University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Football Practice Report: Sept. 27
9/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Venue: Joe P. Park Practice Facility
Format: Full Pads
Upcoming: Wednesday (3:10 p.m.)
Report: The Southern Miss football team hit the practice fields Tuesday afternoon looking to win its fourth game of the season when they entertain Rice at Carlisle-Faulkner Field at M.M. Roberts Stadium. The Golden Eagles look to start the C-USA season 2-0 for the first time since 2004 when they meet the Owls for the seventh time in their history this weekend. Rice leads the overall series, but Southern Miss won last year's meeting in Houston 65-10. The game also features a reunion of the 1996 Southern Miss football team which won the C-USA title in the league's inaugural season.
Coach Jay Hopson
On the upcoming reunion:
"It's great to have the first C-USA championship team back is certainly a special day. Some of those guys are around a lot anyway that we see every day. It's great to have a lot of former Golden Eagles back on campus. We love to have those guys around our current players because it's a great influence."
On shaking up pre-game routine to take part in it:
"Well I don't think so. Football is football. We certainly want them all along the sideline and all around the building and just know we always want our former Golden Eagles to know they are always welcome back here at every game at the Rock. It's a fun day, fun weekend for the '96 team."
On if whether UTEP was a statement win:
"It's a new week, it's a new game, it's a new team and that one doesn't matter now. We just know we have a tough opponent coming in and we have to be ready to play."
On getting Tez an increased workload:
"He got a little bit more last week. Again, that's another great position that we have a battle going. We have Ito, George and Tez. Again, I think the world of him. He's going to be a great football player here. His time is coming and he's getting better and better, healthier and healthier and he's right at about being at 100 percent."
PK Parker Shaunfield, RSo.
On progression this season:
"It really started out in the summer, because we come out here after workouts and come kick three to four times a week and sometimes even five with a snapper and holder and working with the consistency of it. The confidence of it is really a huge mental thing. Working that much in the summer has gotten me to where I am now."
On last season being a mental situation:
"Last year was a little bit mental and just a little bit uncomfortable in the situations. I didn't feel very confident back there before I approached the kick. A lot of that motivated me to get better in the offseason to get me to where I am now."
On starting the season strong kicking:
"A lot of it now is having the confidence back there after I've made a few kicks after the Kentucky game. Just really staying on the same track and doing the same thing I'm doing day in and day out, focusing on technique and just making sure I'm hitting the ball the same way every time."
Tickets: Seats for this Saturday's game against the Owls 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 Pat Ferlise Ticket Office will also be open this Saturday from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., and will then reopen at the Roberts Stadium Box Office at 3 p.m., until halftime of the game.
