by Lawrence – The Haskell Indian Nations University football team continues its fall camp this week and have enjoyed a few days of reasonable weather as the Indians got a chance to work out in shorts at the south practice fields.
The Indians, which open the season on Sept. 1st against Presentation College in Aberdeen, SD, continued the teaching mode to its 60+ newcomers while increasing the tempo in several drills and running through some of new plays returing offensive coordinator Joe Claunch has chalked up for this season.
All practices are open to the public.
“We’re working on fundamentals, blocking and tackling and the finer points of running the routes and getting in pass coverage. All the things you’ll do with a young team,” Head coach Jimmy Snyder said.
With much of the teaching mode still being implemented and his team moving closer to working out in full gear, Snyder and his coaching staff can begin the process positioning the players on the depth chart. When asked about what the coaches are liking thus far Snyder said, “Athletes!.. some of the kids are faster and quicker than we had thought but more importantly is the attitude so far, things are positive and optimistic.”
The Indians first home game of the season will be Sept. 8 against Robert Morris College at the historic Haskell stadium, kick-off is scheduled for 12 noon.
Team Notes:
Newcomer Stephen Edmond(Cherokee) from Mannford, Oklahoma recently learned that the fires that raged through northeastern Oklahoma this past weekend ravaged his families home in a total loss. Thankfully, none of the members of Stephens family were harmed or hurt the in the fires but they did however lose all of their belongings to the fires. The Haskell athletic department is accepting donations of clothes and other items to help Stephen and his family through this difficult time. For more information on how one can help please contact the Haskell Athletic department at (785) 749-8459 Monday thru Friday from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM CST.
Football Alumni Note:
On a lighter note, Ryan Alden (Siletz tribe of Oregon), who was last year’s starting quarterback for the Haskell Indians, is finishing up playing his first season of football overseas in Germany. Ryan has a few more games left before play-offs begin and the off-season begins.
His stats on the season this far are:
112-165 Passing, 68% completion rate, 1,293 total yds, 14 tds, 69 rush yds, 2 rush tds
