Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Preseason Camp Report #4
8/22/2005 8:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 22, 2005
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LEWISBURG, Pa. - With the start of classes on the horizon Wednesday, preseason camp is beginning to wind down for the Bucknell football team as it completed its last day with two practices Monday. After practicing from 6:15-8:15 a.m., the Bison took to the sun-splashed field of Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium Monday afternoon for the second-to-last time before classes begin and the focus starts to shift to the season opener against Georgetown, which is just 12 days away.
"Camp ends tomorrow with classes starting Wednesday," said Bison head coach Tim Landis. "We will then turn our attention to preparing for Georgetown. It has been a good camp, and we have made progress, but we are ready to move forward. We are glad to have a week and a half to get ready for Georgetown."
Monday afternoon's practice was the fifth for Bucknell since its first intrasquad scrimmage last Thursday, giving the coaching staff enough time to evaluate where the team stands.
"Practice since the scrimmage has been good," commented Landis. "We took it as a measuring stick and are getting better every day. I have been impressed with our improvement, although we still have to make sure the offense takes care of the ball and the defense keeps getting better at wrapping up and tackling."
Practice opened underneath a bright, hot sun with individual position drills followed by punting drills. Left-footed freshman P Phil Azarik and junior P Peter Cotter shared punting duties with senior DB Dante Ross serving as the predominant return man.
As 11-on-11 drills started unthreatening clouds cooled down the temperature. Sophomore QB Terrance Wilson was impressive early in his stint under center, as sophomore QB Ryan Ahern, freshman QB Ben Bouffard, freshman QB Mahdi Woodard and Wilson all shared quarterback duties. The Trenton, N.J., native broke three runs for at least 10 yards, including one that would have gone for a touchdown on his first snap.
11-ON-11 DRILL HIGHLIGHTS
Sophomore DB Stephen Collage intercepted an underthrown pass by sophomore QB Ryan Ahern ... freshman WR Zach Allen caught a long pass after senior DB Dante Ross tipped it ... sophomore QB Terrance Wilson completed a pass to junior RB Peter Kaufman in traffic across the middle ... junior WR Richard Simpson snuck behind freshman DB Nolan Applegate for a long catch ... Applegate later deflected a pass ... freshman QB Mahdi Woodard completed a 30-yard pass to sophomore RB Josh DeStefano.
BISON BRIEFS
Landis cited senior DL Sean Conover, senior DB Dante Ross, sophomore QB Terrance Wilson and freshman QB Ben Bouffard as players that have impressed him in the four practices since last Thursday's scrimmage ... classes for all students at Bucknell begin Wednesday ... next week's practice schedule will begin to get the team into a routine for the season ... the first Lewisburg Touchdown Club Luncheon of the year takes place Tuesday, Aug. 30, at the Lewisburg Hotel at 11:45 a.m. ... the first Bison Live! radio show of the academic year, which features head coach Tim Landis and a student-athlete from the football team on a weekly basis, is Monday, Aug. 29, from 7-8 p.m. also at the Lewisburg Hotel ... the show will air on Eagle 107 (WEGH 107.3 FM) this year ... following Monday's practice, 12 days remained until the season opener vs. Georgetown ... the Bucknell/Georgetown matchup is the only Patriot League game of the opening weekend, although all seven teams are in action ... it is just the second time Bucknell has opened the season with a Patriot League opponent since the inception of the league in 1986 ... the Bison faced Colgate to open the 1987 slate ... Fordham was the season-opening opponent in 1989, but the Rams did not factor in the league standings that year ... originally slated for 3-5:45 p.m., Tuesday's practice is now 1:30-3:30 p.m.
