Courtesy of Appalachian Sports Information
BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University football wrapped up the 2009 spring practice season with its 14th and 15th practices of the spring on Thursday and Friday at the Sofield Family Indoor Practice Facility.
Thanks in large part to the presence of the Sofield Facility, Appalachian completed the 15 practices allowed in the spring by the NCAA in just 18 days. About half of the practices were held indoors due to inclement weather. Prior to the completion of the Sofield Facility, which houses a 80-yard-long, regulation-width FieldTurf playing surface, many of ASU’s practices would have been rescheduled or cancelled altogether due to the rainy, blustery weather conditions.
Coaches on both sides of the ball were pleased with the progress the squad made this spring. While over a dozen veterans sat out of the drills due to lingering injuries from the 2008 season, a plethora of youngsters made the most of their opportunities to impress the coaching staff. Among the players that ASU’s coaches identified as having particularly impressive springs were quarterback DeAndre Presley, running backs Cedric Baker and Rod Chisholm, defensive end Jabari Fletcher, linebacker Justin Lloyd and defensive back Jared Reine.
The best news of the spring was that no major injuries were sustained and all of the players that were limited or sat out of drills due to various ailments are expected to be at 100 percent when fall camp opens in August.
The end of spring practice does not mean that preparations for the 2009 season have concluded. In fact, they’re just beginning. The Mountaineers resume weight training and conditioning workouts on Monday.
Appalachian opens the 2009 campaign on Sept. 5 versus longtime in-state rival East Carolina.
