RELEASE DATE: 9/03/09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Football has first practice of 2009 season

MANSFIELD -- The 2009 Mansfield University sprint football team got to break a sweat with their first practice of the year Thursday afternoon.

Although the team was dressed in shorts and wearing only helmets as productive gear the two hour long non-contact practice still produced good results.

"I'll admit I'm a little tired," said returning starting quarterback Danny Moss. "I've been working out all summer but the coaches ran us pretty good. It felt great to be out on the field again."

It was the first time the returning players and the almost 50 newcomers got a chance to gauge each other.

Andrew LIcwinko, the starting center last season, had a good vibe about the offense line. "I'm excited," said Licwinko. "We bounded pretty quickly and the new guys were physically prepared. I can already tell were going to be an improved offensive line."

There were plenty of players at each position, including six quarterbacks taking snaps.

The team will practice again on Friday after classes and then go at it strong on Saturday including two-a-day practices. They will scrimmage for the first time on Monday.