MONTICELLO – With the start of the 2009 football season less than a month away, the University of Arkansas at Monticello football team is beginning its preparations with all players reporting for fall training camp on August 4.
 
Tuesday’s schedule begins with check-in from 8-11 a.m., followed with a team lunch at noon and various meetings throughout the remainder of the day. Players and coaches will also conduct meetings on Wednesday.
 
According to head coach Gwaine Mathews, the first day of on-field practice is set for Thursday and the first practice in pads on Sunday.
 
Mathews is expecting 110 players to report for fall camp.
 
“I think this is our most anticipated group of players since I became head coach in 2005,”said Mathews. “The combination of our success last season and the new facility we are in now has put more at stake for our program. There is a definite difference when you know you have the players and the depth necessary to compete for the conference title.”
 
All practices are open to the public with the exception of the sessions held inside the new indoor practice facility. Two-a-day practices start at 9 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. each day, lasting until the beginning of classes. Once classes are underway, all practices are scheduled to start at 3:10 p.m.