Staten Island, NY – The 2012 Seahawks concluded preseason training camp with an upbeat, intense two-hour scrimmage under brilliant sunshine and unseasonably comfortable temperatures in the mid 70'S on the field turf at Wagner College Stadium.
The Seahawk veterans will now have Thursday and Friday off, a 48-hour period that will allow them to restore some vitality to their bodies while mentally preparing for game week. The Florida Atlantic Owls, an FBS program that awards the NCAA maximum 85 scholarships, are busy working in the heat of the Sunshine State, preparing for the August 31 opener in Boca Raton, that will take place under the lights at 8:00 pm.
The Seahawk freshmen, meanwhile, those about to embark on their first semester of college, will participate in orientation sessions on Thursday and Friday.
Wagner football players reported for camp on August 6 and put the pads on for the first official practice on August 8. For two weeks, the Seahawks, all 118 strong, have been butting heads with each other.
According to senior linebacker #C.O. Prime# (Laval, Quebec, Canada/ The Kent School), the Seahawks are ready to mix it up with a team that wears a different uniform color.
“We are not going there to get beat. We really want to compete down there and win that game," Prime said. "That's really our focus right now. I feel like everyone is ready, everyone is on top of their responsibilities. So, basically our mindset is to get two days off, get some time to re-focus. “
The Seahawks are looking to build on a three-game winning streak that closed the 2011 season. Overall, Wagner was 4-7 on the season and tied for fourth in the Northeast Conference (NEC). The Green & White return 52 letterwinners from last year's team,, including eight on offense and six on the defensive side of the ball.
While this year's camp was physically taxing, he indicated there was an extra focus placed by the coaches on the mental aspect of the game. “I would say this camp very much stressed the mental aspects of the game,” he said. “I think that was reflected in our scrimmages. Even the young guys started picking up on things and you can see they really know what they're doing out there.”
