Gustavus Adolphus College

Quarterback Jordan Becker calls the play.

Head Coach Jay Schoenebeck returns for his 15th season.

Two players are challenged at the end of practice.

The Gustavus football team returned to campus on August 20 to begin training for the 2008 season which will begin Saturday, September 13 at Coe College. Head Coach Jay Schoenebeck and his staff welcomed 112 players, including 34 returning letterwinners and a large and talented recruiting class.

Captains Ted Aleckson (Sr., Weston, Wis.), Chad Arlt (Sr., St. Michael, Minn.), Jared Thelemann (Sr., Kilkenny, Minn.), and Joe Welch (Jr., Hastings, Minn.) lead a squad that returns 19 starters (eight on defense, six on offense, and five on special teams). The Gusties look to replace graduated all-conference quarterback Jordan Stolp and linebacker Jared Sieling, who helped the team finish 5-5 overall and 3-5 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference last season.

The practice schedule is extremely busy as practice begins at 7:30 am and lasts until 10:30 pm. During the morning session, the team spends time on the field conditioning, doing drills, and executing plays. The afternoon and evening sessions are spent in the classroom learning the play book, weightlifting, and walking through plays on the field. Training camp ends on Saturday, August 30 after a junior varsity and varsity scrimmage against Crown College. The junior varsity scrimmage will begin at 9 am, while the varsity scrimmage will start at 10:30 am, followed by a team BBQ.