University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Concludes First Day of Full Team Practice
8/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Southern Miss Concludes First Day of Full Team Practice HATTIESBURG, Miss.
Friday also marked the first time that the team was in full pads. The team spilt into first and second team offensive and defensive units and did some light scrimmaging.
Head Football Coach Jeff Bower said he was pleased with the first full team practice.
"I thought it went well," Bower said. "The defense did a good job of forcing some turnovers. I continue to be impressed with the way our running backs have looked. We didn?t run as well during our running drills, but overall, our assignments have been better."
After Thursday?s practice, Bower said he expected the new players to have some wide eyes, but thought the newcomers did well.
"I think they competed," Bower said. "That?s what you want to see. Our upperclassmen were looking forward to them being on the field because they want to help them out. They?ve really taken an interest in the newcomers."
Bower said that redshirt junior running back Anthony Harris slightly injured his hamstring during the early morning period and was limited the remainder of practice.
The first two-a-day practice will be Saturday. Afterwards, the team will attend the Hattiesburg Golden Eagle Fanfare at the Payne Center, which is set for 6:30 p.m.
Southern Miss opens its season Sept. 11, at Nebraska, in a nationally televised ABC game set for 11 a.m., before opening its home schedule the following Thursday, Sept. 16, against California in a 6:30 p.m., ESPN contest.
