University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Preseason Wraps Up Day Four, Bower Wants Better Effort
8/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Preseason Wraps Up Day Four, Bower Wants Better Effort HATTIESBURG, Miss.
The Golden Eagles practiced for the fourth-day in a row with a two-plus hour session Friday at the Joe P. Park Practice Field, but the performance and effort dropped off some from the first few days of work.
"(The practice) didn't go as well as it needs to go," Bower said. "I think our effort wasn't like it had been the previous practices. It wasn't good enough, and we hope to pick that up tomorrow."
While hitting the first-week wall could be something that happens every preseason, Bower doesn't want that to be an excuse.
"You can't let that happen," Bower said. "You have to push through it. We talk all the time that you play Saturdays the way you practice during the week."
Southern Miss will have a chance to show the improved effort when the team dons full pads for the first time on Saturday's practice, set for 9 a.m. The team will then take Sunday off before opening two-a-day workouts on Monday.
Bower said that James Nelson has been declared academically ineligible, and incoming freshman Octavious Everett, who had not practiced because of NCAA clearinghouse issues, is expected to join the team in the coming days.
The full team will attend Hattiesburg Fan Fare in the Payne Center at 6:30 p.m., on Saturday. Dinner and silent auction will be held from 6-7 p.m., with a special program beginning at 7 p.m.
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 Pat Ferlise Center at (601) 266-5418 or the Ogletree Alumni House at (601) 266-5013. Each ticket purchased will qualify the ticket holder for a tailgating package drawing courtesy of Campus Book Mart, one of the event?s sponsors. Other sponsors include the Hattiesburg American, Taylor Rental and Rock104.
The Golden Eagles open the season Sunday, Sept. 4, in a 3 p.m., nationally televised ESPN2 contest, in the annual "Battle for the Bell" against Tulane.
