Florida Tech Spring Football Practice In Full Swing
By Ryan Jones // February 19, 2014
Panthers will workout in full pads today
ABOVE VIDEO: CBS Sports Network takes you behind the scenes of the first-ever football game at Florida Tech. Celebrating their inaugural season in 2013, the Panthers beat Div. I (FCS) Stetson in the school’s first-ever football game.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Florida Tech took to Panther Field for the first time as a team since November for its first spring practice this week.
The Panthers have worked out for more than two hours on both Monday and Tuesday under clear blue skies, in mid-70 degree weather.
FIT’s coaching staff put the players through a routine similar to a training camp workout.
Donning mostly white and crimson practice jerseys were a slew of familiar faces and several new players, including five mid-year transfers.
“It’s hard to get a lot of the team stuff in because we’re only in helmets,” head coach Steve Englehart said.
“It was a big mental day and the guys were trying to get their bearings back. It’s been a couple of months since we’ve been on the field. Getting the guys out on the field, getting them to move around and going through drills was good.”
Linebacker Justin Arcune said the team was focused in its first practice on building on its inaugural 5-7 season.
“We’re trying to build on that keystone, which is what we call it as a team,” he said.
“We’ve built a foundation for the program moving forward and we’re trying to build on last season. It was a learning season for everyone. We have a few new players in. We’re trying to get them acclimated to what we do, the plays we run and our tempo. For the first day, it’s been pretty impressive, at least on the defensive side of the ball. The first couple of units haven’t lost much.”
SPRING GAME SET FOR MARCH 22 AT PALM BAY STADIUM
The Panthers have worked out in helmets the last two days, and will practice in full pads today at 4:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. this week.
“We need these first two days just to focus mentally on what we’re going to do offensively and defensively,” Englehart said.
“We have some new stuff in than what we did in the fall. The coaches have been working hard to figure out what we want to get accomplished this spring. This is the time in the spring to shore up some of the things we were doing well in the fall and improve in those areas, but also introduce new things and see if we want that to be part of our scheme offensively and defensively. We have one day down, 13 more to go to get as much work as we can in.”
Among the returnees was quarterback Sean Ashley, who missed games last fall due to injuries.
“It feels good to be back under the center, taking snaps and controlling the offense,” he said. “I didn’t think it would come up this quick. I’m blessed and thankful to be in the situation I’m in.”
The Panthers will practice 13 more times at Panther Field this spring before their spring game on Saturday, March 22 at 6 p.m. at Palm Bay High School’s Pirate Stadium.
FLORIDA TECH SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICE SCHEDULE
All practices and the spring game are free and open to the public. Fans are encouraged to bring their own chairs to watch practice.
• Tuesday, Feb. 18 – 4:30 p.m. (helmets)
• Wednesday, Feb. 19 – 4:30 pm (full)
• Saturday, Feb. 22 – 10 a.m. (full)
• Sunday, Feb. 23 – 10 a.m. (full)
• Tuesday, Feb. 25 – 4:30 p.m. (full)
• Wednesday, Feb. 26 – 4:30 p.m. (full)
• Friday, Feb. 28 – 4:30 p.m. (full)
• Tuesday, March 11 – 4:30 p.m. (helmets)
• Thursday, March 13 – 4:30 p.m. (full)
• Saturday, March 15 – 10 a.m. (full)
• Sunday, March 16 – 10 a.m. (full)
• Tuesday, March 18 – 4:30 p.m. (full)
• Wednesday, March 19 – 4:30 p.m. (full)
• Saturday, March 22 – 6 p.m. Spring Game
