FLORENCE
-- University of North Alabama head football
coach Mark Hudspeth was determined to get in
a practice session Thursday and the Lions
were able to dodge the rain and get in full
two-and-a-half hours on the field.
UNA, with seven
practice sessions left this spring, had
taken last week off for Spring Break and was
back on the field Tuesday and Wednesday in
preparation for a Saturday scrimmage.
Hudspeth said the team responded well in
those two workouts and said there wasn't
much drop off in retention from the week
off. The team continued to build on that
foundation on Thursday with a spirited
workout.
"We've had good
retention and some good workouts and that
has a lot to do with our senior leadership,"
Hudspeth said.
UNA wide
receiver Ed Gant and running back Mike
McClendon stoodout in Thursday's practice,
according to Hudspeth. He also praised
defensive end Corey Orr, a transfer from
Itawamba Community College.
Hudspeth said
the Lions will try and get in another
practice session on Friday to prepare for a
9 a.m. Saturday scrimmage. The scrimmage is
scheduled for Braly Stadium, weather
permitting. It could be moved to the UNA
practice field if there is excessive rain.
"Our main
concern offensively on Saturday is to lineup
and play at a good pace and execute our
offense," Hudspeth said. "Nothing
fancy, just lineup and execute and minimize
mistakes.
"Defensively we
want to tackle better than what we have been
doing the last few days. Saturday will also
give us our first chance to evaluate a lot
of the new players in a game-like situation
for the first time."
North Alabama
will end its 2008 Spring drills on April 12
with the Purple-White game at Braly Stadium
at 10 a.m.
