University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Football Continues Drills Despite Rain
4/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss football team moved practice to the Carlisle-Faulkner Field at M.M. Roberts Stadium, but did not let rainy conditions stop the team from preparing for Saturday's annual Black and Gold Spring game.
"It was actually awesome that we could get out here in the rain," head coach Todd Monken stated after practice. "We have been pretty lucky the last couple of years but before I got here you had the Louisiana Tech game and the Louisville game. You are going to play in rain so it is great for us to be able to get out in it and function in it. We avoided any lightning. I was afraid we were going to have to come off the field, but this is great. It is hard to reproduce a day like today. It is really good to get us out here and function in it."
The team practiced in full pads and went through drills for two and a half hours on Tuesday afternoon in the wet conditions. In his time at the helm of the program, Monken has always preached ball security and Tuesday's rainy conditions gave an added element to practice holding on to the ball.
"I thought the guys did a nice job with ball security today," said Monken. "Today was a big day in terms of foot work and in terms of how you protect the football. Defense has to understand about tackling because it is harder to get guys down and how to get the ball out. A lot of those things were good for today."
Football will have one more practice on Thursday afternoon before a big weekend of events during Eagle Fest 2015.
Saturday will include the Champions Brunch in the Giannini Touchdown Terrace from 10:00 a.m. until noon. The event is $20 per person and is open to Eagle Club members and / or Football season ticket holders. To purchase tickets, please call the Eagle Club at 601-266-5299. There is limited space so tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets include brunch buffet, Football Fan Forum with Golden Eagle greats and opportunity to watch the Spring Game from within the Giannini Touchdown Terrace. The panel includes Bobby Collins, Demar Dotson, Damion Fletcher, Sherrod Gideon and Lee Roberts.
Startin at 11:00 a.m. will be the Future Golden Eagles Football Camp at The Rock. Registration opens at 10:30 a.m. and is FREE for all children ages 4-12. Instruction will be provided by Southern Miss Football players and coaches. All children that participate will receive a voucher for a free ticket to Saturday's baseball game.
At 1:00 p.m., the Southern Miss football team will hold its annual Black and Gold Spring Game at The Rock. Admission to the game is FREE and fans are asked to enter at the west side of the stadium.
Following the game will be the Black and Gold Carnival on Pride Field from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The family-friendly event that will include music, inflatables, the Hattiesburg Zoo, mini clinics featuring Southern Miss Athletic teams, tailgating and much more.
The Golden Eagles open their 2015 season at home on Sept. 5, against in-state foe Mississippi State. Season tickets for the upcoming football season can be purchased by going online at SouthernMissTickets.com, by calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or by visiting the Pat Ferlise Ticket Office, weekdays during normal business hours.
