Fall Practice Begins for ISU Football

 
POCATELLO, Idaho- With eight starters returning on offense and nine on defense, Idaho State football coach Mike Kramer likes the experience he has on his roster for the 2014 season.

"I am relatively confident that we have finally arrived," Kramer said. "It is the first time in four years that we have a Big Sky caliber team that has Big Sky caliber athletes top to bottom."

The fourth-year Bengal coach also loves the fact that his freshmen will get to watch and learn while his juniors and seniors see the majority of playing time.  

"That is what building a program is all about and it will be fun to see," Kramer said.

The Bengals opened practice on Monday evening inside Holt Arena and the season officially begins August 28 at Utah. With an experienced line up returning to the field, Kramer and his staff are able to practice at a faster pace.

"We are pretty loaded in terms of experience," Kramer said. "Our knowledge of the sport and how this coaching staff wants them to play is pretty good. That means we are very fast. A guy that doesn't have college experience doesn't play as fast."

A big key for the Bengals this year will be playing well at the end of the second quarter and into the second half.

"We have to survive the last part of the second quarter and any part of the second half," Kramer said. "We played good until about the three or four minute mark of the second quarter, especially in October. We played really good football last year in October in every single game, whether it was on the road or at home. We just couldn't sustain it through halftime and the second half."

Idaho State has a six-game home schedule. The Bengals host Chadron State on September 13 and Sacramento State on September 27. ISU then hosts Simon Fraser (Oct. 11) and Southern Utah (Oct. 18) in October. In November, Cal Poly come to Holt Arena on Nov. 8 and Weber State on Nov. 22.

Season and single-game tickets are on sale now at the ISU Ticket Office at Holt Arena. Fans can call 208-282-FANS, log onto isubengals.com or visiting the ticket office to purchase tickets.