Lincoln University football players arrived on the Jefferson City campus Thursday, took part in team meetings Friday and finally took the field Saturday morning for the first day of training camp.
The practice was low-key, while the players went through a relatively light workout on a hot day in shorts and helmets.
After practice, head coach Mike Jones said he looks at this season as an opportunity.
"At the beginning of the season, you know everybody is excited for football season, and we'll have an opportunity to turn the football program around," said Jones, who is entering his fifth year calling the shots for the Blue Tigers.
Lincoln went 2-9 overall last year and 1-7 in its first year in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Blue Tigers return eight defensive starters and seven offensive starters from a season ago.
Jones said leadership within the senior class has been an emphasis in the early going.
"We talked about it. We said "You're seniors, but we need senior leadership.' Sometimes, they just think it's going to happen," Jones said. "You got to lead by example, and they did a great job on the first day."
So what exactly will it take for more tallies to appear in the win column for Lincoln football?
"It's a combination of two things," Jones said. "It's senior leadership, and also we got a lot of young guys that played at winning programs. We've been recruiting guys that played for and won state championships. You add that to the guys that are here that have been working and hoping those two things will mesh to turn it around."
Senior quarterback Jacob Morris was not present at the first day of camp. Jones said that Morris had yet to be medically cleared. Morris elected for a medical redshirt last season, after sustaining a neck injury in Week 1.
Senior quarterback Owen Jordan, who was Morris' backup at this time last season, was at practice and began camp as the starter.
Jones said he wants to break camp with one quarterback, and will choose the starter based on "whatever is best for the program."
"That's what we're going to do. Right now (Jordan) is our starting quarterback," Jones said. "He is doing a good job for us."
Morris ran the show in 2013, when he threw for 2,076 yards, 16 touchdowns, and picked up 645 yards and 8 touchdowns on the ground. He earned honorable mention honors in Lincoln's final season in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
When Morris was ruled out after Week 1 last year, Jordan took over and looked the part. Jordan compiled 1,867 passing yards with 12 touchdowns, while receiving All-GLVC Honorable Mention honors.
Jones gave no indication when Morris may be cleared.
"We don't know what's going to happen. We're just going to sit here and wait," Jones said.
Lincoln continues camp today in shorts. They will tack on the shoulder pads Monday and Tuesday for the start of two-a-days, before the real fun starts Wednesday with full pads. Lincoln will then scrimmage at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
The Blue Tigers open the season Sept. 5 at Langston University. Game time is 2 p.m.