Saturday, August 25, 2007

Southern Notebook for August 25, 2007


By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Duran likely to kick PATs, field goals in SU opener

True freshman Josh Duran likely will kick Southern’s field-goal tries and PATs in the season opener Sept. 1 against Florida A&M.

Duran, the Class 4A All-State place-kicker from Eunice High last season, is securing that role in addition to kicking off and punting because sophomore Willie Joseph missed nearly a week with a hamstring injury and the team wants to be cautious about overworking that leg and because Duran is also improving.

“It’s not solidified, but Duran will probably start off doing that, anyway,” Richardson said of the

With Joseph out this week, there hasn’t been much of a duel that seemed to be brewing in the first few weeks. Then, Joseph seemed to be more consistent, with Duran hooking many kicks as he got used to a new holder and a better long snapper.

“We slowed him down just a tad. &hellip We’ve got to get the confidence in him,” Richardson said.

Like Wednesday, Southern on Friday devoted four periods of a 10-period day to all facets of special teams.

“We have to get the right personnel on that,” Richardson said. “(Wednesday), some individuals had late classes. Every day, we have to hone that aspect, especially on kickoffs and kickoff returns, because those five yards (with the NCAA moving kickoffs to the 30-yard line from the 35) are going to be very critical to field position.”

Duran did all the kicking — punts, PATs and field goals — in Thursday’s scrimmage. He was good from 32 yards and all three PATs but missed from 50.

Joseph returned Thursday after being out since Saturday with a hamstring injury.

“We’re in a situation if he pulls it again, it may be a month,” Richardson said. “We just have to play the cards we’re dealt.”

Fan Day
Southern will have its Fan Day at 11 a.m. today.

Though the school is advertising the team will stage a scrimmage, Richardson said that is not the case. SU held its final scrimmage of preseason camp Thursday.

Instead, SU will have a regular practice, beginning at 9 a.m. on its practice fields. Richardson said the team likely will move inside A.W. Mumford Stadium for the final periods.

The band and cheerleaders will be on hand.

Southern will still be in practice jerseys, and those do not correspond for many players with their game jerseys.

“We probably won’t get a chance to go in (to the locker room to change),” Richardson said.

Richardson said his staff would introduce players.

Line shuffle
Though sophomore center Daniel Stephens (ear infection) returned after missing the past few days, sophomore center Ramon Chinyoung did not practice (arriving late in school clothes) and junior Demarcus Stewart left early.

That meant junior Myles Williams moved from right tackle to center and junior Ruben Oliver took Williams’ spot with the first team.

Film on FAMU
Southern on Thursday received three game tapes from Florida A&M, which will play the Jaguars at 2 p.m. Sept. 1 in Birmingham, Ala., in the season opener.

That’s a big step forward because film exchange became a thorn as the relationship to the storied rivalry came to an end in 2001.

Richardson complained the Jaguars would either not get tapes or they’d get grainy, poor-quality tapes in the final years of the series.

That’s not so anymore. The FAMU tapes came in early and were in great condition.

“We’re trying to build that relationship back, because this should be a special game for everybody,” said Richardson, who said Southern sent its three tapes to Tallahassee, Fla., earlier in the week. “It’s a tradition that’s been going on for a long time and it got broken off. Now it’s a matter of rekindling that. Everybody’s excited about it.”

Notes
Junior DT Joseph Selders (ankle) did not practice Friday. &hellip Senior RB Darren Coates (hip) returned to practice after missing Thursday’s scrimmage. &hellip SU worked in helmets and shoulder pads only Friday.

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