University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Golden Eagles Getting Closer to Spring Game
4/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 6, 2011
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss football team got one practice closer to its annual spring game this weekend as the squad went through a two and a half hour workout Wednesday afternoon at the Joe P. Park Practice Facility.
The Golden Eagles went through their 12th practice of the spring in anticipation of its 1 p.m. Black and Gold Spring Game at Carlisle-Faulkner Field this Saturday. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth and $15 for adults the day of the game.
The squad finished the workout with a controlled scrimmage which gave coach Larry Fedora and his staff an opportunity to watch some players who might not necessarily get reps during practice.
"We had about a 40-50 play scrimmage at the end," Fedora said. "It was good. We got a lot of young guys in there to see where they are. There were a lot of mistakes made. But, a lot of guys were moving and playing hard. So as long as the effort is there, the learning will come."
Fedora has liked what he has seen on both sides of the ball this spring but has really liked the progress of the defense under first-year defensive coordinator Dan Disch.
"I just see a renewed enthusiasm and excitement from those guys," Fedora said. "It's just change, and that's created a buzz amongst them. It's almost like they get to wipe the slate clean, start over, and get to become what they want to be."
Fedora said that the first team defense is pretty comfortable under the new leadership, but with injuries including rising senior middle linebacker Korey Williams, the younger players have had an opportunity to get in the mix.
"Unfortunately, we have some injuries to Korey and some other guys," Fedora said. "But again, you're taking some younger guys and forcing them into situations with the first team, like (sophomore Alan) Howze, and they're having to step up and get a bunch of good reps, which is going to pay off for us in the fall."
The Golden Eagles return to the practice field Friday afternoon on the Southern Miss campus.
