OK football fans - we are two weeks off Kick-off for college football. Now I understand not everybody is a college football fan but here in the south - it's gospel! Today was an 'open' practice at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA in the stadium. Because new head coach Will Muschamp has such a young team under his first year at USC he has to prepare the young kids for SEC football passion and crowd noise. He had music playing loud as the team was trying to call signals and run routes that they have only seen on a dry erase board.
My first impression is not about the team but how college teams practice. Imagine trying to control and organize 100+ players that have talent enough to earn scholarships and thought would start from day one. It doesn't work that way because the other teammates are just as talented and the young players are fighting for a position to start. Remember this is the stepping stone to make MILLIONS in the NFL and all of a sudden life got a little tougher.
Now let us talk about the team. I thought they looked good but I come in with a 'this is a building year' attitude so that made it much easier. A couple of dropped balls from the receivers with two to three quarterbacks that are fighting for a position throwing bullets. Running backs look good with speed (and I think this is where we are underrated).
Defence looked really good. I saw one player (notice how i'm keeping player names and numbers out of this article because respecting scouting secrets) that absolutely was a man child. First time I saw him I said 'YES SIR' and he didn't even ask a question. It's hard to imagine these are 18 to 21 year old kids. Another player posted 6'5 220 in on the stat sheet that plays much bigger than that.
To conclude this article I just want to say that if you ever get a chance to see an 'open' practice you should go. It's not like a scrimmage with offence vs defence; it was more about how to organize that many kids in one place at one time.
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Post ya later,
Wymetto