2008 Woodie Awards
First match-up ever against Birmingham-Southern Saturday
By: Rahul Gupta
Issue date: 10/5/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
The football team looks to bounce back after its first loss of the season when they travel to Birmingham, Ala. Saturday to play Birmingham-Southern College. It will be the first match-up ever between the two schools.
After a return to the gridiron for the first time since 1939, the Panthers loaded their team with young talent and many of the players are already starting for the team.
"The thing about a young team is that games help them improve," said quarterback Spud Dick, who threw for 248 yards and a touchdown in last week's loss against Millsaps College. "We could see from the first game to the second game that they are making monumental improvements."
Junior defensive tackle Grant Wright agreed.
"They have several freshmen starting on the offensive line so it'll be interesting to see how they come out and play for them," said Wright, who had three tackles and a sack last week against Millsaps. "Even though they are young, we cannot underestimate them."
Marks did not practice this week but is expected to travel with the team this weekend, along with Claxton.
Dick said that even with the loss last weekend to Millsaps, the season is far from over.
"All of our goals are still in front of us so that's the one thing we got to focus on," Dick said. "Even though we lost one game, the season and goals aren't lost."
The team also must play better overall in a different environment and look to make improvements since their last test on the road. Adding to the pressure is that it will be Birmingham-Southern's homecoming.
"I don't think we handled our first road game as well as we should have going down to University of the South-Sewanne," Dick said. "Everyone has realized that and we've talked about having the right mindset on a long bus trip."
Wright said that the less amount of people traveling with the team also effects the mood sometimes.
"The other guys on the team at home give a definite morale boost and it's hard to copy that on the road sometimes," he said.
Either way, the Tigers know what they have to do to win the game this week.
"We just have to execute," Dick said. "If all the guys do their responsibilities, then we are a great team and we can play with anyone."
After a return to the gridiron for the first time since 1939, the Panthers loaded their team with young talent and many of the players are already starting for the team.
"The thing about a young team is that games help them improve," said quarterback Spud Dick, who threw for 248 yards and a touchdown in last week's loss against Millsaps College. "We could see from the first game to the second game that they are making monumental improvements."
Junior defensive tackle Grant Wright agreed.
"They have several freshmen starting on the offensive line so it'll be interesting to see how they come out and play for them," said Wright, who had three tackles and a sack last week against Millsaps. "Even though they are young, we cannot underestimate them."
Marks did not practice this week but is expected to travel with the team this weekend, along with Claxton.
Dick said that even with the loss last weekend to Millsaps, the season is far from over.
"All of our goals are still in front of us so that's the one thing we got to focus on," Dick said. "Even though we lost one game, the season and goals aren't lost."
The team also must play better overall in a different environment and look to make improvements since their last test on the road. Adding to the pressure is that it will be Birmingham-Southern's homecoming.
"I don't think we handled our first road game as well as we should have going down to University of the South-Sewanne," Dick said. "Everyone has realized that and we've talked about having the right mindset on a long bus trip."
Wright said that the less amount of people traveling with the team also effects the mood sometimes.
"The other guys on the team at home give a definite morale boost and it's hard to copy that on the road sometimes," he said.
Either way, the Tigers know what they have to do to win the game this week.
"We just have to execute," Dick said. "If all the guys do their responsibilities, then we are a great team and we can play with anyone."
Be the first to comment on this story