Football Officially Opens Preseason Camp Under Sunny Skies Wednesday

Football Preseason Camp Report

August 16, 2006  / Photo Gallery

SMITHFIELD, RI - A warm mid-August sun welcomed 108 Bryant University football players to camp this afternoon as the Bulldogs officially kicked off the 2006 preseason camp with their first practice.  After checking in Tuesday afternoon and going through conditioning Wednesday morning, the team donned the gold helmets for the first time as they prepare for the Sept. 2 season opener against Southern Connecticut at Bulldog Stadium.

Third-year coach Marty Fine will return 58 letterwinners from last year's team that went 7-3 on the season (6-3 NE-10) and earned a final regional ranking of No. 11.  This year's team was picked to finish fourth in the Northeast-10 Conference by the league's coaches.  The Bulldogs have made a steady progression during each of the past two seasons; earning a preseason No. 6 spot in 2004 and picked at No. 5 in 2005. 

Some camp notables:

* The Bulldogs will conduct 21 practices leading up to the season-opener Sept. 2.  There will be a mix of single day practices along with two-a-day's. 

* The team will utilize the new turf field located behind Bulldog Stadium for practices, as well as the spacious grass practice fields - roughly the size of three football fields without even touching the field at Bulldog Stadium until the opener.

* This year's Bulldogs entered camp in tremendous shape.  During speed drills and lifting, coach Fine noted this is the best shape the Bulldogs have been in since his arrival in the spring of 2004.   One who stands out is junior defensive end Mark Gunther who came into camp in tremendous shape.  Gunther, a native of Clarksburg, N.J., had eight sacks last season and enters his third season with 9 1/2 career sacks.

* CBS-12 / Fox-11 of Providence was on hand for the afternoon practice and will run a preview package this week during the 6 p.m and 11 p.m. news.

* Bryant's offensive line is virtually intact from last season, with the entire starting lineup back.  The only shoes to fill will be that of all-conference guard Saddi Williams who graduated this past spring.