CONWAY, Ark. _  The Bears are back!

The University of Central Arkansas Bears reported to Estes Stadium on Wednesday and will open Fall Camp at 9 a.m. Thursday.

The Bears, picked to win the United Athletic Conference (UAC) in the preseason coaches' poll, are a month out from their season opener at FBS Arkansas State. The Bears and Red Wolves will renew their in-state rivalry on Saturday, August 31 at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

"For coaches and players, when August hits, your blood starts flowing," said seventh-year head coach Nathan Brown. "And I think with this team being an older, veteran group that's been through a couple of seasons, they are excited. They are excited about the work we put in during the offseason, spring ball and the summer. 

"And we're advanced. Day 1 of install will look a lot different with this team because we're further along than we've been with some teams here in the past. And that's exciting to me. Look, anytime you can get out there on the grass and put the helmet on for the first time of the season, it's exciting."

The Bears return several key players on both sides of the football, including a league-best six preseason All-UAC selections. On the offensive side, UCA returns a unanimous pick in senior quarterback Will McElvain (Des Moines, Iowa), who has passed for more than 9,000 yards in his playing career at Northern Iowa and UCA. 

McElvain was joined on the All-UAC team by senior running back ShunDerrick Powell (Hoxie, Ark.), a preseason All-America selection and a member of the Walter Payton Award watch list. Junior offensive lineman Will Diggins (Bryant, Ark.) was also on the All-UAC preseason team.

The preseason honorees on the defensive side were a pair of All-Americans in defensive end/linebacker David Walker (Stuttgart, Ark.) and safety TaMuarion Wilson (Bryant, Ark.), along with the Bears' top returning tackler in senior linebacker Demetrias Charles (Texarkana, Ark.).

"We know this season comes with expectations," said Brown, who led the Bears to a 7-4 record in 2023. "But I think our guys are excited about that. They are looking forward to the opportunity to meet the challenge, and that's the part that I like."

The Bears will have 25 practices, including three scrimmages (Aug. 10, 17, 21) during preparation for the season opener. 

"I want to have a clean practice," said Brown. "I want to practice the right way. I definitely don't think we're going to have to coach effort with this group. I think we'll have to coach attention to detail, some of the things that some times come up early in fall camp.

"I want to see some of the positions that may have some question marks, see guys start stepping up. The first week of camp, and Day 1, is a chance for some guys that you think you will be able to count on to show you that you can. The wide receiver room, what names are going to step up there. I think there are a couple of linebacker spots that are up for competition. Who's going to win the punting job.

"There are just some things early on in camp that will obviously work themselves out as the month of August goes on leading up to the first game, but I think every practice is important for these guys competing for starting jobs and for playing time. And it starts on Day 1."

Brown said the veteran leadership will be key early for the Bears.

"I think because we are a veteran group, a lot of those new guys _ not necessarily young guys _ but new guys to the program, should have great examples to look at. Watch the way David Walker and TaMuarion Wilson and Demetrias Charles and T.D. Williams work. Watch those two running backs, Darius Hale and ShunDerrick Powell, and Will McElvain at quarterback. He's going to set the tone and tempo every day at quarterback.

"So there are certain guys at a number of positions that you can watch and see how it's done, and imitate that. Whether they're at your position or not, that's what it's supposed to look like."

The Bears will get no breaks from the August temperatures for the opening of camp, unlike the relatively mild July they just experienced.

"Navigating the heat, that will be highly important," said Brown. "Looking at the weather over the next week or two, it looks like it's going to be typical August temperatures. I tell guys all the time, it's August in Arkansas, it's going to be hot. It's hot everywhere in the South.  I promise you it's hot in Jonesboro as well.

"So we have to put a premium on hydration, put a premium on the pounding. We don't want to pound them down and force them to miss days if they are sore or injured or worn out because of the heat. Some of it will be us as coaches being vigilant about it, and some of it will also be our guys taking care of their bodies. Sleep and rest are important, along with just making sure you're putting the right nutrition and hydration into your bodies.

"(Athletic trainer) David Strickland and (strength and conditioning coach) Alex Fotioo do an outstanding job educating our student-athletes in that area. I think we'll be fine. We're practicing mostly in the morning, especially this first stretch of fall camp. That doesn't mean it's not hot, but we are avoiding the heat of the day for the first couple of weeks. Hey, half the battle is getting your horses to the race, so we want to make sure we take care of our guys."  

UCA's first two games of the season will be on the road, with the Bears also playing at Lindenwood in St. Charles, Mo., on Sept. 7. The first home game of the season will be the UAC opener against Austin Peay on Sept. 14 on "The Stripes." 

PRACTICE SCHEDULE:
Thursday, Aug. 1 - 9 a.m.
Friday, Aug. 2 - 9 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 3 - 9 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 4 - 3:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 5 - 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 6 - 9 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 7 - Photo Day
Thursday, Aug. 8 - 9 a.m.
Friday, Aug. 9 - 9 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 10 - 1/2 Scrimmage - 9 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 11 - 3:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 12 - 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 13 - 9 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 14 - OFF
Thursday, Aug. 15 - 9 a.m.
Friday, Aug. 16 - 9 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 17 - Scrimmage - 9 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 18 - 3:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 19 - 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 20 - 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 19 - Scrimmage - 6 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 20 - Classes start