The Seawolves are far from charging out of the tunnel with the fight song blaring or the smell of grills fired up in the parking lot, but football season is here. Well, the spring version is anyway.
Stony Brook head football coach Chuck Priore and his staff opened spring practice on March 24, which is the first of 15 sessions that the coaching staff will have with their players on the field.
This string comprising of 11 7 a.m. practices, along with a pair of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. sessions concludes with the Frank Conti ‘11 Memorial Spring Game on April 25 at 2 p.m. at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium.
This is the first season that the game is being named after the former graduate who died suddenly working his summer job four summers ago. He was 23 years old.
The 2015 version of this Seawolves team is young, but that does not mean they are inexperienced. 13 players on the roster are seniors, but 24 players started a game in red and white uniforms last season.
The offense loses a couple key pieces, in wide receiver Adrian Coxson and running backs James Kenner and Marcus Coker. The quarterback position also seems to remain in question, as Conor Bednarski was shaky last season. They do, however, return explosive running back Stacey Bedell.
The defense remains mostly intact, with Victor Ochi continuing to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines. However, Priore will have to find a replacement for his do-it-all man last season, Christian Ricard.
The Seawolves will open the season with another Thursday night matchup, this time on the road, taking on Toledo on Sept. 3.
