SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Savannah State University football team opened spring practice Wednesday. The spring session will be conducted four days a week, ending with the annual Orange and Blue Spring Game on April 14^th.

“The kids were enthusiastic about being there,” second year head coach Steve Davenport said. “That's what you look for as a coach, kids who are excited about getting back to work. Obviously there are things we're tweaking both offensively and defensively, and they were excited about those changes. I thought it went well overall.”

The practice included a basic warm-up, then the 72 players participating split into individual groups to work agility drills at their position. Tigers coaching staff also got their first look at quarterback and receiver couplings.

“You want those returners to assume their place as leaders,” Davenport said. “ A lot of those guys from last year took the role on. You have to be happy about them excepting those roles. That was a good thing from the kids that are returning. The big freshman class we signed up the middle, are all bigger, stronger and faster than when they were when they got on campus in August. And, we got those six new guys that we are anxious to see do well on the field. It was good to see the new guys and the freshman that came in in August.”

The defensive and offensive lines also got some valuable time in as both sides of the line adjusted to the playbook. The spring practice acts not only as a precursor to summer practice and eventually the fall football season, but also as a showcase for new additions to the team and walk-ons that have tried out. This practice time will give the Savannah State coaching staff a general idea of the layout of the team, and in doing so is invaluable for the upcoming season.

“It's on going,” Davenport said. “We've got twenty or so guys that we hope to include that are not even on campus yet. It's an on-going process that is not even close to being finished. It is an opportunity for the new guys and some of the walk-ons that tried out for the team to show the coaches what they're made of. Nothing will be finalized in the spring but it does give these kids a chance show what they got.”

As the spring practice continues and the march towards football season begins, the Tigers will look to build from the experience of the returners and add to that the fresh talent of the incoming players. The Tigers were 1-10 in 2011 and begin their season against Oklahoma State University in September.

“Every coach in the country wants to concentrate on fundamentals in spring practice, and we are no different,” Davenport said. “We're going to concentrate on making sure our kids know what we're trying to accomplish in every phase of the game. Fundamentals are our main goal. We want to compete well and we want to compete at every position. That's how a team gets better. When they feel like they have to show up every day. We want to focus on fundamentals, but also on competition as well.”
 
SSU Football Practice Schedule
March 21- 3:30 p.m.
March 23- 3:30 p.m.
March 24- 9:30 a.m.
March 26 - 3:30 p.m.
March 28 - 3:30 p.m.
March 30 – 3:30 p.m.
March 31 – 10:30 a.m. (Scrimmage)
April 2 - 3:30 p.m.
April 4 – 3:30 p.m.
April 6- 3:30 p.m.
April 7 – 10:30 a.m. (Scrimmage)
April 9- 3:30 p.m.
April 11 - 10:00 a.m.
April 13- 3:30 p.m.
April 14- (Spring Game)