UPDATED: Thomas University football lost its home opener 62-3 to Erskine as turnovers and special teams mistakes plagued the Night Hawks.WATCH FULL REPORT BELOW: Thomas University football drops home opener to Erskine, 62-3A new coach, more than 100 new players and a new era of Thomas University football got underway Saturday night but the Night Hawks still have plenty of building left to do.Erskine struck early, with Aidan Canzater finding the end zone to put the Flying Fleet up 7-0. From there, it turned into a defensive battle, with that score holding through the end of the first quarter.Thomas eventually got on the board with a field goal, but mistakes quickly piled up. Two muffed punts by the Night Hawks led to two Erskine scores, helping turn a close game early into a 35-3 Erskine lead at halftime.The second half brought more of the same. Turnovers continued to hurt the Night Hawks while Erskine continued to put points on the board, keeping control of the game and winning 62-3.For head coach Dan Pippin and a roster featuring more than 100 new players, Saturday night showed just how much work remains in building the program."You know, we've gotta continue to progress; that's it. We just gotta get better, and the times in the past where I've had teams, you know, come in and turn teams around. It just took a little time you know, we'll keep our head up well keep our head down, and keep grinding; that's what we gotta keep doing and I don't mean like put your head down and feel sorry for yourself or worry about it like that. Tomorrow's a new day, and you know I just gotta do better," Pippin said.The Night Hawks will look to turn the page with Campbellsville University coming to town next Saturday, Sept. 19.EARLIER:Thomas University football hosts Erskine College on Saturday Night as new Head Coach Dan Pippin debuts a rebuilt Night Hawks roster to the home crowd.WATCH FULL REPORT BELOW: Thomas University football home opener marks the start of a new era for the Night HawksThomas University football is preparing for its home opener Saturday night against Erskine College, and for a program that went 0-11 last season, the game represents more than just a new year it marks the start of a new era.Dan Pippin takes over a program he already knows. He served as Thomas' offensive coordinator last season before being elevated to head coach. After an 0-11 finish, few familiar faces remain on the roster. Pippin and his staff brought in more than 100 new players and coaches, giving the program something close to a blank slate."You can stay in South Georgia and North Florida and have an unbelievable football team. And that's kind of that's what our plan is going to be from here on out, is to recruit our area, not lose guys from our area to other places. This is a good school. Our campus got much, much nicer. I think we're going to have a great football program. It's going to take a little bit of time, like anything good does. But this is going to be, I think, a special place," Pippin said.The changes go beyond personnel. For the first time, Thomas football is bringing in scholarship athletes, and the program is no longer limited to students participating in its military transition program. That has opened up a significantly different recruiting pool for Pippin and his staff.The Night Hawks have already played once this season, but Saturday night is their first chance to show the home crowd what this rebuilt program looks like."You know, it's a culmination of a lot of people working really hard. And a lot of them aren't even on you know, they're not football staff. It's just a lot of people. So it's a big game. And it's, like, I think it's more of a celebration than a game, really, for everybody just because of all the work that's gone into it," Pippin said.Thomas University hosts Erskine College Saturday night in Thomasville.This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.Want to see more local news? Visit the WTXL ABC 27 Website.Stay in touch with us anywhere, anytime.Like us on FacebookFollow us on Instagram and X. ...read more read less