The middle of August is to Dave Arslanian what Christmas Day is to most five-year-olds.
"This is a great time of year, the best time of year" said Arslanian, the coach of the Weber State football team. "I look forward each year to when we tee it up and really get going."Arslanian's Wildcats got going strong Monday, as two-a-day practices began in preparation for what many preseason prognosticators feel will be a very successful campaign. In a number of publications and polls, Weber State is ranked among the top 20 NCAA Division 1-AA teams. The Wildcats, who placed second in their league last year, are also expected to be contenders for the Big Sky Conference championship.
The Wildcats lost a number of top players from last year's 8-4 team that qualified for the national playoffs. But the marquee player, All-American quarterback Jamie Martin, is back for his senior year and appears in better shape than ever. Martin, who passed for 4,125 yards and 35 TDs a year ago, was timed at 4.55 in the 40-yard dash - his fastest time ever - Saturday, when the team went through physicals, strength and speed tests.
Weber held its first practice concentrating on fundamentals Sunday. Two-a-day practices without pads began Monday, while Thursday the 'Cats will don pads for the first day of contact drills. Weber will hold a scrimmage at Wildcat Stadium Saturday night at 6:15 p.m. The season will open Sept. 5 when the Wildcats travel to play New Mexico State in Las Cruces. The home opener will be the following week, when Southern Utah comes to Ogden.
While Arlslanian was well-aware that he had gaps to fill due to graduation, two veteran players he thought would contribute this year failed to show up to camp. Defensive back Brent Lamb, a part-time starter who had two interceptions last year, and defensive lineman Steve Nawahine, who had 21 tackles and three sacks a year ago, cited personal reasons for being no-shows, and they are not expected to rejoin the team. In addition, running back Gene Ethridge, who rushed for 445 yards in two years at Weber, won't be back due to academic difficulties.