University of Massachusets Athletics
Jason Hatchell's Spring Football Blog: Entry No. 4
April 19, 2007 | Football
April 19, 2007
Jason Hatchell writes about the start of spring football practice. Here is his fourth entry in his CAASports Blog.
This week has been an exciting week because we just put on our pads last Friday and we are starting to get in some hitting. It's a great change from winter workouts because we get to run around and it's usually nice out. Thursday is our first day of full pads and everyone is getting excited. It has been a lot of fun lately. All the guys are "Ooohing" and "Aaahing" at some of the big hits.
We are looking forward to this week because it has been horrible with the weather lately. We are definitely waiting for spring to come. Even though it is hard for us, it is not just us, it is the whole East Coast. The weather has been difficult with the Nor'Easter, but it looks like its going to be gone soon. We had to cancel practice on Monday and Tuesday because it was just so bad and we do not want to risk anyone getting hurt. We have some practices to make up but it will be okay. Our first scrimmage is Saturday and we have scrimmages lined up for each Saturday afterwards. We are all certainly looking forward to getting some good licks in. Next week I will be sure to write about how we looked in that first scrimmage.
The best part of practice so far has been when we come together and play some 11-on-11. I'm real optimistic about the way we're bonding as a team and how well the new guys are fitting in. Everyone is doing extremely well out there, which is really great to see. Everyone is really solid and all the players we expected to set up are doing so.
At the same time, Coach Don Brown has been pushing us hard by giving us some new plays to learn. We have some new defensive blitzes and some new offensive formations which are working out really well. Tony Nelson is looking good at running back and Liam Coen is playing his best so I think the offensive is going to be very strong this year.
Everything we are doing now is to reach our main goals, which is to play in Chattanooga, Tenn. again this year. But we make sure that we do not compare ourselves to last year's team. I know we're going to be very good on our own this year and it is exciting to see it come together. It is difficult this time of year when we are building the foundation for next season, but we know the season does not begin for a few months.
With the forecasts looking better, I am getting excited about spring off the field as well. Spring around here is great because the winters in Massachusetts are so hard that people always appreciate it when it gets better. I love when people are always outside having fun. We enjoy any time we have off from football by having people over our house to barbeque and play some Wiffleball. It's just a real fun time to be in Amherst.
