University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Golden Eagles Open Week Two Of Spring Practice
3/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Golden Eagles Open Week Two Of Spring Practice
Hattiesburg, Miss. - The Southern Miss football team opened week two of spring workouts with an effort that left Head Coach Jeff Bower decidedly unhappy.
"I thought we were sluggish today," he said. "I'm not sure that everyone came out ready to practice. We had to repeat a period because it just wasn't good enough. We're just not going to tolerate that kind of effort. We have to pick up our effort every day of practice. That's the only way we can get done what we need to during spring workouts."
Coaches also had time to take a look at the tape from a weekend scrimmage and Bower says that the results were mixed. "I thought the quarterbacks did some good things during the scrimmage," he said. "We made some big plays, but we also threw two interceptions that resulted in touchdowns, and that had to be the big negative of the workout. Offensively, we turned the ball over too much. I don't care how many big plays you have, you just can't turn it over that much."
Bower has something of a new role for him this season, and says thus far it has been good for him. "I'm not coaching a position this year, and, as a result, I'm not nearly as 'hands on' as I have been in the past," he said. "I've enjoyed it though, because I've been able to go around and evaluate different personnel. There are certain guys you want to take a look at every day, and doing it this way has allowed me to do a better job of that."
Eagle coaches also are taking a different approach to working with the special teams this season. Each different phase of the special teams has a "head coach" and new phases of special teams play are being added as spring work continues. "So far, we've worked in punt and punt block and return teams," Bower said. "Latrell Pollard is heading up the punt team and Jay Hopson the punt block and return team. We've alternated practices working on those phases, and things are going good in those areas.
"The coaches will take a lot of pride in those responsibilities, and we've got to make improvement in the special teams. We've talked as a staff that, to have a better football team and have a chance to win a championship, we have to improve in that area."
The Eagles will take off Thursday, and then work Friday (3:30 p.m.), Saturday (1:30 p.m.) and Sunday (2:30 p.m.). The annual Black & Gold Spring Game is scheduled for 1 p.m., April 12.
