Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Football Spring Practice Update
4/9/2009 8:00:00 AM | Football
April 9, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - With a bright sun shining above, the Bucknell football team completed its eighth practice of the spring Thursday afternoon on its grass field adjacent to Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. Fittingly, with the squad just over halfway through its 15 practices, the second half of the session consisted of nearly an hour of scrimmage situations.
After an hour of drills and position work, Tim Landis, who will be in his seventh season at the helm of the Bison this fall, brought the more than 60 players in spring camp together for 11-on-11 play.
"I think the guys were ready to get out there and play some football today and enjoyed it," said Landis, who will give the Bison the weekend off following Friday morning's lifting session. "We got in a lot more reps than we thought we were going to."
The spirited scrimmage started out with the offense deep in its own territory and having to move down the field against the defense. Quarterback C.J. Hopson led a long touchdown drive on the very first possession, but then the defense stepped up and stopped the offense from scoring five straight times.
Other situations during the scrimmage included the offense needing to obtain a first down when in the shadow of its own goal line and one where the offense took control of the ball at approximately the 25 yard line and had to score on the short field.
Highlighting those situations was a leaping touchdown catch by record-setting wide receiver Shaun Pasternak that he wrestled from defensive back Sean Rafferty as the pair fell to the ground. Additionally, Jamal Briggs had a near interception that helped the defense force a field goal attempt.
The scrimmage ended with a pair of drives where the offense was trying to go 70+ yards. Defensive lineman Robert De La Rosa knocked down a pass attempt by quarterback Matt Harbin and later carefully wrapped up Harbin on an option play, ending the scrimmage sessions.
"The offense took the ball right down and scored right away and the defense came up with some big stops," mentioned Landis as a stiff wind cooled the air. "All those drills are scripted and I saw good things on both sides of the ball. Getting in there and watching the videotape will be a real good learning tool for the coaches and players."
This spring, one of the keys for the Bison is the transition to new offensive coordinator Brent Thompson, a seven-year veteran of the coaching staff.
"I think it has been a seamless transition," said Landis. "Brent and (passing game coordinator) Matt (Lintal) have been here for seven years and the players know them very well. They have been very involved with devising game plans in the past and we are still running a lot of the same system. We are continuing to build on what we started last year offensively."
Bucknell's next practice session will take place next Tuesday, April 14, from 7-9 p.m. inside Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
Notes: The Bucknell football program will hold an event to promote bone marrow donorship in Davis Gym on April 20 ... the team's next practice is slated for April 14 from 7-9 p.m. as the squad will have the Easter weekend off after a lifting session on Friday morning ... there are six more practices before the spring scrimmage on Saturday morning, April 25 ... the Football Family FunFest will take place that afternoon from 1-4 p.m. ... there are 149 days until Bucknell's 2009 season opener at Duquesne on Sept. 5 ... Bucknell's home opener is the following week against Robert Morris.
