Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Presbyterian
Football Welcomes 2006 Blue Hose To Campus
CLINTON, S.C. – Coming off one of the most prestigious years in school history, the 2006 Presbyterian Blue Hose football team reported to campus on Wednesday, Aug. 2.
Presbyterian and head coach Tommy Spangler welcomed almost 100 football players, as 96 players were listed on the roster at the opening of the team’s training camp.
The Presbyterian football team in 2005 garnered a 10-2 record and a perfect 7-0 record in South Atlantic Conference play to claim the SAC title outright and earn its first ever NCAA Division II playoff appearance.
After a good winter and spring, Spangler, who in his nine years invested (five as head coach) with the Blue Hose has helped lead the program to its highest winning percentage ever over a nine-year period, and the rest of the coaching staff are excited about what bringing a new football team into camp truly means for those with a vested interest in Blue Hose football.
“For me it has been 20 years doing this,” noted Spangler, “obviously there is a lot of excitement because we have a new football team. That is the great thing about college football … it changes every year with losing seniors and a group of incoming guys.
“We are anxious to get started. We know that we have a lot of work to do to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. We are just taking it one day at a time and not getting too ahead of ourselves, but worrying about the little things that will make you have a good football team.”
The team did not practice on Tuesday, instead the coaches and the athletic department focused on talking to the student-athletes about issues such as compliance, training room procedures and athletic department policies. The players were also issued their equipment and were given physical examinations.
After a conditioning test commencing at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 3, the Blue Hose will conduct their inaugural practice at 4 p.m.
The camp’s beginning on Wednesday is the first day of a five-day acclimatization period for the Blue Hose where they will go through one practice a day and focus on learning the PC system. Starting on Tuesday, Aug. 8 training camp will intensify with certain days featuring two practices.
Ranked in the top 10 in many preseason polls, including a preseason top five (No. 5) ranking in Lindy’s preseason publication, Presbyterian will host its annual Fan Day on Saturday, Aug. 12 at Bailey Memorial Stadium. The festivities get underway at 10 a.m. and the Blue Hose will scrimmage at 11 a.m.