Photo by: Hardy Meredith | SFA Photography
Lumberjack Football Fall Camp Set to Begin Friday
7/30/2018 8:13:00 AM | Football
SFA to host 20 practices, including three scrimmages, over the course of three weeks in preparation for 2018 season
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The official return of collegiate football in Texas' oldest town begins Friday, Aug. 3 as the Stephen F. Austin football program returns to the gridiron for its 2018 preseason camp. The Lumberjacks will participate in 20 total practices, including three full-pad intra-squad scrimmages, over a three week period in preparation for their fall campaign.
"We're extremely excited to get started," interim head coach Jeff Byrd said. "It's been a long summer and we hope to bring the energy level that we went into the offseason with. We're very eager to see some of our new additions in live action. We've created competition at all positions and we're interested to see how the young men compete to earn those starting spots."
When
With SFA's 92nd football season just 33 days away, the 'Jacks are set to host grueling practice sessions in the east Texas heat from Friday, Aug. 3 – Friday, Aug. 24. All practices and scrimmages are open to the public, giving fans the chance to see the SFA football program up close in action. All practices are scheduled to run approximately two hours with practices being conducted at either 8:15 a.m. for morning sessions or 3:15 p.m. for afternoon workouts, dependent on the day.
The three intra-squad scrimmages will highlight fall camp as the 'Jacks will host their first scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 11 at 8:15 a.m. One week later, SFA will once again scrimmage at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18. Fans will have one final chance to see the 'Jacks in live action with a game-like atmosphere for their third scrimmage of the preseason on Friday, Aug. 24 at 6:30 p.m.
Where
All practices will be conducted on the two football practice fields behind the SFA Athletics Fieldhouse, while the Lumberjacks' trio of scrimmages will take place on the turf inside Homer Bryce Stadium.
Attire
SFA will begin preseason camp with a pair of practices in helmets only Friday and Saturday, Aug. 3-4. Each Tuesday of fall camp, the 'Jacks will take to the field in full pads, while the remainder of SFA's practices will be conducted in shoulder pads, helmets and shorts (shells). The 'Jacks will go full contact in all three of their scrimmages, making each scrimmage a full-pad practice as well. In total, SFA will host two practice sessions in helmets only, six in full pads and 12 in shells.
The complete fall camp schedule can be found below.
2018 SFA Football Fall Camp Schedule
Practice #1 | Friday, Aug. 3 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Helmets Only
Practice #2 | Saturday, Aug. 4 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Helmets Only
Practice #3 | Sunday, Aug. 5 | 3:15 p.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Practice #4 | Monday, Aug. 6 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Practice #5 | Tuesday, Aug. 7 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Full Pads
Practice #6 | Wednesday, Aug. 8 | 3:15 p.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
OFF | Thursday, Aug. 9
Practice #7 | Friday, Aug. 10 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Scrimmage #1 | Saturday, Aug. 11 | 8:15 a.m. | Homer Bryce Stadium | Full Pads
Practice #9 | Sunday, Aug. 12 | 3:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Practice #10 | Monday, Aug. 13 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Practice #11 | Tuesday, Aug. 14 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Full Pads
Practice #12 | Wednesday, Aug. 15 | 3:15 p.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Practice #13 | Thursday, Aug. 16 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
OFF | Friday, Aug. 17
Scrimmage #2 | Saturday, Aug. 18 | 8:15 a.m. | Homer Bryce Stadium | Full Pads
Practice #15 | Sunday, Aug. 19 | 3:15 p.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Practice #16 | Monday, Aug. 20 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Practice #17 | Tuesday, Aug. 21 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Full Pads
Practice #18 | Wednesday, Aug. 22 | 3:15 p.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Practice #19 | Thursday, Aug. 23 | 3:15 p.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Scrimmage #3 | Friday, Aug. 24 | 6:30 p.m. | Homer Bryce Stadium | Full Pads
For the second-straight year SFA was chosen sixth in the Southland Conference's annual preseason poll as voted upon by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. The 'Jacks went 4-7 overall last fall and 4-5 in Southland play, tying for sixth in the league's final standings. SFA started conference play 2-0 in 2017, defeating UIW at home and ACU on the road before later posting convincing wins over Houston Baptist and Lamar.
This fall, the 'Jacks will look to continue their recent success against in-state opponents after going 4-1 against FCS opposition in 2017, marking the first time since 1989 SFA claimed four victories over FCS Texas foes in the same season. Last season also marked the first time since 1995 the 'Jacks recorded four wins over Lone Star State schools in the same year.
Under the guidance of coach Byrd, who enters his second season in Nacogdoches and first as interim head coach after spending 2017 as SFA's defensive coordinator, the 'Jacks are attempting to reach the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2014. SFA returns a total of 40 letter winners from a year ago and brings back 22 players who had starting experience in 2017, including 11 on the offensive side of the ball, eight on defense and three specialist. The 'Jacks also welcome a total of 47 newcomers to this year's squad.
Earlier this month, five SFA players garnered preseason All-Southland honors as junior safety Alize Ward was tabbed a first-team pick as a defensive back and was placed on the second team as an all-purpose player. Junior wide receiver Tamrick Pace claimed a spot on the preseason All-Southland Second Team offense, along with senior punter Caleb Lewallen, while senior linebacker Ryan Woods and sophomore safety Trenton Gordon collected preseason All-Southland Second Team defense nods.
Once again, SFA faces a challenging slate in 2018 and for the second consecutive season the 'Jacks are set to take on six teams from the Lone Star State. Eight of SFA's 11 games this fall will be played on Texas soil, five of which will be held inside Homer Bryce, with the 'Jacks taking on Southeastern Conference mainstay Mississippi State and NCAA Division II Tarleton State in non-conference action.
The Purple and White opens up its 2018 season Saturday, Sept. 1 with a trip to Starkville, Mississippi, to face Mississippi State. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on ESPNU, available everywhere via the ESPN app. The 'Jacks host NCAA Division II Tarleton State in a 6 p.m. tilt for their home opener Saturday, Sept. 8.
SFA Football Season Tickets
Fans interested in purchasing tickets for the 2018 SFA football season can visit the new home for SFA Tickets at SFATickets.com or contact the SFA Athletic Ticket Office at 936-468-JACK.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Lumberjack football throughout the 2018 season.
-SFA-
"We're extremely excited to get started," interim head coach Jeff Byrd said. "It's been a long summer and we hope to bring the energy level that we went into the offseason with. We're very eager to see some of our new additions in live action. We've created competition at all positions and we're interested to see how the young men compete to earn those starting spots."
When
With SFA's 92nd football season just 33 days away, the 'Jacks are set to host grueling practice sessions in the east Texas heat from Friday, Aug. 3 – Friday, Aug. 24. All practices and scrimmages are open to the public, giving fans the chance to see the SFA football program up close in action. All practices are scheduled to run approximately two hours with practices being conducted at either 8:15 a.m. for morning sessions or 3:15 p.m. for afternoon workouts, dependent on the day.
The three intra-squad scrimmages will highlight fall camp as the 'Jacks will host their first scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 11 at 8:15 a.m. One week later, SFA will once again scrimmage at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18. Fans will have one final chance to see the 'Jacks in live action with a game-like atmosphere for their third scrimmage of the preseason on Friday, Aug. 24 at 6:30 p.m.
Where
All practices will be conducted on the two football practice fields behind the SFA Athletics Fieldhouse, while the Lumberjacks' trio of scrimmages will take place on the turf inside Homer Bryce Stadium.
Attire
SFA will begin preseason camp with a pair of practices in helmets only Friday and Saturday, Aug. 3-4. Each Tuesday of fall camp, the 'Jacks will take to the field in full pads, while the remainder of SFA's practices will be conducted in shoulder pads, helmets and shorts (shells). The 'Jacks will go full contact in all three of their scrimmages, making each scrimmage a full-pad practice as well. In total, SFA will host two practice sessions in helmets only, six in full pads and 12 in shells.
The complete fall camp schedule can be found below.
2018 SFA Football Fall Camp Schedule
Practice #1 | Friday, Aug. 3 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Helmets Only
Practice #2 | Saturday, Aug. 4 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Helmets Only
Practice #3 | Sunday, Aug. 5 | 3:15 p.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Practice #4 | Monday, Aug. 6 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Practice #5 | Tuesday, Aug. 7 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Full Pads
Practice #6 | Wednesday, Aug. 8 | 3:15 p.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
OFF | Thursday, Aug. 9
Practice #7 | Friday, Aug. 10 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Scrimmage #1 | Saturday, Aug. 11 | 8:15 a.m. | Homer Bryce Stadium | Full Pads
Practice #9 | Sunday, Aug. 12 | 3:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Practice #10 | Monday, Aug. 13 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Practice #11 | Tuesday, Aug. 14 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Full Pads
Practice #12 | Wednesday, Aug. 15 | 3:15 p.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Practice #13 | Thursday, Aug. 16 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
OFF | Friday, Aug. 17
Scrimmage #2 | Saturday, Aug. 18 | 8:15 a.m. | Homer Bryce Stadium | Full Pads
Practice #15 | Sunday, Aug. 19 | 3:15 p.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Practice #16 | Monday, Aug. 20 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Practice #17 | Tuesday, Aug. 21 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Full Pads
Practice #18 | Wednesday, Aug. 22 | 3:15 p.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Practice #19 | Thursday, Aug. 23 | 3:15 p.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Scrimmage #3 | Friday, Aug. 24 | 6:30 p.m. | Homer Bryce Stadium | Full Pads
- Practice time and location subject to change dependent on weather
For the second-straight year SFA was chosen sixth in the Southland Conference's annual preseason poll as voted upon by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. The 'Jacks went 4-7 overall last fall and 4-5 in Southland play, tying for sixth in the league's final standings. SFA started conference play 2-0 in 2017, defeating UIW at home and ACU on the road before later posting convincing wins over Houston Baptist and Lamar.
This fall, the 'Jacks will look to continue their recent success against in-state opponents after going 4-1 against FCS opposition in 2017, marking the first time since 1989 SFA claimed four victories over FCS Texas foes in the same season. Last season also marked the first time since 1995 the 'Jacks recorded four wins over Lone Star State schools in the same year.
Under the guidance of coach Byrd, who enters his second season in Nacogdoches and first as interim head coach after spending 2017 as SFA's defensive coordinator, the 'Jacks are attempting to reach the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2014. SFA returns a total of 40 letter winners from a year ago and brings back 22 players who had starting experience in 2017, including 11 on the offensive side of the ball, eight on defense and three specialist. The 'Jacks also welcome a total of 47 newcomers to this year's squad.
Earlier this month, five SFA players garnered preseason All-Southland honors as junior safety Alize Ward was tabbed a first-team pick as a defensive back and was placed on the second team as an all-purpose player. Junior wide receiver Tamrick Pace claimed a spot on the preseason All-Southland Second Team offense, along with senior punter Caleb Lewallen, while senior linebacker Ryan Woods and sophomore safety Trenton Gordon collected preseason All-Southland Second Team defense nods.
Once again, SFA faces a challenging slate in 2018 and for the second consecutive season the 'Jacks are set to take on six teams from the Lone Star State. Eight of SFA's 11 games this fall will be played on Texas soil, five of which will be held inside Homer Bryce, with the 'Jacks taking on Southeastern Conference mainstay Mississippi State and NCAA Division II Tarleton State in non-conference action.
The Purple and White opens up its 2018 season Saturday, Sept. 1 with a trip to Starkville, Mississippi, to face Mississippi State. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on ESPNU, available everywhere via the ESPN app. The 'Jacks host NCAA Division II Tarleton State in a 6 p.m. tilt for their home opener Saturday, Sept. 8.
SFA Football Season Tickets
Fans interested in purchasing tickets for the 2018 SFA football season can visit the new home for SFA Tickets at SFATickets.com or contact the SFA Athletic Ticket Office at 936-468-JACK.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Lumberjack football throughout the 2018 season.
-SFA-
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