Buzz is back at URI as football team excited about the coming season

SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Next Thursday will look a lot different for the University of Rhode Island’s football team.

The light mood and playful interactions will be replaced by intensity and focus. That’s what teams in the national rankings expect of themselves entering a season opener.

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Picture day at Meade Stadium served as an official line of demarcation. Training camp is over after a grueling month of conditioning and competing against one another. Traveling to Stony Brook and opening Colonial Athletic Association play is finally on the horizon.

“We just finished up a great camp,” quarterback Kasim Hill said Thursday morning. “It’s good to come out here and enjoy your brothers. It gets real next week and I think we’re all excited for that challenge and that opportunity.”

The Rams fell a lone win shy of long-awaited FCS playoff qualification last season, closing 7-4 overall. URI carried some significant buzz through the summer months — its season ticket allotment is officially sold out per a release from the school earlier this week. The Rams are expecting to see a huge home crowd for what should be a critical Sept. 17 clash against Delaware.

“Obviously these kids have put in the work and we’re putting a product out on the field that excites people to come and watch,” coach Jim Fleming said. “But you look at this field — it wasn’t the same nine years ago. The environment, the game-type experience — it's fun for everybody.

“Word has spread. They know they can come out, get a good football experience and a good tailgate experience and have a good day on campus at URI. It’s been really rewarding just to see there is justification for investment for future growth.

“Where do we want to be in 10 years? Those questions need to be answered. Our job is to go out and win a championship and give us a good talking point.”

Villanova and the Blue Hens were the only teams in the conference picked ahead of URI in the preseason CAA poll. James Madison’s move up to the FBS level could leave something of a power vacuum atop the league over the next couple of seasons. Whether or not the Rams are the school to step in and take command remains to be seen.

“It’s been a big thing for us to keep the outside noise outside,” safety Henry Yianakopolos said. “We already know we have high expectations for ourselves — as does any team — and we think we can reach the ceiling. We can push through that.”

The blistering late-summer sun beat down on the field turf as players milled about in light blue jerseys and white pants. Coaches opted for navy polos and either light khakis or shorts. Each position group announced by associate athletic director Shane Donaldson brought with it some extra hooting from other members of the roster.

“They do have a good spirit,” Fleming said. “Hopefully, that will take us to good execution, good play and being able to withstand the ups and downs we know are ahead of us.”

bkoch@providencejournal.com    

On Twitter: @BillKoch25 

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: URI Rams football team aiming for FCS playoff spot after near miss.