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Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Final Days
8/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 18, 2001
FAU Football is reaching the midpoint in our first training camp and taking inventory of all accomplished to date. Only five practice sessions remain before switching gears to the focused, in-depth preparation against Slippery Rock University.
Sixteen hard college practices under the hot Florida sun have been experienced for the first time. Twenty-four hours of position and team meetings have been endured.
The players have gotten to know coaches, coaches have gotten to know players, players have gotten to know players. More simply, coaches and players virtually have lived together for the first ten days. We have a much better understanding of and feeling for each other. With varying degrees, each player is closer to becoming a winning FAU football player.
The second year class has lived up to expectations and filled the need for big offensive and defensive linemen. Although an average number of injuries has occurred, it feels as though the days missed by injured players are much greater because of the team's inexperience. Each missed session is magnified because it diminishes the ratio between the number of practices and game day.
The offensive squad with its larger numbers has fared better than the defense which has seen greater injury. It wasn't surprising that Wednesday's shortened scrimmage was dominated by the offense.
Two touchdowns for two possessions is most unlikely in a first-time scrimmage. In the first possession, the offense saw good pinpoint passing by Garrett Jahn and stellar performances by our three backs Doug Parker, Anthony Jackson, and Dekolan James. The offense moved the ball consistently for 70 yards and a touchdown.
For defensive fans out there, please don't jump off any bridge for want of a big play on defense. The only difference needed to have turned the scrimmage in to a victory for the defense simply would have been the execution of one big play in each drive.
With Danny Hernandez and Jordan Roberts lost from the defensive lineup due to injury, the defensive pass rush prevented the defense from measuring up. We'll scrimmage on Saturday to get a better read on the offensive and defensive teams.
On August 23, the team will begin studying the Slippery Rock tapes that our coaches have scrutinized and categorized. Our coaches' job is to use the information to devise the best plan and disseminate it to the team. The team's job is to view the videotapes and then emulate the Rock's offense and defensive units on the field.
As you can imagine, every day in preparation will be new and different for these players as they get ready to compete in their first college game. Have they improved enough to meet the measure of Slippery Rock? The answer will come by 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 1 in Pro Player Stadium.
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