Aug. 13, 2008
Bronx, N.Y. -
PHOTO GALLERY
The Fordham University football Rams opened their 2008 summer camp on Murphy Field this week as over 80 players reported to Rose Hill to help the Rams prepare to defend their 2007 Patriot League title.
The players reported on Monday and took care of administrative tasks such as physicals, strength testing and equipment issue before having unit meetings and then hitting Murphy Field for the first of five NCAA required acclimation days. The players are allowed to wear only helmets for the first three days of acclimation before donning shoulder pads for the fourth day and full pads for day five.
On Wednesday, the freshmen attended academic orientation in the morning while the upperclassmen lifted. At 2:00 p.m. the squad met on Murphy Field for acclimation day number two.
The focus of practice on Wednesday was tempo as the Rams are looking to adjust to the new NCAA play clock rule. This year, the 40-second play clock will start when an official signals that the ball is dead. This is a change from years past when a 25-second play clock would start when the referee declared the ball ready for play.
With nine starters returning on offense and eight more on defense, the Rams should have the experience to compete for another Patriot League crown. Fordham will be led by six captains, seniors Fonzie Culver, Greg DeMarco, Matt Loucks and Richard Rayborn along with juniors James Crockett and John Skelton.
"I'm excited about getting practice started," said Fordham head coach Tom Masella. "It's a different feeling this year as we are now the hunted. But this is a new season and I want this team to feel like the hunters again."
Even though camp opened on Monday, about 70 members of the squad were around campus for most of the summer, going through summer conditioning and taking summer classes. This work has paid off, as over 80% of the team set individual bests in the strength and conditioning testing.
"I'm very pleased with the results of the strength and conditioning testing," said Masella. "The guys who stayed around for the summer worked hard and it shows in the results."
The Rams will have their first intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, August 23rd, and will then host Wagner College in a scrimmage on Thursday, August 28th, at 6:00 p.m. Fordham opens the 2008 regular season on Saturday, September 6th, as they host the University of Rhode Island on Jack Coffey Field at 6:00 p.m.
