Bucknell University Athletics
Football Opens Preseason Practice
8/4/2016 3:27:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – With the recent 90-plus degree temperatures in the rearview mirror, the Bucknell football team took to the Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium field for the first time this preseason on Thursday. The practice session featured an extended walkthrough followed by a conditioning test. It marked the first of 18 consecutive days the Bison will practice leading up to the first day of classes on Aug. 22.
The Bucknell players were on the field for approximately 90 minutes approximately 24 hours after reporting to campus. Wednesday morning the freshmen arrived at Bucknell and got checked into their dorms, were issued equipment and underwent physicals. The upperclassmen followed in the afternoon. The evening featured meetings.
Thursday's session allowed the team members to get in the flow of practice and was relatively basic. The end of the walkthrough featured the team working on ball security drills in their position groups.
“Having the extended walkthrough is important,” commented Joe Susan, the 2014 Patriot League Coach of the Year who is in his seventh year on the Bison sideline. “We as coaches know the things we went over today, but it is good to get the players back into the playbook.”
Practice concluded with the conditioning test, which featured players needing to complete 16 110-yard sprints in an allotted time based on position groups. A large group of Bison already completed the test while they were on campus training over the summer.
“Obviously, we want 100 percent of the guys to complete the conditioning test, but we had two freshmen and two upperclassmen not make it, and that is as good as we have had,” mentioned Susan. “It gives an indication to the level of conditioning we have on this team. When you have a team that is in appropriate shape, you can spend less time on conditioning and more time teaching the game.”
Susan noted Friday's practice (3:30 p.m.) would feature 7-on-7 drills with the groups divided into young and old, giving the freshmen a chance for quality reps.
“We have to prepare the whole team this preseason knowing some of these freshmen are going to play significant roles in all three phases,” said Susan.
One thing that makes the early preseason practices more efficient for the Bison is the fact there has been tremendous stability on the coaching staff. There are just two new coaches – Steven King and Eli Wicklund – on staff this year, and both coordinators remain the same as the last couple of years.
“There is a lot we do that we don't have to say,” explained Susan. “This staff gets along well. They are organized. They are smart and work really well with the players. I told the team last night that the coaches are role models and mentors for them.”
Bucknell will have to make the most of the entire preseason schedule with the season opener less than a month away. The Bison open the 2016 campaign Sept. 3 at Marist. The home opener is Sept. 17 vs. Cornell.
