University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Varsity, Newcomers Progressing Nicely
8/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Varsity, Newcomers Progressing Nicely
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss Head Coach Jeff Bower expected that the varsity and first-year players would progress well through the first three days of practice, and he hasn't been disappointed.
The newcomers went through their third morning practice and the varsity went again in the afternoon -- however Wednesday's sessions were the first in shoulder pads for both groups.
"We had the newcomers in positions today, and that was good," Bower said. "Of course, we had the shoulder pads on today, so we were able to do some more drill work and that type of thing to give the players an idea of what it is going to be like when we all come together."
Bower continues to be pleased with the work of the first-year players through the three morning sessions.
"The newcomers have done everything we have asked them to do," Bower said. "They have been real attentive, and they have learned and picked up quickly. Again, I think we have a real good group. There are a lot of guys out there who have some talent, and a handful of them have a chance to help the team this year."
Bower also saw hard work coming out of the varsity squad, which ended the practice with a good team period.
"It was our first day in pads, and it was good," Bower said. "We have to get into doing a little bit of banging and get a little more competition. They worked hard and we finished strong."
The new NCAA regulations regarding preseason practices has allowed the program to have more conditioning days, and that has been a benefit for the varsity players.
"We are in pretty good shape, but we are not where we need to be yet," Bower said. "That is why you have the preseason. We have done some conditioning work this week, and we haven't done that (in recent years). We feel like we have to, and it helps that we are practicing separately (from the newcomers) because the guys are getting more reps."
Wednesday's varsity practice also had a new face, as freshman quarterback Jeremy Young worked with the veterans. Bower said that signee Damien Carter will work in with the varsity on Thursday.
