DeNarius McGhee leads the Bobcats into 2011 on Friday
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Bobcats Open Fall Camp Friday
8/3/2011 2:59:00 PM | Football
First practice session of 2011 slated for 2:45 pm
Rob Ash is as ready for summer to be over as college football coaches usually are, but in one regard Montana State's fifth-year head coach is not anxious to see summer slip into the past.
"Based on what we've heard from athletic trainers and strength coaches, our guys had a very good summer," Ash said on the eve of players reporting to camp for the beginning of practices leading to the 2011 season. "Our indications are that some of the guys may have pushed so hard (during summer workouts) that there are some nagging injuries entering camp. But that's a great problem to have. I think the team will be in excellent condition when we start practice on Friday."
Players report on Thursday, spending the day fulfilling procedural obligations. After unit and position meetingsin the early part of the day, newcomers begin on the MSU practice fields southeast of Brick Breeden Fieldhouse at 2:45 pm Friday, with the full squad on the field at 3:15 pm. Practice shifts to 9:15 am on Saturday, 3 pm on Sunday, and 9:15 am Monday and Tuesday.
While Bobcat assistant coaches scramble with the details of orientation and scheme input during the early days of practice, Ash said his attention will be trained on big-picture issues. "One of the keys for us last year that emerged right away in the fall was that we were a hard-working team with great peer leadership in every group," Ash said. "That's what I want to find out, if we have that great peer leadership around the team."
The Bobcats enter fall camp with a small handful of important position battles being waged. "There are some key positions to be filled," Ash said. "We're looking for that third linebacker (to start alongside Clay Bignell and Jody Owens), we need to identify a running back, we need to settle in on the offensive line. We have quality players at those spots, we just need to make personnel decisions."
Ash made one personnel announcement Wednesday, as the team officially added quarterback Te'Shon Burton. Technically a transfer from Jackson State, Burton began at that school a year ago before leaving during fall camp. He must redshirt this fall. The Bobcats open camp with returning Big Sky Co-Offensive MVP DeNarius McGhee at quarterback, with Grayson Galloway and freshman Jake Bleskin serving as backups. Burton is 6-3, 190 lbs, and starred at Leuzinger High School in Los Angeles in 2009.
While he is more than ready to get things rolling in 2011, Ash said the summer just past leaves a positive impression. "I think in terms of the percentage of scholarship guys that were around, and in terms of the amount of work I understand the players got done, I think I can safely say it was our best summer since I've been at Montana State."
"Based on what we've heard from athletic trainers and strength coaches, our guys had a very good summer," Ash said on the eve of players reporting to camp for the beginning of practices leading to the 2011 season. "Our indications are that some of the guys may have pushed so hard (during summer workouts) that there are some nagging injuries entering camp. But that's a great problem to have. I think the team will be in excellent condition when we start practice on Friday."
Players report on Thursday, spending the day fulfilling procedural obligations. After unit and position meetingsin the early part of the day, newcomers begin on the MSU practice fields southeast of Brick Breeden Fieldhouse at 2:45 pm Friday, with the full squad on the field at 3:15 pm. Practice shifts to 9:15 am on Saturday, 3 pm on Sunday, and 9:15 am Monday and Tuesday.
While Bobcat assistant coaches scramble with the details of orientation and scheme input during the early days of practice, Ash said his attention will be trained on big-picture issues. "One of the keys for us last year that emerged right away in the fall was that we were a hard-working team with great peer leadership in every group," Ash said. "That's what I want to find out, if we have that great peer leadership around the team."
The Bobcats enter fall camp with a small handful of important position battles being waged. "There are some key positions to be filled," Ash said. "We're looking for that third linebacker (to start alongside Clay Bignell and Jody Owens), we need to identify a running back, we need to settle in on the offensive line. We have quality players at those spots, we just need to make personnel decisions."
Ash made one personnel announcement Wednesday, as the team officially added quarterback Te'Shon Burton. Technically a transfer from Jackson State, Burton began at that school a year ago before leaving during fall camp. He must redshirt this fall. The Bobcats open camp with returning Big Sky Co-Offensive MVP DeNarius McGhee at quarterback, with Grayson Galloway and freshman Jake Bleskin serving as backups. Burton is 6-3, 190 lbs, and starred at Leuzinger High School in Los Angeles in 2009.
While he is more than ready to get things rolling in 2011, Ash said the summer just past leaves a positive impression. "I think in terms of the percentage of scholarship guys that were around, and in terms of the amount of work I understand the players got done, I think I can safely say it was our best summer since I've been at Montana State."
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