Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Football Practice Underway
8/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Marshall Football Practice Underway
8/9/2004
Bob Pruett addresses his team at the conclusion of practice on Monday. |
Marshall University Head Football Coach Bob Pruett got his first look at the 2005 edition of the Thundering Herd on the field Monday as Marshall conducted its first fall football practice of the year.
"I think we have a great opportunity to have an outstanding football team," Pruett said. "We have to be able to handle adversity and maintain focus in all the areas that we need to take back the MAC."
There is no doubt that Pruett knows what it takes to be a winner. He enters the season with five Mid-American Conference Championships under his belt and the highest winning percentage of any active coach in major college football.
One of the key components to Marshall's success in 2004 will be senior quarterback Stan Hill. The Marshall signal caller, who is a Davey O'Brien Award candidate, is fully recovered from a knee injury that forced him to miss much of last season.
"He (Stan) is 100% and in good shape," Pruett said. "We had a couple of guys with some (muscle) pulls today, but other than that we are pretty healthy."
Among the players reporting to camp and practicing on Monday was Bluefield, Va., standout running back/corner Ahmad Bradshaw. The SuperPrep and PrepStar All-American, who signed a National Letter of Intent to play at the University of Virginia, has enrolled at Marshall.
Marshall returns 44 letter-winners from last season's 8-4 squad. The Herd also return's eight of its top 10 tacklers from last season on defense, including 10 players with starting experience. Despite the veteran corps, Pruett says two basics are going to be a focus this fall.
"Two of the areas we are going to really work on is protecting the football on offense and creating turnovers on defense. Last season we ranked 114th in turnover margin and that is something that we will fix."
Marshall's fall camp continues with a 3:00 p.m. practice on Tuesday.
Marshall Practice Schedule(subject to change)
Monday (Aug. 9) practice from 3-6 p.m.
Tuesday (Aug. 10) practice from 3-6 p.m.
Wednesday (Aug. 11) practice from 3-6 p.m.
Thursday (Aug. 12) practice 9 a.m. -Noon
Friday (Aug. 13) 9 a.m.-Noon
Saturday (Aug. 14) on field at 8 a.m (practice 8:30-10:30 a.m.)
Afternoon on the practice field at 4 p.m. (practice at 4:30-6:30 p.m.)
Sunday (Aug. 15) from 3-6 p.m.
Monday (Aug. 16) on the field at 8 a.m. practice at 8:30
On the practice field at 4 p.m. practice at 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday (Aug. 17) on the field at 3 practice at 3:30
Wednesday (Aug. 18) on the field at 8, practice at 8:30 a.m.
On the practice field at 3, practice at 3:30
Thursday (August 19) on the field at 3, practice at 3:30
Friday (Aug. 20) on the field at 8 a.m., practice at 8:30
On the field at 4 p.m. and practice at 4:30
Saturday (Aug. 21) 2-5 p.m.
-Camp Breaks-
