SFA Fall Camp Report - Offensive Line
8/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – As football season continues to draw closer, most programs and coaching staffs across the country have their own way of counting down how much time is left before that first snap of the season.
For head coach Clint Conque, he has used the number of the player in the final huddle of practice to bring a realization of how close the season truly is. Monday was 19 days until kickoff, making it Robert Sylvester’s day. Tuesday was Hunter Taylor’s day, Wednesday was Bradly Krall.
As the players gathered at the end of Thursday’s morning practice, Conque used the opportunity to once again serve as a teaching moment about what it means to play for Stephen F. Austin, and playing for something bigger than yourself.
“Today is 16 days until first kick,” Conque said. “If you look around, you won’t see a number 16 on this practice field. There is a reason for that, and it is one of the things that defines Stephen F. Austin football.”
Those close to the SFA program know what the number 16 represents. It is the number of Cally Belcher, a two-time All-SLC defensive back that played for the Lumberjacks from 1991-93 who tragically had his life cut short in the spring of 1994, passing away from a brain aneurysm after a blow to the head during spring practices.
Belcher’s number 16 remains the only permanently retired number on the Lumberjack roster. In 2014, 20 years after Belcher’s passing, the number was brought out of retirement for the first time in the game against Weber State, worn by wide receiver Aaron Thomas. The Cally Belcher game has now become a yearly tradition as Joshawa West earned the right to wear the number this season when the ‘Jacks host McNeese State on September 19th.
One of coach Conque’s mantras since arriving on campus is to continually remind these players that they are playing for something bigger than themselves. “This team and this program means a great deal to a lot of people,” Conque reminded them, as they were reminded of the challenge to carry on the legacy and traditions of those players that have paved the way before them.
It was a somber reminder that came after a spirited practice in which SFA wore full pads for the second time, going live for the final periods of the morning practice. As the 11th practice rolled on, the intensity level continued to rise as certain positions continue to establish their place on the team.
One of those spots who continues to flex its muscles is the Lumberjacks’ veteran offensive line, which should serve as the backbone of the SFA offensive attack this fall. The line returns all five starters from 2014, making the group the most experienced on the field with a combined 146 games played and 110 starts.
Senior Byron Williams has garnered national attention leading into the season, being named a preseason third team STATS FCS All-American and a first team All-Southland Conference selection at left guard. He will again be joined by fellow seniors David Dane (right tackle) and Terran Vaughn (right guard), and juniors Anthony Pullins (center) and Travis Wiggins (left tackle), giving SFA one of the most experienced front lines in the country.
Depth is especially key on the offensive line and SFA is confident it has the young talent to complement the senior leadership. Juniors Shane Roberson and Jake Wallace both return after seeing substantial playing time in 2014 as SFA also added transfer Marshall Womack from Montana State, both of which have helped bolster the second line for SFA.
One of the benefits of having as much experience up front as the Lumberjacks do is the ability to accelerate the learning curve for the youngsters. Redshirt freshman Hayden Scott is one coach Bill Best mentioned has seen dramatic improvement from last season, getting a full year of work under his belt. He has also been very high on freshmen A.J. Brown, Travis Lock and Devonte Jones, knowing the future is extremely bright with those players on staff.
“I’ve been very pleased with how quickly each of them have come along and have learned from our veterans,” Best said. “Whether they play this year or redshirt, all four of them will be tremendous players for this program and will keep the level of play very high for quite some time.”
SFA’s second two-a-day concluded with a 3:45 p.m. practice on the turf at Homer Bryce Stadium as the Lumberjacks went with just helmets in the afternoon session. Friday is expected to be a lighter practice as the ‘Jacks prepare for the first scrimmage of fall camp, getting underway at 4 p.m. Saturday at Homer Bryce Stadium. The scrimmage is open to the public and will be free of charge.
Q&A with Offensive Line Coach Bill Best
On the progress of the offensive line during fall camp:
“This summer has been huge for us. Having had the opportunity to work on drills daily and have that continuity with the same five guys returning from last year has been big, and then to roll that right into fall camp has really helped us get that much further along in the game. This is the second year in the system for all five starters, which brings a great deal of confidence into what we’re doing, and it has put us a lot further ahead of where we were a year ago at this point.”
On the motivation following a disappointing spring game:
“I take it personally when we play bad, and quite honestly we played horrible in the spring game. Granted, we were a little beat up, as guys like Byron Williams had missed some time with an injury, and the tempo we practice with, it turns into crossfit out there pretty quickly. But we are so much better for it now because it has matured our guys and now we’re much more comfortable playing at that tempo, and the adversity we faced in the spring has definitely started to pay off now.”
On the advantage of returning all five starters from 2014:
“This is my 14th season coaching the offensive line, and this is just the second time I’ve been fortunate enough to have all five of my starters back from the year before. The last time that happened, we were really good. The leadership and knowing what my expectations are have been key, and knowing that we are going to be the ones that are setting the tone on the offense and having everyone follow us, it is something the (offensive line) has understood and embraced.”
On the opportunity for the young players to learn from seasoned veterans:
“First of all, these guys all have my name on them because I was the one that selected them, so I know its on me to have them live up to what I saw from them. They all came from outstanding high school programs and have all been coached at a high level already. Our twos and threes can line up and move the football, and my concern for the offensive line is nowhere near as much as it has been in the past. Looking forward, knowing we lose three seniors in Bryon, David Dane and Terran Vaughn, these young players will be way ahead of most teams being they are going to not only have those seniors to learn from, but also have the chance to take significant reps.”
On facing SFA’s defensive line every day in practice:
“Our defensive line is incredibly talented. When those guys turn it on in practice, it’s incredibly competitive. There aren’t many teams we’ll play this year who will be better than what we’re lining up against every day in practice, so it gets us ready to play at a higher level. Our offensive and defensive lines have a great respect for each other and understand what we’re trying to accomplish and the relationships between the players and the coaches on both sides makes for a very competitive and productive working environment, and it makes both sides better. We would not be where we are if it wasn’t for the defensive line practicing the way they do and making us bring our best every day.”
