ATLANTA--The Georgia State football program marks another important milestone as the Panthers' first team reports to campus Tuesday and then begins practice next Friday.
Georgia State football, coached by Bill Curry, will play its first games in 2010, but the Panthers will practice this fall.
Hired as Georgia State's first football coach on June 12, 2008, Curry is ready to finally get on the field with his team after 14 months of preparation.
"I am so delighted. This is what I love," said Curry. "What I love is being with the student-athletes and getting a chance to influence them and get them off to the right kind of start, not just to their college career but the rest of their lives. This is a riveting time for a young person, and I'm thrilled that it's finally here."
With 17 years of head coaching experience at Georgia Tech, Alabama and Kentucky, not to mention a 10-year playing career in the NFL, Curry has been through preseason camp many times, but this one is unique.
"This is not at all like any other year I've been through because so much of this has had to be pulled together," said Curry. "All these things that football coaches normally take for granted. There's a whole different level of organizational challenge, and a whole new appreciation."
Georgia State signed 27 student-athletes in its first recruiting class last February. Approximately 70 players, including walk-ons, are expected Tuesday. One scholarship player, Mark Hogan, Jr., has been enrolled since last January, but the rest are arriving for the first time.
"We really were a little bit surprised with the caliber of player that we've been able to attract," said Curry. "It's a very good group and we're delighted they're here. Now we've got to get on the field with them, coach them and make them a football team. It's an entirely different experience to go from being a good football player wherever you were and then come here and become part of a team, especially when everybody's a freshman."
Players will report to campus and move into the residence hall Tuesday morning. After meeting with Curry and Director of Athletics Cheryl L. Levick over lunch, the Panthers will begin meetings in the afternoon, followed by physicals and equipment issue Tuesday evening. Wednesday and Thursday will be devoted primarily to academic orientation.
"That first week is going to be a blur," said Curry. "We're going to get them up early. We'll be dealing with academic orientation, physicals, equipment issue, and of course we'll begin to learn the football part, what we expect in the meeting room and on the practice field. The most important part of the orientation is the academic phase so they can learn how to be successful at Georgia State and learn the systems that support each student-athlete through the process."
Georgia State's first ever football practice will take place on Friday, Aug. 14. The workout in shorts and helmets is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the the Panthers' temporary practice site at the NFL YET facility adjacent to M.L. King Middle School (535 Hill Street). Practice is open to the media and the public.
