DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – Dan Campbell was energetic and excited for his team as they took to Ford Field for an indoor practice session dedicated to the Lions Loyal Members . It was the first time that the rookies would be inside with fans watching this season as a little over 18,000 fans were in attendance.

“This is exciting. I know they had a lot of RSVPs and we are going to have a pretty good turnout. I have said from day one that I want to give these fans something to be proud of. It’s been long enough and we have to hang in there and model this thing from what our city is about to be competitive and now we have to find a way to win,” said head coach Dan Campbell. “I feel like there is hope and buy-in and that’s all you can ask for where we are at right now.”

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The Lions had their sixth practice of the year and second for the Lions Loyal Members only at 8:30 a.m. The team ran practice like it was a game battling it out. DJ Chark posted an impressive catch to fire up the fans during the practice as Jared Goff continued to connect with his new receivers.

“This will be good for them (the rookies) so this won’t be the first time they see fans when we play Atlanta and they won’t be looking around and know how to stretch, where to go, as this is to get them acclimated.”

It was the first time for the rookies to play indoors at Ford Field in front of fans. Sixth round draft pick James Houston says, “I can clearly see that the fans are going to come out and support. They are going to have our best interest and love us to the end. It’s a great city I am in and a great organization and I can’t wait to be here for the next four years.”

Houston’s first time at Ford Field will be unforgettable as he says, “The atmosphere was great. The fans showed out. They were lively and intense. They were great. The field is beautiful and you look up and you see all the old Hall of Famers. It’s a blessing to be a part of it.

The preseason practices continue to bring out the fans as each date brings more excitement to the team and what is being built.

“Last year we didn’t get the wins that we wanted but the last three home games we had there was a good vibe and a good feel. We could feel it as players and coaches. I would say they (the fans) picked up right where they left off. That’s not easy to do. You are sitting there at the end of the year and you have no wins, and then one and two and three and that’s a credit to our fans. They hung in there and they have hope,” said Campbell. “GRIT is who we are. This is what we embody and what we are about and this is what I said we would do from day one. This is what I told the coaches as this is the vision of who we are. The players know this is our vision. This is our foundation and where everything starts and we branch from there.”

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Campbell gave a passionate speech to the crowd at the end of practice after seeing the amount of support early in the morning for the team. He ended the on-field speech by saying, “We are freaking starving. We are starving. So the hyenas better get out of the way!”

Detroit has their first preseason game on Friday, August 12, at 6:00 p.m. vs. Atlanta on the NFL Network hosted at Ford Field.