ATLANTA, Ga- The Georgia State football team hit the practice fields Friday for the first time at Georgia State Stadium. However, before that head coach Shawn Elliott met with members of the media Thursday afternoon.
“What I tell our team at this point is we have opportunities to be successful if we treat the next month business-like and go out there with an attitude, effort and intensity that will really dictate our image and our reputation over the course of the season,” Elliot said.
“We’ve got a lot of answers that need to be found here in the next few weeks. Our defense has to step up, and of course, we have to keep developing our offensive football team and keep building on what I thought were solid special teams.”
Elliott enters the season with six new assistant coaches on his staff, including offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brad Glenn. Also new to the staff are offensive line coach Thomas Austin, running backs coach Jimmy Smith, inside linebackers/special teams coach Shiel Wood, defensive line coach Travian Robertson and cornerbacks coach Aarion Savage.
“There were quite a few new hires, but we all feel like we are on the same page, and we’re very comfortable around each other,” said Elliott.
Elliott praised a lot of change in his players from one more off-season hire, “John Sisk, our strength coach, who came from Georgia Tech – what he was able to do with our football team over the course of the offseason and their summer is really going to be a telling factor,” Elliott said. “I’ve seen individuals really grow. You can see the change in their physical appearance that was a really important hire.”
Starting quarterback Dan Ellington returns behind center after leading the team in passing and rushing in his first year with the program. He threw for 2,119 yards and rushed for 625 more on the ground while accounting for 17 touchdowns (12 passing, 5 rushing) to earn All-Sun Belt Conference honors.
“I thought he did quite good job a year ago,” Elliot said, “He was able to utilize his legs in the running game and he didn’t put the ball in jeopardy in the throwing game and he’s a strong leader. Good football teams have to have a quarterback and to be a good quarterback, you have to be a good leader.”
Elliott looks forward to the experience and developmental growth that the freshman starters turned sophomores have gained.
“You see the strength development, and the mental aspects, the confidence they have from knowing they’ve gone out there and done it before and now they utilize the knowledge they’ve gained,” Elliott said.
It’s safe to say the atmosphere around Georgia State Stadium is different this season. There is no mention of last season, just the motivation to do better, the opportunity to grow and the chance to show Panther fans who Georgia State football really is.
Not only is this a new Panthers team so are the facilities. In the off-season, the program received all new facilities, a weight room, and a nutrition room, but this did not happen overnight.
“Our football team is only ten years old, this just doesn’t happen. I really want to thank everyone involved. It’s a special feeling standing in front of you in our own operation suite and kicking off this year, “ Elliott said.
The Panthers will kickoff their season on the road in Knoxville, Tenn., taking on Tennessee at 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU. One week later, on Sept 7, Georgia State will host Furman in their home season opener at 7 p.m. at Georgia State Stadium.
Written by Alexis Williams
