CEDAR CITY, Utah – A new season officially began Friday morning as the Southern Utah football team opened fall camp in preparation for its first season back in the Big Sky Conference.
The Thunderbirds enter 2026 riding the momentum of one of the most successful stretches in recent program history. Under fifth-year head coach DeLane Fitzgerald, Southern Utah has posted four consecutive seasons of improvement, compiled a 25-21 record over the past four years, earned back-to-back seven-win seasons in 2024 and 2025, and returns to the Big Sky after concluding its four-year stint in the United Athletic Conference.
With the first practice complete, Fitzgerald said the opening day accomplished exactly what it needed to.
"Not real good, not real bad. We're somewhere in the middle," Fitzgerald said. "We looked like a Division I football team on its first day of camp. Today was a start, and it lets us know exactly where we're at. Now we build off of this."
While there were the expected first-day mistakes, including several offensive turnovers, Fitzgerald was encouraged by the team's overall speed throughout the morning workout.
Gallery: (7-31-2026) Fall Camp Day 1
"If there was one thing that stood out, it was how fast we were able to play on day one," Fitzgerald said. "The ability to play at game speed was a positive."
The Thunderbird defense capitalized on those early mistakes by forcing multiple turnovers, giving the coaching staff an early look at a unit expected to be one of the team's strengths heading into the season.
Although Southern Utah welcomed three new full-time assistant coaches during the offseason, Fitzgerald pointed to the continuity of the rest of the staff as a major advantage entering camp.
"We've got nine of our 12 full-time coaches back, so there's a lot of continuity," Fitzgerald said. "Our new offensive line and running backs coaches showed during spring ball that they're great additions, and Josh Runda has done an outstanding job with our defensive ends both on the field and in recruiting."
As camp continues over the coming weeks, the focus will shift from installing schemes to sharpening execution as the Thunderbirds prepare for their return to one of the nation's premier FCS conferences.
"It's a start," Fitzgerald said. "We'll build off everything we did this morning."
Tickets
Single game and season tickets for the upcoming Southern Utah Football campaign are now available, giving fans the chance to lock in their seats for an exciting new era in Cedar City. With the Thunderbirds' return to the Big Sky, now is the time to secure your spot at Eccles Coliseum and be part of the action all season long. For more information and to purchase, visit tbirdtickets.com.
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