Preparations Start for Papajohns.com Bowl with Tuesday Practice
12/4/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 4, 2007
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss football team practiced for the first time in preparation for its Dec. 22 Papajohns.com Bowl meeting with No. 20 Cincinnati with a one hour, 45 minute practice Tuesday afternoon at the Joe P. Park Practice Facility.
"It was good," Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower said of the team's workout. "We just went out and did some things. We put more emphasis on fundamentals, so that we will be refreshed on the little things."
Senior Chris Johnson, who fractured his right arm at Marshall on Oct. 21, returned to practice for the first time.
"He will play," Bower added. "He has been working out and he did everything today except get hit. He ran good routes and he caught the ball well. He looks like he is in pretty good shape, I know he has been working hard on his conditioning. We probably will not let him get hit any in practice."
Bower also announced the team's permanent captains for the 2007 season following practice. The captains included seniors Chris Clark (left guard, New Orleans, La.), Jeremy Young (quarterback, Jackson, Miss.) and Brandon Sumrall (defensive back, Beaumont, Miss.) along with sophomore Gerald McRath (Powder Springs, Ga.). It was the second-straight year for Sumrall to earn this honor.
"It was voted on by their peers, so it is a big honor," Bower added.
The game is slated for 12 noon at Legion Field in Birmingham. For tickets, please call the Southern Miss Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or go online at SouthernMiss.com.