The University of Akron Athletics
Football Preseason Training Camp Notebook – Aug. 2
August 02 | Football
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AKRON, Ohio – The Zips football team took to the field for its first practice of the 2013 season on Friday morning. The three-hour session was held at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field in ideal weather conditions.
Today was the group's first of five workouts as part of the NCAA-mandated acclimatization period prior to dressing in full pads. The squad will don shoulder pads next Monday and put on full pads for the first time on Thursday. Thursday will also feature the team's first two-a-day practice.
"We have a much bigger team this year, both in terms of player size and depth," second-year UA head coach Terry Bowden said after practice. "That is certainly the case on the line on both sides of the ball. We ask the players to practice hard and be enthusiastic, and I saw a lot of that today."
The team is scheduled to return to the practice field on Saturday morning.
Zips Notebook: The program's 105-man roster continues to take shape ... additions of note to the roster include Colorado junior transfer QB Nick Hirschman and Wisconsin junior transfer OL Joe McNamara, fifth-year senior transfers from Florida State Moses McCray (DL) and Henry Orelus (OL), and Colorado State fifth-year senior transfer Nordly Capi (DL) ... Hirschman and McNamara have two seasons of eligibility remaining after completing their undergraduate degree early ... Capi, McCray and Orelus have one season to play as graduate students ... Hirschman is listed No. 2 on the preseason depth chart behind sophomore Kyle Pohl ... new to the quarterback corps is freshman Anthony Gotto, a walk-on and graduate of nearby Tallmadge High School ... the opening day of camp roster also features a new punter, 6-foot-7 Joel McLellan, who hails from Australia ... Bowden announced today that TE/FB Will Fleming, who recently completed his undergraduate degree, has transferred to Towson ... the team's second-annual Kickoff Luncheon will be held on Friday, Aug. 23 at noon at Quaker Station in downtown Akron ... seats, reserved tables of eight and sponsorship opportunities for the event are still available.
The season gets underway at UCF on Thursday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN3. UA's home opener is against James Madison on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. on ESPN3.
Season and single-game tickets as well as mini-plans are on sale, and can be purchased online anytime at ZipsTickets.com, or from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Mondays through Fridays by either calling 1-888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets).
