July 23, 2003

BOCA RATON, FL - As August nears and pre-season camp is three weeks away, the summer results for Florida Atlantics University's football team have been a basket of mixed blessing.

Six players have completed or are well into their rehabilitation programs with returns in the imminent future. The offensive line will welcome the return of juniors Dave Richards and William McDonald, who underwent back surgery before the end of last season. Both were limited in the spring to no contact and will be heavily monitored in pre-season. Sophomore Joel Fosselman is also scheduled to join the team during pre-season, after back surgery, and hopes to complete his first full pre-season unscathed. Fosselman suffered from mononucleosis during his initial campaign and sustained a pre-season back injury in his second. The sophomore is expected to challenge starting quarterback Jared Allen and transfer Danny Embick for playing time.

Junior defensive lineman Ramon Rickards missed much of spring practice with an ankle injury and is expected to rejoin the team on the field for pre-season as will junior running back Anthony Jackson. Jackson tore his ACL midway through 2002 and missed the remainder of the season as well as all contact drills during the spring. Junior running back Dekolan James has made great strides with his rehab after he tore his ACL during the first spring game. James will return this season with a date yet to be determined. Juniors Mauratae Johnson, a defensive back, and Scott Whitener, an offensive lineman, have not been as lucky. Johnson and Whitener have not been cleared to play and will remain on scholarship. Their medical scholarships will not count against the 63-scholarship limit of NCAA Division I-AA. Senior linebacker Todd Poitier falls under the same situation, however, his hardship waiver was applied for prior to spring drills.

The final players who will not be attending fall drills are Thomas Parker, Antwan Blatch and Chris Munoz. Parker is a two-year starting wide receiver who was involved in a car accident this summer. He suffered a broken jaw and a broken elbow. Blatch, who ran the scout squad in 2002 while meeting NCAA transfer rules, was part of the spring practice squad, but has elected not to continue his collegiate football career. Chris Munoz has also elected not to return.

The following are pre-season important dates: (Please note that players, both new and returning, will report and matriculate at the same time. There are no longer separate report dates for new and returning players.)

Important Dates
July 26, State Writers' Meeting
August 3, Players Report
August 4, All Players One Practice
August 8, First Day Full Pads One Practice
August 9, First Three-a-Day
August 10, One Practice
August 10, Media Day
August 12, Scrimmage
August 16, FanFest at Lockhart Stadium
August 19, Last Three-A-Day
August 25, Classes Begin
August 28, First Game @Middle Tennessee