University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Golden Eagles' First Practice in Pads
8/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Golden Eagles' First Practice in Pads
Hattiesburg, Miss. - Southern Miss continued its preseason preparation with its first two-a-day practice in pads today at Pride Field, practice field for the University band. The Golden Eagles will practice twice on Tuesday and on Wednesday morning before going through a scrimmage in the afternoon. The afternoon practice/scrimmage is closed to public but open to Eagle Club members. USM will practice twice on Thursday and twice on Friday before scrimmaging on Saturday.
"I hope we are able to practice on our fields tomorrow," Southern Miss Head Football Coach Jeff Bower said. "If we can dodge some rain tonight. We're keeping our fingers crossed. Our fields are too bad right now. I am really appreciative to Steve Moser and the band for letting us practice on their field today. They had band practice originally scheduled for 4 p.m., and moved it back to 5 p.m. We are all very appreciative of that. This is the only field we could get on.
"This morning was not a good practice. We were not pleased at all. Being off a day, our concentration was not good and the effort was questionable. There were some good things but no consistency. It was up and down, and we can't afford to be that way and can't have a bad practice. This afternoon's practice we bounced back and scrimmaged some. I thought we competed well and the effort was good.
"I think the first team offense had a pretty good day. They were a little rusty, and we dropped some balls that we have to catch. Overall, they had a pretty good day.
"We think Joe Henley had a first degree MCL sprain this morning. We were on an inside drill when he got hit, got his cleats caught and turned. We think that all it is. He hasn't been evaluated by our team doctors yet, but Matt (Smith) thinks that it is a first degree MCL. There is no swelling right now. The first 24 hours you have to wait and see. If it is a sprain, he will probably only be out four to five days. Also, Tim Blackwell and Derrick Ducksworth missed practice today to attend a funeral in Mize, Miss."
