Quarterback Adam Foren throws a pass during Saturday's scrimmage at Ray & Sue Smith Stadium.

The 2013 Hope College football team resumes preparations for its Sept. 7 season opener at North Park (Ill.) today.

The Flying Dutchmen want to carry the same enthusiasm and teamwork into practice as school starts as has been displayed since they began their fall workouts, senior co-captain Greg Bird said Saturday.

"I think it is the camaraderie,' said Bird, a defensive end from Byron Center (Byron Center HS). "Everything just flows together. Everyone is together on everything. I don't see any riffs on the team. Everyone is focused on the goal of a winning a championship.'

Bird and his teammates wrapped up the camp portion of fall practice, which included several two-a-day sessions, on Saturday with their annual scrimmage at Ray & Sue Smith Stadium.

Bird called it the best camp he's been a part of during his time with the Flying Dutchmen.

Senior receiver/kick return Vincent Boddy of West Bloomfield (West Bloomfield HS) expressed similar feelings.

"I definitely think we're going to be ready for this year," Boddy said after his team played under the lights at Ray & Sue Smith Stadium. "I've seen guys pushing each other more, everybody's been on time to meetings, we've been able to put in groups of plays at a time. Everyone's been quicker to learn and on the same page more."

Hope coach Dean Kreps called it the best camp he's seen in his 28 years with the Flying Dutchmen.

"They just do everything we ask them to do and they're happy. I don't know if they just feel like we've got a real good chance to do something special or what it is but there's a different feeling that we've had in a while.

"But we still have to do it now. (Wins are) not going to fall from the sky. We have to still go play. Just having a lot of starters back isn't going to guarantee anything. It should bode well for us.'

Click below for local media accounts of the Flying Dutchmen's scrimmage.

Holland Sentinel

MLive

After the Sept. 7 game at North Park, the Flying Dutchmen will have their home opener Sept. 14 against Millikin (Ill.). It is the 48th annual Community Day, a celebration of the long-standing relationship between Holland residents and the faculty, students and staff of Hope College. Click here for more on Community Day.