Rested and ready
Off-week revives Frogs for Homecoming
The Frogs play Homecoming against Houston Saturday, after a much needed off week allowed the team to rejuvenate.
By Danny Gillham
Sports Editor

Unlike last season, being idle last week was a welcome sight to the football team.

In 2001, the Frogs had five open weeks where they did not play, and the team never really found a rhythm.

However, this wasn’t the case last week. After playing four games in a three-week span, the team was worn down and needed a break.

Head coach Gary Patterson said the off-week really helped the with their injuries.

“If you look out there, the people that stay the healthiest are the ones that have a chance at winning ballgames later in the season,” Patterson said. “Two years ago, Southern Miss started off 6-0, got banged up and ended up barely going 6-5 or 7-4. It’s tough when you lose people. You have to find ways to keep people healthy and you have to be able to call ballgames that way too — understanding that you have to keep them as short as you can and try to score one more point than the other team does.”

One group who received benefit from the off-week was the offensive line. The group welcomes back sophomore Chase Johnson, who went down with an ankle injury against Southern Methodist. Also returning is a senior Brady Barrick, who is finally at full strength.

Senior Jamal Powell, who has played both center and right tackle this season, said the group looks to do some damage now that they are full strength.

“It’s real good,” Powell said. “We don’t have to move people around. We’ve basically got a good eight-man rotation that can play in the whole game. Hopefully it will show on the field Saturday, and we wear out the defensive line.”

The team is hoping the health of the offensive line translates into a successful game running the football. The Frogs haven’t ran the ball effectively the last two games, and the team is still looking for its first individual 100-yard rushing performance.

Against Houston last season, junior Corey Connally ran for 199 yards on 30 carries. Connally, along with junior Ricky Madison and true freshman Lonta Hobbs, looks to get into the secondary on a defense which offensive coordinator Mike Schultz said runs a similar scheme to the one the offense practices against every day.

“There the same defense we run here, and eight-man front,” Schultz said. “They are very active and move around a lot, showing different formations and coverages. They are a very solid, sound defense.”