Aug. 11, 2002
Columbia, SC –
* The USC football squad continued preseason football camp Sunday. The team had a chapel service at the stadium in the morning, led by team chaplain Adrian DePres. A 125-minute practice session followed in the afternoon, highlighted by a one-hour kicking practice. The squad worked out in shorts with no pads.
* “I was disappointed with our retention and intensity during the kicking game practice,” said head coach Lou Holtz. “We also spent some time working on our two-minute drill.”
* Coach Holtz said that the team was going to have to fight through the next couple days of practice. “It’s hot and Monday and Tuesday are going to be difficult days,” said Coach Holtz. “You try to get them to look forward to it. Tuesday we go into pads for the first time and that will stir up some enthusiasm. Wednesday night we will go bowling with some of the kids who are cancer patients. We did that last year and the players liked it. Thursday some of them move into the dorm. Sometime this week sorority rush starts around here and that always makes things a little more interesting.”
* Coach Holtz said that linebacker Lance Laury missed Sunday’s workout so he could attend his uncle’s (Rod Hollins, who was killed in an automobile accident earlier this week) funeral.
* Spur Rodriques Wilson, who has been slowed with a hamstring pull, was able to practice some on Sunday.
* Coach Holtz said that a group of players, including Ryan Brewer, James Adkisson, Chavez Donnings, Matthew Thomas, Jared Farabee, and Taqiy Muhammad were being looked at for return specialists.
* The cornerback positions, left vacant by the departure of all-stars Sheldon Brown and Andre Goodman to the NFL, were being hotly contested by Dunta Robinson, Isaac Stackhouse, Rachiem Monroe, Teddy Crawford, Corey Peoples, and Taqiy Muhammad. Coach Holtz said at the present time that Robinson and Stackhouse had the slight lead for the starting roles. “Dunta Robinson has a chance to be special,” said Coach Holtz, “but, he needs to correct some flaws or he may get burnt. One guy who seems to show up is Rachiem Monroe. He’s not very big, but he’s around the ball.” Coach Holtz said that Deandre’ Eiland and Jermaine Harris were battling it out for the starting berth at free safety.
* Coach Holtz said he plans to have three scrimmages prior to the Aug. 31 season opener vs. New Mexico State. “I like to call the first scrimmage (Wednesday) Revelation Day,” said Coach Holtz. “That’s because I like to see which players really have improved since spring practice. I’m interested in seeing players like Travis Weston, Eric Stroman, Darel Slay, Moe Thompson, Randy Jackson, Orus Lambert, Jason Capers and Chris Tucker on defense.”
* Coach Holtz noted that Dondrial Pinkins, a redshirt sophomore quarterback, had come back a more mature player. “Dondrial has really improved,” said Coach Holtz. “He’s anxious to prove that he can be a good quarterback.”
* USC will practice again twice on Monday. Both practices are closed. The media availability for Monday is as follows:
12 noon, offensive coordinator Skip Holtz in press room behind lobby of football building; 12 noon – 12:40 p.m. — requested players outside players’ entrance.
