MONDAY practice notes

[PonyPride]

• Cornerback Sterling Moore suited up for the first time in a couple of weeks, and took part in all drills. After practice, he said the sprained toe joint that has kept him out for the last couple of weeks was painful again this morning. "I've got to talk to Coach Jones and the trainers," Moore said after practice. "It feels [bad], but it didn't limit what I can do. I'm going to do as much as I can. It might be something I just have to live with."

• Wide receiver Brad Haynes remained out of practice, and again was wearing a protective boot on his left foot to protect a slightly strained Achilles tendon. Haynes said after practice that the injury does not bother him anymore, and that he was hoping to return to the field Monday. Now, he said he expects to return Tuesday or Wednesday; Jones said Thursday might be the day Haynes returns.

• With Haynes sidelined, redshirt freshman Marcus Holyfield ran with the first-team offense ... and looked good doing it, making catches on deep routes, over the middle and on comeback routes, and battling defensive backs for passes on plays on which he would have been pushed around a year ago. He looks a step faster than last year, and definitely is stronger.

• With school starting Monday, the rest of the walk-ons showed up at practice, including guard Josh LeRibeus and soccer player-turned-placekicker Brian Farkas.

• Senior running back Chris Butler looked outstanding Monday. Visibly bigger and stronger, Butler still runs with the slashing style he has had since he got to SMU, but he definitely looks more powerful, as both a runner and a blocker, and on special teams.

• Freshman running back Darryl Fields continues to look impressive returning kickoffs. Starting deep enough to get a running start, Fields ripped off several lengthy returns Monday. That doesn't mean he'll be the guy when the season opens at Texas Tech, of course, but he sure isn't hurting his chances.

[ponydawg]

Stating the obvious (post count), but we need Moore out there big time.

[RE Tycoon]

So, what's the deal with LeRibeus? A walk-on can play right? I thought his issue was grades and therefore was ineligible.

[cutter]

thanks for the report! (I thought we might not get any more, with practices closed). nice surprise.

[mrydel]

So, what's the deal with LeRibeus? A walk-on can play right? I thought his issue was grades and therefore was ineligible.

I think it was probably since he was ineligible he could not work out with the team until school began. I do not believe he is a walk on just ineligible to play.

[PonyPride]

LeRibeus is academically ineligible, but not kicked out of school. He is expected to work with the scout team this fall, and then will return to the regular offensive line rotation in January.

[ponyscott]

No offence PP as i really enjoy all your professional interviews but I am not sure that we need to be reporting too much information about SMU practices on a free board quite frankly...TT players and coaches etc can read all here and any information about certain players and their injuries, or not should be confidential....unless what you put on here is is just BS to throw them off. You just never know what can give someoen an edge. Normally I like the information but between games and before a big National game, I would rather all be kept in the dark...
I'm sorry, just my opinion.

[GeorgiaMustang]

I am not sure that we need to be reporting too much information about SMU practices on a free board quite frankly...TT and coaches etc can read all here and any information about certain players and their injuries should be confidential.
I'm sorry, just my opinion.

I don't think anything has been reported on here that opposing coaches wouldn't find out easily anyway. Plus, I don't recall reading anything that would give a coach a competitive advantage.

[cutter]

I am not sure that we need to be reporting too much information about SMU practices on a free board quite frankly...TT and coaches etc can read all here and any information about certain players and their injuries should be confidential.
I'm sorry, just my opinion.

fair opinion, I think. I've kinda thought about that, too.
but, I'm trusting PP to tell us only what won't jeopardize the team. I'm happy to not know stuff that may hurt the team.
still.......I'm hoping (expecting?) for us to battle tech well, no matter what is disclosed here. yeah, a little bit of blind fanaticism.

[ponyscott]

I am not sure that we need to be reporting too much information about SMU practices on a free board quite frankly...TT and coaches etc can read all here and any information about certain players and their injuries should be confidential.
I'm sorry, just my opinion.

I don't think anything has been reported on here that opposing coaches wouldn't find out easily anyway. Plus, I don't recall reading anything that would give a coach a competitive advantage.

Maybe, but maybe not. So why not just open practices and let everyone know just exactly what is going on? any mystery works on our behalf....not all is easlily found out, if you don't want it to.

[mrydel]

I am willing to take a chance on them throwing and running at poor old hobbled Sterling Moore.

[GeorgiaMustang]

I am willing to take a chance on them throwing and running at poor old hobbled Sterling Moore.

Speaking of which, how bad is the toe? It goes without saying that we have to have him full speed against Tech. I also have new motivation for wanting to beat Tech, mainly to beat ol Tubs. My girlfriend is an Auburn grad and loves Tuberville from his Auburn days. She said she may actually pull for them because of him. That might be a tense football game sitting on opposite sides of the room.

[ponyscott]

I am willing to take a chance on them throwing and running at poor old hobbled Sterling Moore.

Speaking of which, how bad is the toe? It goes without saying that we have to have him full speed against Tech. I also have new motivation for wanting to beat Tech, mainly to beat ol Tubs. My girlfriend is an Auburn grad and loves Tuberville from his Auburn days. She said she may actually pull for them because of him. That might be a tense football game sitting on opposite sides of the room.

He can barely walk at all ...poor Sterling...we will have to run some Frosh walk ons out there....damn the bad luck....just come out throwing Potts...

[PonyPride]

No offence PP as i really enjoy all your professional interviews but I am not sure that we need to be reporting too much information about SMU practices on a free board quite frankly...TT players and coaches etc can read all here and any information about certain players and their injuries, or not should be confidential....unless what you put on here is is just BS to throw them off. You just never know what can give someoen an edge. Normally I like the information but between games and before a big National game, I would rather all be kept in the dark...
I'm sorry, just my opinion.

Very valid concern, ponyscott. With that said, however, I am not detailing any new formations, etc., and I am not describing any plays that seem out of the norm. I have been at every practice this fall, and have not reported anywhere near everything I have seen.

One of the cool things about covering a June Jones-coached team is that in many cases, he'll basically say what he's going to run, and challenge the other team to stop it. He's OK with us being out there watching and talking about individual players, but we — Kate (DMN), me, the guys who work for the other sites — have a pretty good understanding of what Coach Jones doesn't want reported. We all have developed a comfort level with what can be reported without giving away any team secrets. You fans/readers don't want practice closed to us, and we sure don't want that, either, so we all have figured out where that line is that we can not cross. But again ... very valid concern. If you think I have crossed that line, or one of the other reporters, shoot me a PM and I'll check on it. Thanks.

[Stallion]

If you want the media to cover your team you've got to give them something to report