HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University football team officially opened fall camp with a split-squad practice Tuesday morning at Strawberry Stadium.
 
The Lions opened fall camp with a split-squad practice and will continue holding split-squad practices through Friday.
 
"I thought the first group came out with great energy, which is what we want to see on the first day," Southeastern head coach Frank Scelfo said. "The heat got to our second group a little bit, but that's something we'll be better acclimated to moving forward."
 
In addition to the 100-plus current student-athletes who participated in Tuesday's first practice, the Strawberry Stadium gridiron featured a familiar face with the return of former quarterback Cole Kelley.
 
The 2020 Walter Payton Award winner and 2021 Southland Conference Player of the Year joins Scelfo's coaching staff as an analyst working with the team's secondary.
 
Southeastern, which returns to the practice field Wednesday at 9 a.m., will open the 2026 season at home, hosting HCU at 6 p.m. Aug. 27 in Strawberry Stadium.
 
2026 Southeastern Football Key Preseason Dates
July 29 – One Stop, One Roar | 6 p.m. | Gnarly Barley
Aug. 15 – Season Ticket Pickup Party | 9 a.m.
Aug. 18 – Strawberry Jam | 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 19 – First day of classes
Aug. 22 – Lionpawlooza | 5 p.m. | Railroad Park
Aug. 25 – Debut episode of Inside Southeastern Football with Frank Scelfo | 7 p.m. | Brady's
 
TICKETS
For ticket information, contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net. Southeastern will continue offering mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets. All tickets will be available via e-mail or text message in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Football, follow @LionUpFootball and @Coach_Scelfo on X, like /LionUpAthletics on Facebook and follow @lionupfootball on Instagram.
 
TOUCHDOWN CLUB/S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the football program are encouraged to join the Touchdown Club. Lion football alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Touchdown Club and S Club (football) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern football program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics observes a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.