Jackson State University Football Camp Opened

JACKSON, Miss. - With less than a month remaining before the 2007 season opener, the Jackson State University football team reported to campus for pre-season camp on Friday, August 3 at 7:30 a.m. After checking into their residential halls the Tigers will have physicals and other pre-camp tests.

The Tigers return 43 lettermen and 17 starters. JSU finished the 2006 season, the first under head coach Rick Comegy, with a 6-5 overall record and a 5-4 SWAC East mark. JSU will look to improve upon last season's finish behind the play of pre-season All-SWAC Team performers Lorenzo Breland (C), Marcel Frost (TE), Erik Haw (RB), Idreas Abdur-Rashied (DL) and Daniel Brooks (LB

Heat, special teams play greets JSU

Season Opener
Who: Delta State at Jackson State
Where: Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
When: Sept. 1 , 6 p.m.

Jackson State football coach Rick Comegy often talks of wanting to "pull the sweat" out of his players during the early August practices when players report. And the weather was more than happy to oblige during the Tigers' first fall workout. JSU took the field just after 11 a.m. on Saturday and was greeted by heat that was already hovering around 90. By the end of practice an hour later, the temperature was 92, but the heat index reached 100.

"It's good to have a few of these really hot days," senior linebacker Daniel Brooks said. "We didn't work for too long or overdo anything. But you definitely know it's football season with a day like this."

Jackson State had 89 players report to practice on Friday and practice on Saturday consisted of helmets and no pads as the players got acclimated to the heat. Special teams was the focus, especially kickoff and punt returns.

"That's something I want to stress early," Comegy said. "I really think there's a few touchdowns for us to gain this year by really nailing that part of our game."

Comegy said the team would work in shoulder pads beginning on Monday and then don the full gear for the first time on Wednesday. Two-a-days will begin on Thursday.

"It's good to get on the field and start to evaluate the talent that we have," Comegy said. "It's only one day and there's no hitting, but it's hard not to get excited about what you see."

Jackson State finished 6-5 last season (5-4 Southwestern Athletic Conference), but lost four of its last five games to fall out of SWAC title contention.

Senior offensive tackle Jon Silas said that disappointment has been fresh on the team's mind since December.

"That was one of the first things coach brought up when we all reported," Silas said. "Three of our losses came by a combined five points. If we win those games, we'd have been playing for a SWAC championship. So we were close, but we have to improve to close that five-point gap."

The practice was the first for several transfers, including Dominique Johnson (Missouri), Marcellus Speaks (Delta State) and Rodney Gray (Southern Miss).

"I think the new guys are coming in and learning everything real well," Brooks said. "Last year, everyone was new as far as the system. Now, there's more familiarity."

By David Brandt, david.brandt@clarionledger.com