University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Golden Eagles Continue Short-Week Prep for UAB
9/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 28, 2009
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Typically during the regular season, Monday serves as an off day for the Southern Miss football team.
Not this week.
The Golden Eagles went through a two-hour practice here this afternoon and it was a little different for coach Larry Fedora and his team as they have a short week to prepare for a Thursday night showdown with Conference USA rival UAB in Birmingham. Game time is set for 7 p.m., and can be seen on CBS College Sports (Channel 735 on Comcast Digital Cable) or heard on the Southern Miss ISP Sports Network.
"It is weird, obviously, as we had guys who had classes (and left practice early) and had to get there but that is part of being a student-athlete," Fedora said. "You get some of these odd games in the middle of the week like this and it makes it tough on everyone, especially the kids because it is such a short turn around for them."
With the short work week, preparation time becomes condensed.
"What effects things most is it being a short week, there is only so many things you can do and so many reps you can get," Fedora said.
Southern Miss also has several players who have health concerns going into the UAB contest, including running backs Damion Fletcher and Tory Harrison, as well as receivers DeAndre Brown and Johdrick Morris.
"We will go look at the film tonight and see what they did and how they moved around," Fedora said. "It will be big with me to talk with them sometime during the day - each one individually - and have them tell where me where they are. They all have experience and understand what it is going to take on Thursday night as they all know their bodies. I will get a real good feeling from them as they are the ones that will know better than anyone."
Even though the team will go through a strange week, The Golden Eagle Hotline with Larry Fedora will take place at its normal time from 7-8 p.m., Tuesday night from the Alumni House. The show can be heard on the Southern Miss ISP Sports Network and fans can ask Coach Fedora a question. The call-in number for the show is 1-866-477-7080.
