Aug. 3, 2005

Winston-Salem, NC - The Rams will not take to the field for the opening kick of the 2005 season for another 24 days, yet football season is in full swing on the campus of Winston-Salem State University as 124 student-athletes reported to campus for training camp on Wednesday afternoon.

According to officials from the football team, there were no notable no-shows who failed to report to training camp on Wednesday. The Rams' 49 returning lettermen have all successfully reported to training camp, as have all of the 2005 signees. The remaining reportees are players that spent the 2004 season as a redshirt, or are walk-on players.

Players will spend Wednesday evening in team meetings and organizational sessions. The majority of Thursday will be spent completing physicals and issuing equipment.

The Rams will hit the practice fields on Friday and Saturday at 8:30 am in shorts and helmets pursuant to NCAA rules. Sunday and Monday will see the Rams in helmets, shorts, and shoulder pads before breaking out full pads starting on Tuesday at 8:30 am.

The Rams will have 28 total practices, including six days of double sessions, before the opening kick of the 2005 football season goes up at 6:00 pm on August 27th, 2005 versus Catawba College in Winston-Salem, NC.

Head Coach Kermit Blount, who is entering into his 13th season at WSSU, and who has posted an overall record of 71-53-3 while earning a pair of CIAA titles, had the following comment amidst the activities of the first day of training camp, "We are pleased with the turnout we had today thus far. We have almost everyone here that we had expected, and the young men reported on time, and in an orderly fashion. I know the players, as well as the coaches are anxious to get to the practice field so that we can evaluate the efforts of our off-season workout programs and get to the matter at hand, which is winning a CIAA title."

For additional information on WSSU football, contact the WSSU Office of Sports Information at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at www.WSSURAMS.com