Tigers eager to start under new coach
Open preseason practice tomorrow afternoon
By MAURICE PATTON
Staff Writer
Almost without fail, something new equals something exciting, and that seems to be the case with Tennessee State football as well.
The Tigers open preseason practice tomorrow afternoon, coming off a spirited spring practice under first-year Coach James Webster and subsequent revitalized summer workouts.
"We're going into camp on a good note," said junior defensive tackle Almonte Duncan, a preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference first-team selection. "It was a hard spring, but everything went well and we learned a lot of things.
"Everybody's coming in in shape, and I think camp will be a learning experience, an effort for all of us to get on the same page. A lot of players have stayed around this summer, working out, more than ever. I think Coach Webster has brought a lot of excitement to the team."
In addition to the arrival of Webster and a nearly all-new staff, the Tigers also had strength and conditioning coach Chuck Losey for the entire spring and summer. Losey, a former Vandy football player, arrived mid-summer last year.
"I hear there have been more kids here this summer than ever, that they're working really hard and they seem to be more focused," Webster said. "I'm excited about this team. I'm not saying I liked everything I saw (in the spring) or that everything went well, but I'm excited about what they did during the spring."
Though they have some gaps to fill, the Tigers return some significant talent and experience from last year's 4-7 squad (2-5 OVC), including the bulk of both lines.
"Coach Web and the rest of the staff have come in and shown us their winning ways, shown us what they expect out of us and what we can expect out of them," said senior Bryson Rosser, who emerged from spring practice atop the depth chart at quarterback.
"Just from that alone, we can come together as a team and know that we're going to put out 120 percent toward what they say because we trust in them to go out and play good for them."
Even though they've not played a game yet, the Tigers have already achieved one major goal for Webster.
"I asked them to do one thing: keep me off the front page of the sports section for doing something wrong," he said. "It appears we've been able to do that. I'm ready to go to work, and they are too."
Consult your roster: TSU will unveil new uniforms later this week and the jerseys will be minus player names. They will just have "Tigers" across the back.
"When we win the OVC championship, we'll put names on the back of all of them," Webster said. "Until then, we're just the Tigers. Right now, we're not about individual recognition with names. Do something for the team first."
Open preseason practice tomorrow afternoon
By MAURICE PATTON
Staff Writer
Almost without fail, something new equals something exciting, and that seems to be the case with Tennessee State football as well.
The Tigers open preseason practice tomorrow afternoon, coming off a spirited spring practice under first-year Coach James Webster and subsequent revitalized summer workouts.
"We're going into camp on a good note," said junior defensive tackle Almonte Duncan, a preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference first-team selection. "It was a hard spring, but everything went well and we learned a lot of things.
"Everybody's coming in in shape, and I think camp will be a learning experience, an effort for all of us to get on the same page. A lot of players have stayed around this summer, working out, more than ever. I think Coach Webster has brought a lot of excitement to the team."
In addition to the arrival of Webster and a nearly all-new staff, the Tigers also had strength and conditioning coach Chuck Losey for the entire spring and summer. Losey, a former Vandy football player, arrived mid-summer last year.
"I hear there have been more kids here this summer than ever, that they're working really hard and they seem to be more focused," Webster said. "I'm excited about this team. I'm not saying I liked everything I saw (in the spring) or that everything went well, but I'm excited about what they did during the spring."
Though they have some gaps to fill, the Tigers return some significant talent and experience from last year's 4-7 squad (2-5 OVC), including the bulk of both lines.
"Coach Web and the rest of the staff have come in and shown us their winning ways, shown us what they expect out of us and what we can expect out of them," said senior Bryson Rosser, who emerged from spring practice atop the depth chart at quarterback.
"Just from that alone, we can come together as a team and know that we're going to put out 120 percent toward what they say because we trust in them to go out and play good for them."
Even though they've not played a game yet, the Tigers have already achieved one major goal for Webster.
"I asked them to do one thing: keep me off the front page of the sports section for doing something wrong," he said. "It appears we've been able to do that. I'm ready to go to work, and they are too."
Consult your roster: TSU will unveil new uniforms later this week and the jerseys will be minus player names. They will just have "Tigers" across the back.
"When we win the OVC championship, we'll put names on the back of all of them," Webster said. "Until then, we're just the Tigers. Right now, we're not about individual recognition with names. Do something for the team first."
