Murray State University Athletics
Pannunzio Pleased With First Day Of Work
8/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
The normal August heat wasn't present, but the excitement about the start of a new season was Tuesday when the Murray State Racer football team hit the field for its first practice of the 2003 season.
"It was great to get out here today and see the players run around and have some fun," said fourth-year Racer head coach Joe Pannunzio. "You can see their excitement to be back together and I think the fact that the sun wasn't out had a little to do with that."
Ninety players hit the Roy Stewart Stadium turf at 3:45 p.m. for a two-hour practice in helmets and shorts. The focus, according to Pannunzio, "was just to get everyone on the same page and to teach the newcomers how to practice."
"The first day or two you just want to set the tempo and show the younger guys how we do things and at what speed," said Pannunzio. "It's pretty overwhelming for them at first, but they have to play up to the level of the veterans, not vice versa."
Despite being the first practice, both the offense and defense got right into their schemes and worked against each other during several periods, primarily seven-on-seven drills.
"It's hard to tell much right now in just shorts, but I think we're a little more athletic than in the past," noted Pannunzio. "I think our linebackers and secondary are the most athletic since I've been here. Just the way they run around tells me that we could be pretty solid in those two areas."
Senior quarterback Stewart Childress, who is starting for the fourth-straight season, looked sharp and routinely hooked up with first-team All-OVC wide receiver Deandre Green during the course of the practice.
Defensively, the secondary was active all day and made several solid plays.
"We've still got some concerns on our offensive and defensive lines, but you feel a little better when you see the athletes around them. Hopefully, that can make up for some of our weaknesses early in camp."
MSU, the defending OVC co-champions, will work out at 3:45 p.m. the next three days before putting on the pads Saturday morning at 7:00. The team's first two-a-day workouts will come on Sunday.
"We'll start to pick up the pace as we go along this week, teaching and getting guys lined up right, but we'll really start to learn about our team this weekend when we put on the pads," said Pannunzio. "That's when you get a much clearer picture."
