49ers ‘ahead of schedule,’ Lambert says

The Charlotte 49ers are ahead of schedule in preparing for their football season-opener in less than three weeks, but head coach Brad Lambert isn’t taking the credit.

“The big difference is we have a bunch of older guys,” said Lambert, whose team makes the move into big-time Football Bowl Subdivision play Friday, Sept. 4, in Atlanta against Georgia State.

“We have a larger group of juniors and seniors this year,” Lambert added. “They know the routine. They know what we want to do.”

More than 50 percent of the 109-man roster is made of up juniors, seniors or graduate students – far and away the most experienced team in the 49ers’ three seasons of football.

“Practice has been much smoother,” Lambert said. “It has been flowing so much better.”

Among those “old guys” is senior offensive lineman Danny Book, who played at Hickory Ridge High in Cabarrus County and then at the University of Albany before transferring to Charlotte.

Book said the experienced players “know what to do and how hard we have to work.”

He said low expectations placed on the 49ers by prognosticators is helping fuel the work ethic.

“That’s definitely a motivational tool,” he said.

Lambert said the coaching staff is making use of the experience by pairing more experienced players with younger members of the squad.

“It’s like assigning a big brother,” he said. “The older guys talk about what the coaching staff expects.”

Lambert said the 49ers’ coaches have made no changes to the practice routine in advance of the move up to FBS.

Charlotte’s practices alternate between morning, afternoon and evening, but Lambert said that is designed to deal with August weather. The 49ers can work harder in the morning and evening on hot days. The team also will have a few scrimmages before the opener, Lambert said.

The first significant injury for the 49ers was reported late in the week. Senior cornerback Ardy Holmes, a former football and academic standout at West Charlotte High, broke a bone in his foot, Lambert said. Holmes saw considerable playing time last year for Charlotte.

Lambert said the 49ers are not sure how long Holmes will be out. “We don’t know yet if it will involve surgery or anything.”

Note

Single-game tickets: The 49ers will put single-game tickets on sale Tuesday, with reserved seats available for the team’s six home games. Tickets are $30, and athletic officials say multigame ticket packages and season tickets also are available.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.charlotte49ers.com.

This story was originally published August 15, 2015 at 4:16 PM with the headline "49ers ‘ahead of schedule,’ Lambert says."