Sept. 1, 2010
Photo Gallery | Complete Game Notes
Bronx, N.Y. -
With the first day of classes upon them, it was time for the Fordham football squad to start their normal morning practice sessions today before the players headed off to class. The two words to best sum up today's practice are hot and tempo. Hot, as in the temperatures on Murphy Field (in the 90's) and tempo as in the players moving quickly during drills and in moving from one drill to another.
The players received a reprieve from the heat in a way as they were practicing without pads (only helmets). They also received a gift from head coach Tom Masella at the end of practice. After instructing the team to line up for gassers (sprints), he blew his whistle to start the first group before telling at them to "break it down" as the players celebrated.
DL= No Fun: Defensive line coach Greg Crum went on the record today asking for a retraction concerning a report from August 24th that described the defensive linemen participating in a drill where they went from a set position to a flying
position, landing on a mat, as fun. According to Crum, "the defensive line does not have fun." He noted that the drill was designed to practice exploding off the line and that the only time the defensive linemen have fun is after the team wins.
Despite Crum's denial it still looked like a fun drill.
Watch the Fordham-Bryant Game on Your Computer: Fordham fans can follow the action in the season opener on Saturday by listening to the game on WFUV (90.7 FM) as well as on the internet at wfuv.org. You can also watch the game live on your computer through www.bryantbulldogs.tv for a charge of $5.95.
Rams Return Seven Starters on Offense...: The updated two-deep was released yesterday and it shows the Fordham offense returning seven starters from last year, led by 2010 preseason All-Americas Jason Caldwell (WR) and Stephen Skelton (TE). Joining them are running back Xavier Martin, and offensive linemen Jonathan Sheridan (C), Lloyd Morrison (RT), Robert Kubacki (LG) and Adnan Vandyck (LT).
And Seven More on Defense: Defensively, the Rams also return seven starters, led by captains Jordan Bledsoe (DL) and Nick Magiera (LB). They are
joined by
Andy Okonkwo (E),
Clifton Stuckey (LB),
Bryson Wilson (LB),
Isa Abdul-Quddus (DB) and
Jamal Haruna (DB).
Fordham in Season Openers: The Fordham University Rams are 45-27 all-time in season-openers since 1920, 6-15 since moving to the NCAAFCS in 1989. The have won two of the past three openers, a 16-0 win over Rhode Island on Jack Coffey Field in 2008 and a 27-23 win over Rhody in Kingston in 2007. Last year, Fordham fell at Rhode Island, 41-28 to open the year.
In Season Practice: The Rams are now settling into their in season practice routine. Fordham practices every morning, Monday through Friday, and have Sunday off. Monday workouts are uppers only while Tuesday and Wednesday are full pads and Thursday is a lighter workload to allow the team to recover. Friday practice usually consists of a walk through for the Saturday game.
