With that in mind, UMHB coaches decided to get a jump on determining which new players might make the most immediate impact.
For the first time since its inaugural season in 1998, UMHB opened fall camp with a two-hour practice for newcomers only Tuesday morning.
The change, which includes another full slate of activities today before returning players begin workouts Thursday, was brought about by the Crusaders’ ever-increasing numbers.
Tuesday’s practice featured 100 players, a number that will jump to 203 by the time everyone reports.
In contrast, Texas Lutheran and East Texas Baptist - a pair of UMHB foes in the American Southwest Conference - opened camp with a total of 103 and 110 players, respectively.
“I like the change and it accomplished two things,” said UMHB coach Pete Fredenburg, whose squad is looking for its third consecutive ASC title. “No. 1 is it gives us a chance to really see what some of these young kids can do.
“No. 2 is it makes the coaches go back to teaching. They’re used to handling the upperclassmen - where they kind of demonstrate - to this, where they really have to get in there and teach.”
Following last year’s 10-3 season in which the Crusaders ranked first in the ASC in defense but fifth in total offense, there seemed to be an influx of talent on both sides of the ball Tuesday morning.
The defensive newcomers included former standout Temple linebacker John Hamilton, who went from Texas State to Texas A&M and now UMHB, and 307-pound tackle David Danforth of Robinson.
On offense, ex-Gatesville quarterback Luke Howard rifled passes to former Cameron Yoe quarterback Brian Scott, who made the switch to receiver, and Patrick Oliver - a former star for the Crusaders basketball team.
“It’s a little overwhelming,” said Howard, who passed for 1,600 yards and 18 touchdowns with only four interceptions last season for the Hornets. “(The coaches) throw a lot of stuff at you. You can try as hard as you want, but it’s a little overwhelming at first.”
Likewise, Scott is trying to adapt to his new position after throwing for 1,208 yards and running for 1,059 as a senior at Yoe.
“I have a lot of learning to do, and I’m a little behind and have to catch up,” he said. “But there are other guys here who used to play quarterback, so I’m not the only one.
“I’m just going to ask a lot of questions and learn everything I can so when everybody else gets here, I’m closer to being on their level.”
The 6-6 Oliver also was a high school quarterback, though that was five years ago. For the past four years, his focus had been on the basketball court, where he was an All-ASC player before spending part of last season playing professionally in Iceland.
Out of basketball eligibility but with one more semester of NCAA athletic eligibility remaining, Oliver is back at UMHB in search of one thing that has always eluded him.
“I want that ring,” he said in reference to the conference championship prize. “That’s my motivation. I want to contribute to getting a ring.”
This time last year Oliver was preparing to brave Iceland’s blustery, cold weather, quite a change from Tuesday’s steamy conditions.
“It’s really hot right now, but I can get used to it,” he said. “Since I found out this summer that I could play, I’ve been working on my routes and my footwork.
“I’m not too much different than these other new guys - just a little older and maybe a little wiser.”
UMHB, which reached the national quarterfinals last year and is ranked No. 2 in some Division III preseason polls, will hold its first full-team practice Thursday. The Crusaders’ first full-contact workout will be Monday and their first intrasquad scrimmage will be Aug. 23.
UMHB opens the season Sept. 8 at home against Christopher Newport (Va.).
nedrennan@temple-telegram.com
