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Golden Eagles Return to Practice Field Monday Morning

Aug. 20, 2012

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HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss football team returned to the practice fields Monday morning after going through its second full scrimmage of the year on Saturday.

The Golden Eagles went through a 2 hour, 30 minute practice in shoulder pads and shorts in Carlisle-Faulkner Field at Roberts Stadium as they continue to prepare for their Sept. 1, season opener at Nebraska.

First-year coach Ellis Johnson continues to like his team's progress, but work still needs to be done on both sides of the football.

"We just have been getting better and better in doing what we have been doing," said Johnson. "The only concerns I have right now is operationally getting (the play) in, getting it called, getting it checked and it is not the tempo I really want offensively yet. On defense, we did not tackle live today but our tackling is still not good, especially on the perimeter. "

The Golden Eagles also got a chance to work extensively on special teams during the Monday morning workout and, after making some personnel decisions prior to the scrimmage, feels that all of his special units are doing well.

"We have had a chance now to see (all of) our players and sort of know who the travel squad is - who the 66 will be that will get on the plane every week," said Johnson. "You want to make sure even in a home game that you are not counting on players outside that 66 because if you start flipping them back and forth then from a home and an away game, you get all kinds of inconsistencies."

The Golden Eagles return to the practice fields Tuesday for its final morning workout before making the transition to afternoon with the start of fall classes the same day.

Fans can purchase their football tickets either online at SouthernMissTickets.com, by calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or visiting the Pat Ferlise Ticket Center from 8 a.m., until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.