Football Continues Practice For Wyndham New Orleans Bowl
12/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Football Continues Practice For Wyndham New Orleans Bowl
The Southern Miss football team continued preparations for the Wyndham New Orleans Bowl today, with a two-hour practice at Tulane?s on-campus practice facility.
The team practiced Friday afternoon at M.M. Roberts Stadium, before traveling to
Southern Miss Head Football Coach Jeff Bower said the team needs a good week of preparation to get ready to play a good
?We?re playing a good football team that knows how to win,? Bower said. ?They?ve won four-straight Sun Belt Conference Championships and four-straight games. They certainly have won and know how to win. They?re really good at running the football. Not only do we have to prepare for that, but they are also good at running play action. We will have to play well with our eyes.?
Bower said the playing in a bowl game is an important achievement for the players, along with all the perks they receive from earning the bowl berth.
?This bowl game is a big deal for these players,? said Bower. ?We?re playing for a lot of reasons. One for a winning season, two to send the seniors out with a win, three to spring board the program into the offseason with a win, and most important, because we are playing against a good team.
?Everyone wants to go to a bowl,? Bower said. ?Just to have a chance to play another game and enjoy the bowl-week festivities. They like the bowl gifts and the extra clothes.?
The Wyndham New Orleans Bowl will be played during exam week for the Southern Miss players. Bower said that the players will participate in study halls on Saturday and Sunday, and some exams will be administered while the team is in
Bower added that senior linebacker Dillon Cleckler is ?extremely doubtful? for the bowl game. Senior tight-end Otho Graves and sophomore defensive Matthew Chatelain are ?probable?, but are day-to-day, depending on how they improve.
Southern Miss (6-5) will close out its 2004 season in the Wyndham New Orleans Bowl, facing the
Tickets are $40 for premium reserved seats and $20 for students. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-TICK or 601 266-5418 or visiting SouthernMiss.com.