Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Perhaps the biggest news to report following the first day of practice for this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl is a change to the New Hampshire roster. Salem High School offensive lineman John Morin replaced Pelham High School center/defensive end Max Roth.

"Roth was recovering from a shoulder injury and didn't feel he was ready to play, so he withdrew," New Hampshire coach Craig Kozens said.

The New Hampshire players reported to camp at Kimball Union Academy on Wedneday morning, underwent physical exams, and practiced for the first time at 2 p.m. The team's second practice, which began at 6:45 p.m., was moved indoors because of rain.

"We installed four plays during our first session and three more in the second session, so we have seven plays in," Kozens said. "Defensively we got a couple of sets in, but we're limited in what we can do on defense. All the specialty guys are working out on their own because we have to get ready for Saturday's scrimmage. We'll start working on special teams next week."

There are two practice fields at KUA. One has a turf playing surface, the other has natural grass. Vermont and New Hampshire rotate their practices on each field each day.

Kozens said his team is scheduled to practice three times on Thursday: 9:30-11:30 a.m.; 2:30-4:30 p.m.; and 6:45 until dark. New Hampshire Football Report will have a Shrine update following Thursday's third practice.

"We'll continue to install the offense," Kozens said. "Hopefully we'll put in nine more plays (Thursday) and review what we put in (Wednesday). Nine sounds like a lot, but since we're practicing three times it's only three plays per practice."

Saturday's scrimmage, which is open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and will be held on the turf field. This year's game will be played Aug. 2 on Dartmouth's Memorial Field, which also has a turf surface. Kozens said Vermont had the option to hold half of its intra-squad scrimmage on the turf field, but chose to remain on the grass field instead. 

"It's a real good group and it doesn't take them long to pick things up," Kozens said. "We had a good first day -- a real good first day. We're right on schedule in terms of where we want to be."