Mustang Football Opens 2012 Spring Camp in Cold and Windy Conditions

2012 SPRING PROSPECTUS (pdf)
BIG SKY CONFERENCE SPRING PROSPECTUS (pdf)
TIM WALSH INTERVIEW WITH CFPA
CAL POLY SELECTS JOSH BROWN AS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Cal Poly's first football practice of the 2012 Spring Camp was held on a cold, windy and blustery Wednesday morning on the upper fields of the Cal Poly Sports Complex.

And while the quarterbacks had trouble throwing the ball into a strong crosswind and the defensive players couldn't tackle because no pads were worn, fourth-year Mustang head coach Tim Walsh still was pleased with how his players handled the conditions with temperatures in the low 50s and winds guting over 30 miles per hour.

"I thought we had great energy out there this morning," Walsh said. "The players are excited to be back on the field with the opportunity to compete in the Big Sky Conference in the fall."

The first of 15 spring practice sessions was the first for Josh Brown as the Mustangs' new defensive coordinator.

"We're keeping it simple on defense and the players responded well to the new coaches and competed well today," said Walsh.

All five quarterbacks in camp -- Andre Broadous, Doug Shumway, Chris Brown, Vince Moraga and Kenny Johnston -- took snaps and participated in the passing drills during the height of the wind near the end of Wednesday's session.

"Offensively, I was impressed with our players' knowledge and who we are as a team," said Walsh.

What particularly impressed Walsh, however, was the performance of the kickers in camp.

Sophomore Paul Hundley (pictured above) returns for his second season as Cal Poly's punter while redshirt freshmen Stephen Pyle and Marco Tavecchio, both spring walk-ons at this point, are competing for placekicking duties vacated by James Langford, who has transferred to Cal.

Pyle, a graduate of Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas, is a member of Cal Poly's men's soccer team while Tavecchio graduated from Campolindo High School in Moraga in June 2011.

"I was extremely pleased with the kickers today," said Walsh. "It's going to be a great battle between those two. They are two great kickers."

A total of 93 players are competing for roster spots in Spring Camp, including 53 returning lettermen, 20 players who were redshirts a year ago, 16 walk-ons and four transfers.

Scrimmages are planned for April 14 and 21, with the 2012 Spring Game presented by Meathead Movers scheduled for Saturday, April 28, at 1 p.m. in Alex G. Spanos Stadium.

Cal Poly opens its 2012 football season -- and its first in the Big Sky Conference -- on Saturday, Sept. 1, against the University of San Diego at 4:05 p.m. in Alex G. Spanos Stadium.