University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Eagles Wrap Up Off-Week Work
9/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Eagles Wrap Up Off-Week Work
Hattiesburg, Miss. - The University of Southern Mississippi football team used a Saturday morning practice to end off-week work, will now take Sunday off and then open preparations on Monday for the Sept. 15 Alabama game, played in Birmingham, Ala.
The Eagles had to work around rain and thunderstorms for much of the off week but did get in Friday and Saturday sessions without weather problems, and Head Coach Jeff Bower says the team got a lot accomplished, especially late in the week when some much-needed heat arrived. "We practiced hard the last three days," he said. "We got in a lot of practice in the heat, and we really needed to do that. We needed to get more conditioned to that. I do think we got a lot done; we had three good, physical practices."
Bower says that while the off week allowed some players with injuries to get better, the wet fields also led to other injuries. "Woody (RB Dawayne Woods, Slidell, La.) got hurt today, had a first degree sprain in his knee and Stuart Floyd (TE, Birmingham, Ala.) got a high ankle sprain," Bower said. "We slide around on that field and that sometimes results in injuries, but we have to keep practicing that way to get better."
Bower also expects a "typical" Alabama team when the Golden Eagles visit Birmingham, for a 4:45 p.m., CT, ESPN2 game Sept. 15. "They're very talented," he said. "They're playing much better than they played at any point last year, playing with enthusiasm. They always have great talent and this year is no different. We'll learn a little more about them after their game this week with Vandy."
The Golden Eagles return to the practice field Monday afternoon, and are scheduled to travel by charter bus to Birmingham late Friday morning, and work out at Legion Field Friday afternoon.
