Sports

ASU football players report to campus

• Albany State’s football players reunite Tuesday on campus and begin preparations for the Aug. 30 opener at home against Shaw.

Scott Chancey

ALBANY — The “Welcome Back” party, otherwise known as Albany State players reporting to campus Tuesday, was greeted with open arms by coach Mike White.

“It’s good to see everybody,” said White, whose team opens the season Aug. 30 at home against Shaw.

Even quarterback Kisan Flakes is glad to be back in Southwest Georgia, where heat, humidity and a hearty helping of gnats are the order of the day.

“It feels good,” Flakes said. “It’s never bad to be in the Albany heat.”

While dealing with the freshmen, White takes on more roles than just the coach who awarded them scholarships.

“It’s a big deal,” White said. “They’re saying bye to their moms and dads and right now we try to make the transition as easy as possible.”

Columbus’ Derrick Walker, who was a defensive back at Spencer High School, is among the freshmen who moved in Tuesday.

“It’s new,” Walker said. “It’s cool just meeting a lot of new people.”

That is key to the team’s bonding and foundation for the future.

“As far as upper classmen, we have to be there for the younger guys because they are the core of the program for years to come,” said Flakes, who rushed for 441 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 1,461 yards and threw for nine more scores last season.

Once the pleasantries subside, the Rams will be trying to reclaim the SIAC title.

White’s team won at least a share of the crown for four consecutive years until Tuskegee took sole possession of it last season.

The Rams finished last season, 8-3, and lost, 66-35, against Catawba in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Albany State is scheduled to begin practice at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.Thursday.

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