(August 11, 2004) ?C Fordham University head football coach Ed Foley opened his first summer camp today by welcoming the Rams to their first day of practice on newly renovated Murphy Field. The student-athletes arrived at Fordham on Monday, took care of administrative details yesterday (physicals, equipment issue, etc.) and were on the field today for the first time. Per NCAA regulations, today was the first of five acclimatization days during which the Rams will have just one practice per day with the team being split into junior varsity and varsity with the two squads holding separate practices. Fordham will have its first practice in pads on Sunday August 15th beginning at 2:30 p.m. The Rams will then have their first two-a-day practice this Monday, August 16th with a morning session at 6:50 a.m. and an afternoon session at 2:50 p.m. Fordham will alternate single practices with two-a-days through Saturday, August 28th. Today??s workouts were the first organized events on Murphy Field which just underwent a major renovation. Over the summer, the old artificial surface was replaced by new state of the art FieldTurf?, the playing surface currently used by a host of National Football League teams, including the New York Jets and Giants at the New Jersey Meadowlands, as well as by numerous collegiate teams, including the University of Nebraska, the University of Washington and the University of Oregon. The Rams, who were 9-3 last season, have been one of the most successful NCAA I-AA teams over the past three years, compiling a 26-10 record, the 14th best winning percentage among I-AA teams over that span. Fordham will open its 2004 season on Saturday, September 4th when they host the University of Rhode Island on Jack Coffey Field at 1:00 p.m. For ticket information contact the Fordham Ticket Office at 718-817-4300.