University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Bower Pleased With First Full Team Practice
11/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | General
Bower Pleased With First Full Team Practice
HATTIESBURG, Miss.? The Southern Miss football team practiced for the first time today as a full unit, as preparations for the 2005 season began with a two-hour practice at the Joe P. Park practice facility.
Head Coach Jeff Bower said he was pleased with the first full practice.
?Everything went well today and the enthusiasm was good,? Bower said. ?The team worked hard, gave good effort and the attitude was good. We got a lot done for the first day.?
Bower said the team worked in the kicking game, goal line situations and individual and team work.
?It was a hard practice,? Bower said. ?It was good to work in the heat. We can?t get enough of that. Our first game against Tulane at 3 p.m., will be hot. I?m glad we got the heat today. It was the hottest day we?ve had so far.?
Bower added that 104 players practiced today, one short of the 105 total. Bower added that he is still waiting for word on the status of James Nelson (academics). Bower also commented about the performance of linebacker Marcus Raines so far.
?He?s done well and he is explosive and athletic," Bower said. I?m sure the humidity has been a little different for him. He is everything we expected.
?He?s an outstanding athlete and a great kid. I think he?ll be typical of so many guys we?ve had in this program, and he will represent this program in a first-class way. That?s what we expect of him. Enough has been said about his past. He?s here and is looking forward to being a Golden Eagle. We just want to talk about his future. I know I did not make a mistake him.?
The team will continue practice every day this week at 9 a.m., with the first full day in pads on Saturday, with the first two-a-day practice on Monday.
The full team will attend Hattiesburg Fan Fare in the
Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door for adults; $8 in advance and $10 at the door for children 5-12; and free for children under five. Tickets can be purchased from the
Southern Miss finished 7-5 in 2004, including a 5-3 mark in Conference
The team opens its season Sunday, Sept. 4, in a 3 p.m., nationally televised ESPN2 contest, in the annual ?
