Hundreds flock to Argos scrimmage

Dr. Judy Bense wore a proud grin.
The University of West Florida president was one of about 200 fans gathered around the University Park practice field Saturday to watch the Argonaut’s first-ever football scrimmage.
“It feels like it’s real,” Bense said. She made bringing college football to Pensacola a priority when she became president in 2008. “It feels like it’s more real. When I was driving around the curve (of Campus Drive toward the university’s athletic facilities) and I saw people carrying blankets and chairs and coolers and saw the team on the field, I got excited. I haven’t stopped smiling since.”
Coach Pete Shinnick also was pleased with the fans’ turnout.
“It was a great atmosphere,” the Argos’ skipper said after the intra-squad scrimmage. “When you come out here an hour before (the scheduled start time) for warm-ups and there are already 40-50 people here, that’s great.”
Portable goalposts were erected at the converted intramural fields, a sound system played music, and Argonauts merchandise and ticket information for the team’s 2016 inaugural season was available. Members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity brought a couch and banner and set up just beyond the end zone to enjoy UWF’s first grid action.
Shinnick and his staff led Blue and White squads through about 100 plays in a 90-minute scripted session. The squads practiced kickoffs, field goals, “red-zone” situations and other offensive and defensive plays. Quarterbacks wore green jerseys to minimize contact during the scrimmage.
Wide receiver Quentin Randolph of Navarre and offensive lineman Nick Dugger of Gulf Breeze are among the 108 players trying to make the Argonauts’ historic first roster.
Randolph, who caught 62 passes for 801 yards and seven scores last year as a Raider, said he’s working hard to adjust to the college game.
“This is a whole ‘nother level from high school,” the 6-foot-1, 181-pound Randolph said. “It’s a growing experience. These players have a lot more speed and power. They’re way smarter and way stronger than guys I played against in high school.”
Randolph said he was “excited” to have a season to work on his speed and strength before playing his first college game. Dugger also said the Argonauts need time to grow into a team.
“I feel like we’re not ready to play a team (that’s) been playing together for awhile,” Dugger said. “It’s good that we have this time to get to know each other, to come together as a team.”
Dugger (6-5, 314) spent the 2014 season at Louisiana-Lafayette before transferring to UWF to be closer to friends and family.
“It’s good to be home,” he said of the move. “It’s different. I feel closer to my teammates here, more like I’m a part of something.”
Penalties and mistakes plagued the offense, but Shinnick said that was to be expected from young players still adjusting to the program and college life in general. The Argos managed just one offensive touchdown, a pass from about 15 yards out from Gunnar Ballant of Winter Gardens West Orange to Kevin Grant from Melbourne High.
The defense, with a consistent pass rush and a pair of interceptions, earned high marks.
“It’s very exciting to see what our defense is doing,” Shinnick said. “They’re in the right place, they’re moving the right way, they’re fast … it’s exciting.”
The team has four more scrimmages scheduled, Oct. 3, Oct. 24 and Nov. 7 at University Park Field and Oct. 17 at Bayfront Stadium, where the Argos are scheduled to play their home games until an on-campus stadium is built. All scrimmages start at 11 a.m. and are free and open to the public.