves and defining their role. We’re starting to see some of that now, but know that there is going to be more separation here in the next week or so of camp.”
On keeping the intensity of practices high after a week of camp:
“It’s the mental motivation that is key. We’ve got a lot of young men that are fresh out of high school and they’re use to playing on Friday nights. It’s a little bit different game on Saturday night. This is probably the hardest they’ve ever been pushed, and you’ve got to understand that we’ve had these freshmen here all summer, so it has been a challenge both mentally and physically. It’s that challenge to find that button to push as coaches to get them to respond everyday.”
On the team’s mindset doing Media Day festivities:
“It makes it a little more real for some guys, but honestly, the calendar should make it very real for these players. Today is a day to get dressed up and look pretty, and for some this where the reality comes that I’m a Lumberjack and I represent something bigger than myself and there’s a responsibility that comes with being a member of this football program. We have a great legacy here and we need to build upon that and stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us. We’ll take the team picture that hopefully will want to be remembered for a long time around here. But reality needs to set in for us quickly. Tomorrow when we wake up it will be 17 days before kickoff, so reality better be staring them square in the face. I do know this, Media Day is an equipment manager’s nightmare, a head coach’s nightmare and a sports information director’s nightmare, so hopefully we get through it pretty easily.”
-SFA-
