Southern Miss preps for opener

Published 10:47 pm Wednesday, August 22, 2018

HATTIESBURG — The Southern Miss defense produced a solid performance in last Saturday’s full scrimmage and drew most of the conversation from that outing.

Since that time, their counterparts on offense have worked to answer that strong showing, including a 2 1/2 hour practice Wednesday morning at the Joe P. Park Practice Facility, which was the team’s 17th session of fall camp.

Following today’s practice, third-year coach Jay Hopson said that he has seen the offense getting better each but that they need to keep working to improve in every practice.

“Today was a pretty good battle (between the offense and defense),” said Hopson. “I saw some good things on both sides. We are still here in training, but I see us getting better. We just have to continue that progress.”

With school starting a week later than it has normally done over the last few years, the Golden Eagles will get a little longer to concentrate on just football before the semester starts Aug. 29. While Southern Miss gets more days with studying football only, the number of practice days reduced, The NCAA passed a new rule that limits the number of practice days in the preseason from 29 to 25.

For Hopson, that has changed the approach a little bit during fall camp.

“As coaches you get into a rhythm and a routine that you do every year,” said Hopson. “So when you lose four practices you have to make it up in an expedited way. There is a difference in the way you schedule your practices.”

The Golden Eagles continue to get ready for their season opener at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, against Jackson State at Carlisle-Faulkner Field at M.M. Roberts Stadium.