Shorter Hawks to hold tryouts to complete 2014 roster

shorter062014ROME, Ga. — In just seven weeks, the Shorter University football team will gather to prepare for its historic 10th season and the first as a full NCAA Division II and Gulf South Conference member when they report for preseason workouts.

Next week the Hawks will be looking to fill the open spots remaining on the 2014 roster when head coach Phil Jones and his coaching staff holds an open tryout for recently graduated high school seniors on Friday, June 27 at Ben Brady Field from 10 a.m. to noon.

The free tryout will include testing for speed and agility. Players interested must provide documentation that they have had a physical within the past six months and need to contact assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Tim Mathis that they are interested in attending the tryout by Wednesday, June 25.

The tryout comes the day before the Hawks hold the first of two day-long Prospect Camps for rising high school seniors and juniors on Saturday, June 28 at Brady from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The second camp will take place on July 10.

On August 8, the Shorter campus on “The Hill” will welcome back the veteran and new Hawks when the team reports to begin its preseason camp on Aug. 10 and prepare for what is easily the program’s toughest schedule ever with all 10 games against Division II foes.

The Hawks begin their 10th campaign squaring off against three non-conference opponents, hosting Division II and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association newcomer Paine College of Augusta on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at Barron Stadium.

The following week, Shorter hits the road for the first time when on Saturday, Sept. 13 the Hawks head to North Carolina for a non-conference rematch with Mars Hill, a game that sets the stage for what will be the longest trip the program has ever had to the largest stadium the team has ever played in.

On Saturday, Sept. 20, the Hawks will take the field at the home of the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas – the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium – to square off against Lone Star Conference member West Texas A&M for a 1 p.m. (Central) showdown in the annual Lone Star Football Festival that pits GSC members against Lone Star opponents.

That challenge will be the Hawks’ third and final non-GSC game and after taking a week off, Shorter turns its attention to seven straight Gulf South matchups, the first taking place at Barron Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. against Mississippi College.

To register for the tryout, contact Mathis at [email protected] or by calling 706-233-7522.

Shorter has three more homes games at Barron against West Alabama (Oct. 16), Florida Tech (Nov. 1) and West Georgia (Nov. 15), while the Hawks will be on the road to face Delta State (Oct. 11), Valdosta State (Oct. 25) and North Alabama (Nov. 8.)

Season and individual game ticket information can be purchased by going to www.goshorterhawks.com.