ATLANTA--"This is where our second season officially begins," said Georgia State head coach Bill Curry as the Panthers assembled in their brand new team meeting room just prior to their first practice of 2011 preseason camp.
"Every day, we get to celebrate being together to build a team," continued Curry. "A team is a group of people that plays beyond their capabilities as individuals."
The Panthers also celebrated overcast skies and unseasonably cool temperatures for their first practice, which took place Thursday morning at the GSU Sports Complex. Still, Curry noted that everyone in the program is focused on the safety of the student-athletes practicing in the summer heat.
"We reviewed that with our entire team last night," he said. "We would have done that regardless, but it was emphasized even more given the tragic overtone to our sport right now."
Unlike the previous two seasons, the Panthers enter preseason camp with more than 70 players returning from last season, including 59 who gained actual game experience during the inaugural season.
"Even though this is a veteran team, there are still a lot of new people," said Curry. "And we work them right in because we're going to need them all."
When asked what he most wanted to accomplish with his squad in these first few practices, Curry did not hesitate in answering, "Establish a work ethic.
"After the first week, we shouldn't have to repeat drills or periods," he continued. "We should know how to conduct the drills, with or without pads. We have to learn how to practice with order and discipline so that we waste not one second out here, and then we have to begin to execute in all three areas - offense, defense and special teams."
One newcomer receiving a lot of attention is true freshman quarterback Ben McLane, who joins the GSU program after leading Brookwood High School in Snellville, Ga., to the Class AAAAA state title in 2010.
"It was a lot faster than a high school practice, but all the guys helped me through it," said McLane after his first workout as a Panther.
GSU continues preseason drills with another workout Friday morning.
Georgia State opens its encore season on Friday, Sept. 2, when the Panthers host Clark Atlanta at 7:30 p.m. at the Georgia Dome. Season and individual game tickets can be purchased now by calling 866-GA-STATE or visiting GeorgiaStateSports.com.
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