UTC Football practice No. 16 was Die Hard, True Grit and the
Good, the Bad and the Ugly all rolled into one, two hour practice at Scrappy
Moore Field Tuesday afternoon.
The defense got blown up early on a Jacob Huesman long
touchdown pass, coach Russ Huesman yelled about having pride on defense, true
freshman Penny Smith got his toes down in bounds on a couple of good touchdown
catches (a little push off on the second one, but who’s counting) and a few
punches were thrown as tempers flared late in the day.
Bruce Willis, John Wayne and Clint Eastwood would have
smiled from the sidelines saying in unison “make my day” on sophomore receiver
C.J. Board’s bone jarring, helmet-rattling block on junior defensive back Sema’je
Kendall.
“No doubt that was the play of the day,” said wide receivers
coach Will Healy with a smile.
“There was some tempers showing out there today, but it
means they are tired of hitting each other and getting ready for Central
Michigan.”
But defensive line coach Marcus West was not pleased with
the throwing of punches by linebacker Nakevion Leslie towards a couple of offensive
linemen after one play when both the No.1 offensive and defensive units were
facing off.
“We need controlled energy out there and that (fighting)
doesn’t help us,” said West shaking his head.
Coach Huesman was preaching pride and he didn’t even need a
pulpit.
“Whether it’s one on one, seven on seven or 11 on 11, you have
got to have pride,” he yelled at his defense. “Great defenses have pride in
what they do.”
Yet he did give a hand slap to true freshman Trevor Wright
on a well-executed pass break-up.
After the players headed off to the locker room, Huesman
also stated that “we had a few fumbles (third unit), but overall we had pretty
good ball security.”
The sixth year head coach smiled and walked off Scrappy
Moore Field knowing that the season opener is 16 days away (Aug. 28 at Central
Michigan) and hopefully enough practice sessions remaining to have the Blue and
Gold ready for the start of season No. 107.
What’s Next: The Mocs are back at it Wednesday with the last
two-a-days (7:45 a.m. & 5:45 p.m.), followed by single practices Thursday
and Saturday sandwiched around a 3 p.m. Friday scrimmage at Finley Stadium
prior to the 55th annual Prep Football Jamboree starting at 7 p.m.
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net