University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Bower Pleased With First Day In Full Pads
8/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Bower Pleased With First Day In Full Pads
Head Coach Jeff Bower said he was pleased with the first day in full pads.
?I think we had a good day,? Bower said. ?It was certainly better than yesterday. We took a step backwards yesterday. The team came out ready to work today.?
The team concluded the today?s practice with a goal line session, and Bower said he liked what he saw, especially from the defense.
?If you?re going to be a championship team, you have to be good in short yardage situations,? Bower said. ?Our defense was good in the goal line session today. At this time, the defense is always a little ahead of the offense, but it was good competition between the two groups.?
?We got exactly what we wanted in the goal line drills, a lot of enthusiasm and emotion,? Bower added. ?I think enthusiasm precedes effort during practice. If you get enthusiastic, move around and have fun, you?ll practice hard. I hope we will continue to do that. I?ve challenged our leaders and seniors to come to practice and set the tempo.?
Bower said he likes the progression of the offense, and thinks the unit is headed in the right direction.
?They have done well,? Bower said. ?We made some big plays today, and we were close to making big plays a number of times. That will come. It takes a little longer offensively.?
The team has Sunday off, before hitting the practice field for the first two-a-day workout on Monday. Bower added the team will probably scrimmage ?a little bit? on Wednesday afternoon. He also said that Philip Tobias did not practice today because of a rolled ankle, but will return to practice on Monday.
Tonight, 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
The Golden Eagles open the season Sunday, Sept. 4, in a 3 p.m., nationally televised ESPN2 contest, in the annual ?
