MONROE, La. – After being given a surprise night off on Wednesday evening by head coach Matt Viator, the ULM football team jumped right back into fall preseason practice this morning with a hint of extra energy as the team marked off its first of two practices on Thursday.
“I'm really pleased with the attitude of the players and their willingness to come to work each and every day,” Viator stated. “When you are installing things early in camp, you get the heavy legs and clogged up brains a little bit. We gave them the night off and then came back and worked this morning.”
With the first scrimmage of the fall looming on Saturday afternoon, Viator stressed that for the players and coaches it would be status quo and “just another day” as the team progresses through fall camp.
“For us it's just a practice. We invite the fans and have officials, but it's really just practice for us. We are trying to get better each day and hopefully we run some things that look like plays.”
ULM gets back into full practice mode later in the evening Thursday before a Friday morning practice in shells. Friday night's 'Meet the Team' event begins at 6:45 p.m. and will take place in the new football fieldhouse facility.
The first scrimmage of the fall comes on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at JPS Field at Malone Stadium. Following a week of practice, the second scrimmage will take place next Saturday (8/20), at the same time.
Daily practices will continue to take place mornings from 8:40-10:55 a.m. on the practice fields and are open to the public. The team will also continue hour-long walk-throughs until August 17 (most nights), beginning at 7:20 p.m. inside JPS Field at Malone Stadium.
ULM classes begin on Monday, August 22, with the Warhawks moving to afternoon practices that week, culminating in the ULM Athletic Department's 'The Pursuit' event on Thursday, August 25. Information about The Pursuit can be found at ulm.edu/thepursuit.
The 2016 season kicks off on Saturday, September 3 as the Warhawks host Southern University. Season and single game tickets are available by calling 342-HAWK or via this link.
