DMN Blog about First Practice

[ponydawg]

I looked, and I am sure I will be proven wrong because I find it hard to believe no one posted it, but here is Kate's take on the first practice.

http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com ... tions.html

SMU football began doing things the June Jones Way when spring practice opened Tuesday.

Here are some of the best observations of the day:

*Offensive line coach Dennis McKnight wore black and white Hawaiian-print board shorts, a habit he must have picked up at his old job.

*Rockwall quarterback and SMU signee Braden Smith watched from the sidelines.

*Special teams coach Frank Gansz (former Kansas City Chiefs coach) started practice by leading the team through drills for the first 40 minutes or so. He spoke through a megaphone the whole time - barely took a breath. I hope I have his energy when I'm almost 70

*I've never seen three or four local news stations at an SMU practice. EVER. They were there Tuesday.

*The blue tarp that covered the practice field fence is gone. Practices are open.

*Here's an example of the positive coaching Jones has talked about. In a drill going after loose balls, receivers coach Jeff Reinebold to Josh Bryant after he displayed good hustle: "Hey 23, I don't know if you can catch, but you can play for me."

*Jones is interested in turning the practice fields from running North-South to running East-West. He wants more room for his Run-and-Shoot out-patterns.

Jones spoke with reporters before practice and said he planned to implement his system the way he had for 20 years. They'll install a handful of things for a day or two, then move on and install a handful more.

"By the 15 days, we should have everything we're going to do in," Jones said. "We won't be doing it really well but we'll have it all in. Then we'll have the summer and the fall to get going."

Jones didn't elaborate too much on the suspension of quarterback Justin Willis.
"In my mind, the best quarterback is going to play," Jones said. "I know we'll have two or three quarterbacks who can complete the ball where we want it."

Kicker Thomas Morstead was the only player to speak with the media, and he wasn't allowed to comment on the Willis situation. But Morstead said he'd spent about 15 minutes speaking with Gansz about football. And another hour talking with him about life. Morstead's really excited about working with Gansz. As for Jones?

"Coach doesn't really talk a lot," Morstead said. "I'm still waiting to see what he's like. Hopefully I'll find out today."

[MrMustang1965]

Not bad, Kate.
But for an in-depth overview of Day 1, read this!
http://www.ponyfans.com/phpBB2/viewtopi ... 23&start=0