Rockets Open 2010 Training Camp with High Expectations
8/5/2010 5:46:00 PM | Football
Coach Beckman addresses the media at the start of training camp
Rockets Open 2010 Training Camp with High Expectations
TOLEDO, OH - Training camp opened today for the Toledo Rockets, and if you ask head coach Tim Beckman, it's Day One of what will be an exciting chapter in the annals of Rocket Football.
Toledo, coming off a 5-7 season in Beckman's first year as head coach, was picked to finish in fourth place in the Mid-American Conference West Division this year. Beckman said his team his dedicated to improving and exceeding expectations.
Beckman and the Rocket coaches split up the team into two groups, one that practiced in the morning and one in the afternoon, in order to give the players more one-on-one instruction. The Rockets will have another split practice on Friday, then practice as a full team beginning on Saturday.
"It's good to be back in the Glass Bowl and getting after it," said Beckman. "We split it up with a Gold practice (morning) and a Blue practice (afternoon). We're getting a lot of reps and the kids are getting better."
The Rockets return 14 starters from last year's squad, but need to fill the quarterback and running back slots. Sophomore Austin Dantin (Tallahassee, FL) and junior Morgan Williams (Canton, OH) are the leading candidates at those two spots but are expected to be challanged in the preseason. Senior LB Archie Donald (Pittsburgh, PA) leads a defense that returns six starters.
Toledo opens the season with a home game on Friday, Sept. 3 vs. Arizona (8:00 p.m. on ESPN). The game will mark the first time a Pac-10 school will visit a MAC school in football. "The Arizona game is a huge game for our program, our university and our community," said Beckman.
Rockets fans can meet all the players and coaches during Fan Appreciation Day on Saturday, Aug. 7 at 4:00 p.m. at the Fetterman Trainign Center. The players will sign autographs, and free schedule posters will be available for the fans.
