Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
105 report to football camp today
7/30/2017 7:00:00 AM | Football
First practice is set for Monday afternoon
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee football team will finally hit the field Monday to begin practice for the 2017 season.
"I'm really excited, because I'm excited about this team," head coach Rick Stockstill said. "We've had a great summer, and I'm anxious to get back out on the field to coach. I like our staff, I like our team right now and I'm ready to get out there and create and form our identity."
The Blue Raiders have 105 reporting to camp today (Sunday), including 38 total lettermen returning and six starters each on offense and defense. They'll hit the field Monday at 3:45 p.m. for their first practice.
Fans are welcome to attend practices each of the first three days, through Aug. 2, for the first three periods. The rest of the Blue Raider fall practices will be closed to the public.
Summer camp will be a little different this year for MT. Camp is starting earlier than usual, while summer school for the players started later, meaning the players will have to take classes during the first two weeks of camp. That could create some interesting schedules the players will have to navigate for a couple of weeks.
"That's going to be hard and demanding on the players and a little different for us as coaches," Stockstill said. "This will be the first time in their lives, probably, that they're in a camp but still in school. Usually in high school, when camp is over that's the first day of school. It will be new for them, but it shouldn't be that big of an issue. They've just got to be organized and be able to handle their business in football and classroom responsibilities."
Besides the juggling players will have to perform due to school work added to prepping for the season, practice schedules could also be impacted by the odd summer schedule.
In the past, if there was inclement weather during a morning practice, Stockstill could just move the practice to the afternoon. However, with summer school taking place this year in the morning, their only option will be to practice in the afternoon.
With no availability of an indoor practice facility, if Mother Nature doesn't cooperate, the Blue Raiders may be out of luck for some practices.
"That's the part of it I don't like," the head coach said. "If it rains and there's lightning in the afternoon, we'll have to make more adjustments without having an indoor facility."
While the players will have to worry about the classroom during camp this year, most won't have to deal with injuries.
Most of the banged-up Raiders in the offseason – most notably redshirt junior quarterback Brent Stockstill – are expected to be fully healthy and ready to go on Monday. That's a nice change for their head coach from the injury-riddled offseason a year ago that saw the team lose a handful of key players before they even got to the first game week.
"I think we're in good shape injury-wise going into camp," Coach Stockstill said. "It seems like we had more summer mishaps last year than we've had in the past, but this year we're really going in clean."
The first week of camp is usually broken down into conditioning and training for the players. That will be no different this go-round.
"They've had a great summer, but now they've got to work themselves into great football shape, where you're leaning on people, hitting people and getting up," Coach Stockstill said. "We're in good shape, now we've got to get in good football shape."
Once they start proving they're getting into game-ready condition, Coach Stockstill hopes to see some guys stand out as replacements for some of what was lost last year, most notably along both the offensive and defensive lines.
"I think the big thing is who are going to be those guys that we can trust, count on and lean on," he said. "For the most part, most of the guys had good summers. I hope that translates to next week, and I think it will … there's going to be some good competition."
From Monday, the players will have 33 days to lay their claim on starting and role-playing spots before Vanderbilt comes calling on Sept. 2.
Other notes as camp begins
Today's Reporting Schedule
The day will begin at 7 AM with academic orientation while physicals for some players will start at 10 AM … A lengthy team meeting where 9-10 different people will talk to the team gets underway at 2:30 PM until dinner is served at 5 PM. After eating there will be a senior meeting, another team meeting and then offensive and defensive meetings before calling it a day.
New coaches:
Coach Stockstill has a few new faces on his staff this season.
Defensive coordinator Scott Shafer, the former Syracuse head coach, was brought on in January to lead the defense, while Siriki Diabate will take over the linebackers. Wolfgang Shafer, son of Scott Shafer, was also hired on in a quality control position, while Austin Silvoy moved from the quality control role to wide receivers coach.
"They're all good coaches, and we're chomping at the bit and ready to roll," Stockstill said.
Rick Mallory good to go:
Stockstill said offensive line coach Rick Mallory, who suffered a heart attack in April, will be as ready to rock on Monday as his players.
The veteran coach is in his fifth year for the Blue Raiders and has been instrumental in the success of the offensive line since arriving in Murfreesboro.
"I want him to jump in and go, but, just like a player, he has to be honest with himself and honest with me if he's struggling or not feeling right," Stockstill said. "We've already talked to our trainers about keeping a good eye on him and making sure he's good to go."
No more two-a-days:
A new NCAA rule has forbidden the usage of two-a-day practices. The change won't affect anything MT will due in this camp, however, according to Stockstill.
"It's probably been three or four years since we've done two-a-days," he said. "Even in the past when we were allowed to do it the most we could do was four, so it's not like we're missing out on a lot of practices. It wasn't like the old days when you had two weeks of two-a-days every day. I think that's a good rule for the players."
"I'm really excited, because I'm excited about this team," head coach Rick Stockstill said. "We've had a great summer, and I'm anxious to get back out on the field to coach. I like our staff, I like our team right now and I'm ready to get out there and create and form our identity."
The Blue Raiders have 105 reporting to camp today (Sunday), including 38 total lettermen returning and six starters each on offense and defense. They'll hit the field Monday at 3:45 p.m. for their first practice.
Fans are welcome to attend practices each of the first three days, through Aug. 2, for the first three periods. The rest of the Blue Raider fall practices will be closed to the public.
Summer camp will be a little different this year for MT. Camp is starting earlier than usual, while summer school for the players started later, meaning the players will have to take classes during the first two weeks of camp. That could create some interesting schedules the players will have to navigate for a couple of weeks.
"That's going to be hard and demanding on the players and a little different for us as coaches," Stockstill said. "This will be the first time in their lives, probably, that they're in a camp but still in school. Usually in high school, when camp is over that's the first day of school. It will be new for them, but it shouldn't be that big of an issue. They've just got to be organized and be able to handle their business in football and classroom responsibilities."
Besides the juggling players will have to perform due to school work added to prepping for the season, practice schedules could also be impacted by the odd summer schedule.
In the past, if there was inclement weather during a morning practice, Stockstill could just move the practice to the afternoon. However, with summer school taking place this year in the morning, their only option will be to practice in the afternoon.
With no availability of an indoor practice facility, if Mother Nature doesn't cooperate, the Blue Raiders may be out of luck for some practices.
"That's the part of it I don't like," the head coach said. "If it rains and there's lightning in the afternoon, we'll have to make more adjustments without having an indoor facility."
While the players will have to worry about the classroom during camp this year, most won't have to deal with injuries.
Most of the banged-up Raiders in the offseason – most notably redshirt junior quarterback Brent Stockstill – are expected to be fully healthy and ready to go on Monday. That's a nice change for their head coach from the injury-riddled offseason a year ago that saw the team lose a handful of key players before they even got to the first game week.
"I think we're in good shape injury-wise going into camp," Coach Stockstill said. "It seems like we had more summer mishaps last year than we've had in the past, but this year we're really going in clean."
The first week of camp is usually broken down into conditioning and training for the players. That will be no different this go-round.
"They've had a great summer, but now they've got to work themselves into great football shape, where you're leaning on people, hitting people and getting up," Coach Stockstill said. "We're in good shape, now we've got to get in good football shape."
Once they start proving they're getting into game-ready condition, Coach Stockstill hopes to see some guys stand out as replacements for some of what was lost last year, most notably along both the offensive and defensive lines.
"I think the big thing is who are going to be those guys that we can trust, count on and lean on," he said. "For the most part, most of the guys had good summers. I hope that translates to next week, and I think it will … there's going to be some good competition."
From Monday, the players will have 33 days to lay their claim on starting and role-playing spots before Vanderbilt comes calling on Sept. 2.
Other notes as camp begins
Today's Reporting Schedule
The day will begin at 7 AM with academic orientation while physicals for some players will start at 10 AM … A lengthy team meeting where 9-10 different people will talk to the team gets underway at 2:30 PM until dinner is served at 5 PM. After eating there will be a senior meeting, another team meeting and then offensive and defensive meetings before calling it a day.
New coaches:
Coach Stockstill has a few new faces on his staff this season.
Defensive coordinator Scott Shafer, the former Syracuse head coach, was brought on in January to lead the defense, while Siriki Diabate will take over the linebackers. Wolfgang Shafer, son of Scott Shafer, was also hired on in a quality control position, while Austin Silvoy moved from the quality control role to wide receivers coach.
"They're all good coaches, and we're chomping at the bit and ready to roll," Stockstill said.
Rick Mallory good to go:
Stockstill said offensive line coach Rick Mallory, who suffered a heart attack in April, will be as ready to rock on Monday as his players.
The veteran coach is in his fifth year for the Blue Raiders and has been instrumental in the success of the offensive line since arriving in Murfreesboro.
"I want him to jump in and go, but, just like a player, he has to be honest with himself and honest with me if he's struggling or not feeling right," Stockstill said. "We've already talked to our trainers about keeping a good eye on him and making sure he's good to go."
No more two-a-days:
A new NCAA rule has forbidden the usage of two-a-day practices. The change won't affect anything MT will due in this camp, however, according to Stockstill.
"It's probably been three or four years since we've done two-a-days," he said. "Even in the past when we were allowed to do it the most we could do was four, so it's not like we're missing out on a lot of practices. It wasn't like the old days when you had two weeks of two-a-days every day. I think that's a good rule for the players."
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