2020 Season Officially Starts with First Spring Practice
3/2/2020 4:22:00 PM | Football
KENT, OHIO- Kent State football held their first spring practice on Monday inside the Kent State Field House.
"The kids did a great job with a fast start today; we've got a lot of positions that are open, so it's nice to have guys that have the foundational knowledge of what the culture is all about," head coach Sean Lewis said. Â "But there's a lot of young guys who need to step up, some guys that red shirted this past year that this is their first spring."
It is year three of the FlashFAST era under head coach Sean Lewis. Year two ended in historic fashion, winning the final four games of the season including the first bowl game in school history, defeating Utah State 51-41 in the 2019 Tropical Smoothie Café Frisco Bowl. While the bowl win was monumental for the program, the page has turned to the 2020 season.
"Everyone thinks you build off the success of last year, but the beauty of what this sport is and why you never really get burned out is that every year is brand new," Lewis said. "We are 0-0 right now and everything's ahead of us, we got to start building day by day."
For the seniors, the spring allows for the opportunity to teach, work on themselves, and to set the tone for what it takes to be a member of the FlashFAST family.
"We expect greatness, nothing less," linebacker Cepeda Phillips said. "As a senior, I use the spring to teach, whether it's scheme or how to go about your business. We expect nothing but the best when we step on the field and that goes for the coaches and the players."
For quarterback Dustin Crum, this is his first spring as the predominant starting quarterback. Earlier in the off-season, Crum was elevated to a single digit, a distinction reserved for the team's "golden standard" guys. He will sport number seven this season, an honor that is not lost on the senior.Â
"Personally, I see the number as further motivation to continually perfect the craft and that is what the spring is all about," Crum said. "The bowl win was great, but it also allowed us to get more time together.  It's cool to get out here with the guys and see them grow and develop. It helps continue the growth of the culture and the constantly raising standard. "Â
Monday was the first of 15 practices for Kent State this spring. The spring season concludes with the annual Spring Showcase on Saturday, April 11th at 1 p.m. Admission will be free.
