University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Golden Eagles Prep For Cardinals
10/11/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Golden Eagles Prep For Cardinals
Hattiesburg, Miss.` - Southern Miss put in an unusual Thursday, "but-really-this-is-Monday," practice today as the Golden Eagles opened preparations for both school's first-ever Tuesday night game, on Oct. 16, at Louisville. The game will be televised on ESPN2, starting at 7 p.m., CT.
Following last weekend's loss at Memphis, the team worked Monday, took off Tuesday and Wednesday and resumed practice today, and spent considerable time working on "getting tougher," in Head Coach Jeff Bower's words. That process included some late workout goal line scrimmage work that he said was beneficial.
"We haven't been very good in that area, and I felt like we needed some extra work there, and it was good that we did it," he said. "I think we got something out of it. If you're not pleased with how you've been playing and how tough you are, you have to address it and work on it to get better at it."
The Eagles also are four games into what may go into the history books as the most unusual season in Golden Eagle history. Before the season is over, Southern Miss will have gone through a pair of "traditional" off weeks, a couple of off-Saturdays sandwiched around the Louisville game, been forced to rescheduled TCU and Alabama games as a result of the September tragedy in the Northeast, and will have played the earlier-mentioned Tuesday game, a Thursday game and a pair of Friday games.
Bower says that combination has made it hard to establish the routine the coaching staff would like. "We really haven't had a routine," he said. "But, we'll be okay, we'll get used to it, you can't make a big deal of it, we'll get on a routine and our players will get ready to play."
Bower also says the Louisville challenge will be a tough one. "They're pretty much doing the same thing they've done in recent years," Bower said. "They always have an outstanding kicking game, they're really skilled on offense with a lot of weapons there, they've got two really good pass rushers, the safeties are strong and they're good at the linebacker spot. Overall, they have a lot of talent and they're a very physical team."
The Eagles will work each day through Sunday on a normal schedule, hold a brief walk-through Monday, fly charter from Hattiesburg early afternoon, and meet the Cardinals on Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m., CT.
