University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Eagles Head Into Wednesday Scrimmage
8/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Eagles Head Into Wednesday Scrimmage
Hattiesburg, Miss. - Southern Miss' Monday afternoon practice included an hour-long delay after a midafternoon thunderstorm, accompanied by close lightning strikes, forced the team inside and resulted in changes in the second workout of the day.
The squad also was in full pads for the afternoon practice for the first time since preseason practice started.
"I thought we adjusted well following the delay and got as much out of the afternoon as we possibly could," said Head Coach Jeff Bower. "We didn't get everything in that we had on the schedule. We had some situation work planned, and we did get some of it in, just not all of it. We were going to scrimmage the young guys some, but didn't do that either.
"We had a live short-yardage period on the original schedule, but it was wet enough when we came back out that we decided to keep everybody on their feet. I think we still got as much out of the practice as we could, and we had a solid morning practice as well."
Injuries continue to not be a problem for the Golden Eagles with only running back Ryan Earnest (5-9, 175, Laurel, Miss.) and wide receiver Pedi Causey (6-3, 205, Franklinton, La.) missing Monday practices with minor injuries.
This week's final week of two-a-day workouts will include a somewhat different schedule. The Eagles will work twice again tomorrow with one of those set for 7:30 p.m., in Roberts Stadium as the coaching staff gets the team "under the lights" for the first time. According to Bower it'll also be a routine breaker for the squad. Wednesday's single workout is set for 1 p.m., and will include the first major scrimmage of the fall.
The team then will work twice Thursday and Friday and scrimmage again at 11 a.m., Saturday, following a morning rules clinic with C-USA game officials meeting with players and coaches.
Classes start Aug. 19, and the Golden Eagles open the 2002 season Aug. 31, at home, against Jackson State. Southern Miss follows that with two more home games, against Illinois, Sept. 7, and Memphis, Sept. 14, before hitting the road for the first time, Sept. 21 at Alabama.
