University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Football Practice Report: August 23
8/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Venue: Joe P. Park Practice Facility
Format: Full Pads
Upcoming: 3:15 pm (Wednesday, Aug. 24)
Report: The Southern Miss football team finished fall camp Tuesday morning with the start of fall class beginning at the university on Wednesday. The Golden Eagles, which canceled their final two-a-day practice yesterday and instead went swimming on campus, used their final camp day to do mostly special teams in full pads. The team will transition into its normal season practice routine starting tomorrow.
Head Coach Jay Hopson
On the last day of fall camp…
"We had special teams going today and did a little team stuff. It's basically over and now we're getting into the school routine. First day of classes start tomorrow so just getting the kids ready for all that stuff."
On if Kentucky prep starts tomorrow…
"No, we'll probably wait another day or so. Even though Kentucky's our first game, there is still a season ahead. So we're just making sure we are ready for the long haul and then we'll start our Kentucky prep."
Start next week…
"No, we'll probably start later this week."
On canceling yesterday's afternoon practice and doing mostly special teams today and if he feels pretty good at where the team is at now…
"No it's just part of what we do. Usually I always end it with a special teams deal. It's important. It's just kind of a status quo in the way we do it. It was good."
Senior Nick Mullens, quarterback
On the end of fall camp…
"It's the end of a chapter. You have certain points in your season: winter program, spring, summer and then camp. Camp is when you really start coming together as a team, finding your identity and really start playing together. One thing I was most impressed about with camp was the standard of competition we played at throughout. The team drills were always real battles, offense against defense. We were just creating a high level of competition throughout camp really puts you in game like situations and that's going to be better for all of us."
On if the identity of the team be drastically different from previous years…
"I don't think so I think a lot of people know who the playmakers are but also, the new receivers have stepped up like Isaiah (Jones), Marquise (Ricard), (Tyre'oune) T-Man (Holmes) and Staggs (Allenzae Staggers). We have plenty of depth in all positions and that's one thing that's really positive going in just knowing you have the guys to do it and now it's just the matter of going out, attacking your goals, attacking each day and going out and doing it."
On Having Ricard and Holmes Back…:
"It's awesome, I'm really proud of them. Everybody goes through a tough time in their career but to finally be able to have guys you can really depend on, some high quality teammates that really just want to have success…Marquise talks to me about it every day now and just hearing that from him makes me so happy, so excited. Having teammates like that are going to make plays and be great teammates and work hard for the program is what you want for the program."
Tickets: Season tickets for the 2016 Southern Miss home season can be purchased by going online at SouthernMissTickets.com, or by calling the Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-844-TICK (8425) as well as visiting the Pat Ferlise Ticket Center on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The season opens Saturday, Sept. 3, at Kentucky.
