University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
2002 Golden Eagle Football Season is Underway
8/3/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
2002 Golden Eagle Football Season is Underway
Hattiesburg, Miss. - Southern Miss officially kicked off the 2002 football season today when 19 freshman players reported to the Golden Eagle preseason training camp.
First-year players checked in from 12:30-3 p.m, drew equipment and settled into Vann Hall dorm rooms before starting a full day of activities Sunday. That Sunday schedule includes physicals, a variety of meetings and academic orientation before practice starts the following day.
After some time off during the summer, the first day of fall practice is a big one for the coaching staff. "We really feel that this is a quality recruiting class," said Head Coach Jeff Bower. "The coaches are excited about getting starting and having the opportunity to work with them."
Bower says the first three days devoted solely to first-year players are important ones to the incoming players. "It's primarily an orientation process where you try to teach them your practice routine and as much of your scheme as you can," he said. "There's also a lot to be done in the academic area.
"But we'll also try to teach them as much as we can about our program and what we do from a scheme standpoint, but also to learn as much as we can about them and try to factor in where they are going to play for us."
Bower says the incoming group should be an athletic one. "It's really hard to evaluate a recruiting class until a couple of years down the road," he said. "But we do feel strongly that we'll have an athletic group. To compare them to other recruiting classes, that'll have to wait awhile."
Bower, who is beginning his 25th year of association with the Golden Eagle program, says it's an exciting time for him and the staff. "The staff and I still get excited this time of the year," he said. "This is what it's all about, to prepare and get ready to play and to compete for a conference championship."
The players and coaches also are scheduled to attend Fanfare at Green Coliseum Saturday night where they will meet Golden Eagle fans for the first time. Following Sunday's activities, the coaching staff will work with the freshmen at 8:30 a.m., and 4 p.m., Monday, and at 8:15 a.m., and 3:30 p.m., Tuesday. Varsity players will report from 1-4 p.m., Tuesday, and Wednesday will be devoted to running and strength physicals and full squad two-a-day practices start Thursday.
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.
