Lehigh football opens preseason camp with Thursday evening practice
8/6/2015 11:38:00 PM | Football
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh football team opened up its 2015 preseason camp Thursday evening with a workout on Frank Banko Field. The Mountain Hawks reported to campus Wednesday for physicals and meetings and held their first workout of camp Thursday, a three-hour practice on a relatively cool August evening..
The Mountain Hawks enter camp with a relatively young squad that features 33 freshmen, but head coach Andy Coen thought the newcomers equipped themselves well and credited the upperclassmen for setting a good example leading to a first practice that Coen considered a success as the Brown and White aim to rebound from a 3-8 campaign in 2014 and regain the form that saw the program post a 39-9 record in the four previous seasons.
"I was really pleased," Coen said. "We had a bunch of new freshmen and it's always kind of daunting for those guys in their first time out here trying to figure things out, but I thought they did a really nice job. I thought the upperclassmen really helped them out. We had great intensity and great enthusiasm and that's really what you need to have in any first day of practice but we've got a long way to go."
Thursday's practice marked the return of junior quarterback Nick Shafnisky to full participation after being limited in the spring. Coen thought the junior signal-caller equipped himself well and also gave credit to Lehigh's defense, which is looking to bounce back after a tough 2014 campaign.
"Nick did well today," Coen said. "He was more at ease throwing the football. His release looked much quicker and smoother than it had. He's still going to be a weapon with his feet but I'd still like to see him maybe complete five more passes than run the ball five more times and I think he's beginning to understand that.
"I really liked the defense," continued Coen. "What our defenses have been in the past; it's not only that we've got good players and are playing our positions well but the intensity and the enthusiasm that came from that group of guys was really good. The energy a defense can bring is always more than what an offense can bring. We have to get it to that level in every day of practice and every day in our games."
(8/6/2015) Football Opens 2015 Preseason Camp
In accordance with NCAA rules, Thursday's workout was conducted without pads, just helmets for the Brown and White. Over the next few days Lehigh will progress to uppers (helmets and shoulder pads only) before donning full pads for the first time Monday afternoon. The first double session will take place on Tuesday while the first intrasquad scrimmage of camp is set for Saturday, August 15.
Lehigh's preseason camp will run through Sunday, August 23 with the annual Alumni Steak Fry taking place that afternoon. With just under a month until the season opener at Central Connecticut State Coen knows that there's plenty of work to be done and will look for the Mountain Hawks to make the most of the
28 scheduled practices leading into the season opener.
"We need to continue to develop each player," Coen explained. "As we go through from when we put the pads on until practices 11, 12 and 13; those are going to be grinding days. They need to be physical days for us. Those have to be the dog days that our guys really grind through and create the toughness that we need to have in our program.
"We talked about staying together and making sure we're working together and are committed to each other and holding each other accountable. We've got a long way to go here."
Earlier this week, the first of two major FCS polls was released with Lehigh receiving eight points to be listed among the others receiving votes in the FCS Coaches Poll. Among Lehigh's 2015 opponents, James Madison is ranked 13th while Patriot League preseason favorite Fordham comes in at No. 21. Bucknell and Yale are also listed among others receiving votes. The preseason STATS FCS Top 25 will be announced next week.
The Mountain Hawks will open the 2015 on the road at Central Connecticut State on Friday, September 4. Following a trip to James Madison the following Saturday, Lehigh will open its home schedule against Penn September 19 at Goodman Stadium. Tickets to the Penn game and all Lehigh home football games can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or by visiting LehighTickets.com.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh football team opened up its 2015 preseason camp Thursday evening with a workout on Frank Banko Field. The Mountain Hawks reported to campus Wednesday for physicals and meetings and held their first workout of camp Thursday, a three-hour practice on a relatively cool August evening..
The Mountain Hawks enter camp with a relatively young squad that features 33 freshmen, but head coach Andy Coen thought the newcomers equipped themselves well and credited the upperclassmen for setting a good example leading to a first practice that Coen considered a success as the Brown and White aim to rebound from a 3-8 campaign in 2014 and regain the form that saw the program post a 39-9 record in the four previous seasons.
"I was really pleased," Coen said. "We had a bunch of new freshmen and it's always kind of daunting for those guys in their first time out here trying to figure things out, but I thought they did a really nice job. I thought the upperclassmen really helped them out. We had great intensity and great enthusiasm and that's really what you need to have in any first day of practice but we've got a long way to go."
Thursday's practice marked the return of junior quarterback Nick Shafnisky to full participation after being limited in the spring. Coen thought the junior signal-caller equipped himself well and also gave credit to Lehigh's defense, which is looking to bounce back after a tough 2014 campaign.
"Nick did well today," Coen said. "He was more at ease throwing the football. His release looked much quicker and smoother than it had. He's still going to be a weapon with his feet but I'd still like to see him maybe complete five more passes than run the ball five more times and I think he's beginning to understand that.
"I really liked the defense," continued Coen. "What our defenses have been in the past; it's not only that we've got good players and are playing our positions well but the intensity and the enthusiasm that came from that group of guys was really good. The energy a defense can bring is always more than what an offense can bring. We have to get it to that level in every day of practice and every day in our games."
In accordance with NCAA rules, Thursday's workout was conducted without pads, just helmets for the Brown and White. Over the next few days Lehigh will progress to uppers (helmets and shoulder pads only) before donning full pads for the first time Monday afternoon. The first double session will take place on Tuesday while the first intrasquad scrimmage of camp is set for Saturday, August 15.
Lehigh's preseason camp will run through Sunday, August 23 with the annual Alumni Steak Fry taking place that afternoon. With just under a month until the season opener at Central Connecticut State Coen knows that there's plenty of work to be done and will look for the Mountain Hawks to make the most of the
28 scheduled practices leading into the season opener.
"We need to continue to develop each player," Coen explained. "As we go through from when we put the pads on until practices 11, 12 and 13; those are going to be grinding days. They need to be physical days for us. Those have to be the dog days that our guys really grind through and create the toughness that we need to have in our program.
"We talked about staying together and making sure we're working together and are committed to each other and holding each other accountable. We've got a long way to go here."
Earlier this week, the first of two major FCS polls was released with Lehigh receiving eight points to be listed among the others receiving votes in the FCS Coaches Poll. Among Lehigh's 2015 opponents, James Madison is ranked 13th while Patriot League preseason favorite Fordham comes in at No. 21. Bucknell and Yale are also listed among others receiving votes. The preseason STATS FCS Top 25 will be announced next week.
The Mountain Hawks will open the 2015 on the road at Central Connecticut State on Friday, September 4. Following a trip to James Madison the following Saturday, Lehigh will open its home schedule against Penn September 19 at Goodman Stadium. Tickets to the Penn game and all Lehigh home football games can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or by visiting LehighTickets.com.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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