ECU Football Preseason Camp Notebook #13
August 16, 2005 | Football
GREENVILLE, N.C. ? Battling the heat and humidity became East Carolina's top priority during its three-hour, full-pad workout at the Cliff Moore Practice Facility Tuesday afternoon.
With the heat index easily reaching into triple digits, the Pirates completed their 13th practice of preseason camp and began preparations in earnest for Saturday's pivotal intra-squad scrimmage game which will set the program's initial in-season depth chart heading into the opener against Duke.
First-year head coach Skip Holtz continued to stress team-on-team work and spent the majority of Tuesday's session keying on situational drills such as third-and-10, third-and-long and first-and-10. ECU wrapped up the workout with additional redzone efficiency and goal line simulation.
"There's no doubt, it was rather warm out there today," Holtz said. "Yet, we've got to learn to work through it and battle the fatigue factor. Mistakes often come in greater numbers as a result of fatigue and that's the mindset we're trying to address on days like these. We still had guys who kept fighting hard to the end and that certainly will give us a chance.
After evaluating Saturday's scrimmage on tape and making the necessary personnel adjustments, Holtz and his staff will look forward to begin implementing a game plan for the Blue Devils early next week.
"It's pretty simple," Holtz added. "I've always been a believer that you highlight your strengths and hide your weaknesses. It will be no different here."
NOTES: For the first time this season, the Pirates were able to work on both fields at the newly-refurbished Cliff Moore Practice Facility ? After making its initial move over from Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium last Thursday (Aug. 11) and conducting practice sessions on solely the east field, ECU spent the majority of Tuesday's practice on the west field ? Construction work continued on the artificial surface grid which lays perpendicular to the natural grass fields ? The Pirates completed another, more comfortable phase of preseason camp Tuesday when players, who maintain off-campus residences, were allowed to check out of Scott Residence Hall ? A 15-yard Rob Kass-to-Jay Sonnhalter TD pass was one of the highlights of the Pirates' redzone session ? Junior punter Ryan Dougherty averaged nearly 50 yards per punt during early practice special teams drills ? Conference USA officials will be brought in to work Saturday's scrimmage as a tune-up for the regular season ? Skip Holtz (41) will open the season as the eighth-youngest head coach in Division I-A football (Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy is the youngest at 38) ? Among the top 12 are three 2005 opponent coaches (Mark Snyder, Marshall/40; Ted Roof, Duke/41 and Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia/42) ? Wednesday's Practice Time: 3:00 p.m. ? 5:55 p.m.; Season Opener: Sept. 3 vs. Duke (1:00 p.m.)
TICKET INFORMATION
2005 East Carolina Football tickets are currently available online at www.ECUPirates.com or at the ECU Athletics Ticket Office (adjacent to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium) from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Reserved season ticket packages can be purchased for $125.00 (reserved), $100.00 (faculty/staff), $100.00 (economy plan) and $75.00 (graduate plan) while single game tickets can also be obtained for $25.00 (adults) and $15.00 (12 and under). To reserve your seats, please call (252) 328-4500 or 1-800-DIAL-ECU.
