Issue date: 8/7/08 Section: SPORTS

UNT assistant coach Shelton Gandy works drills with the running backs during the second day of the fall camp, Tuesday at Fouts Field Photo Credit David Minton.

After being picked in the Sun Belt coaches' poll to finish seventh in the eight-team conference, the Mean Green began its road back to respectability Monday with the first practice for the fall.

This is the second fall camp held under head football coach Todd Dodge, and this time, the players said they have a better idea of what to expect.

"Practice is more efficient," junior running back Cam Montgomery said. "We're just better at knowing what we're going to do. Everything's more organized. We have more of an idea of where we're going and what we're doing. This year, the tempo of practice is going by quicker and we're getting better."

That familiarity with the routines has led to a more spirited camp, players said.

"We're not learning as much, so it's a lot more competitive," senior wide receiver Brock Stickler said. "That's the main difference: everybody knows what they're doing. We're all just trying to get our job done, trying to compete and trying to earn that starting spot."

Players said earning that starting spot isn't easy. To maintain any spot on the team, players must dedicate these weeks entirely to their training.

"We just wake up and go to meetings," Montgomery said. "Learn about new plays and things like that. Getting new stuff in for the freshmen coming in, and for us it's just like a review right now. After that, we come out here and practice."

Stickler agreed with his teammate.

"I'm up at the Athletic Center from about 7 until practice ends around 10:30 p.m., he said. "I hang out there all day. We have meetings, and I really don't feel like driving home because gas is so expensive, so I take a nap in the locker room."

As first time players try to learn the new schemes, the veteran players have more freedom to focus on specific nuances of their game.

"I'm just trying to learn the blocking schemes," Montgomery said. "Trying to get better at my blocking and route running."

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