Practice 8-MSU Spring Football

Murray State head coach Matt Griffin liked the change of pace for the Racers second Saturday scrimmage, as too much rain forced the team to move its practice from their normal natural grass field next to the Regional Special Events Center to the artificial turf of Roy Stewart Stadium.

"I'd like to be out here more," Griffin said. "Once we get new turf, we'll be in the stadium all the time."

The Racers second spring scrimmage lasted about an hour and it was as spirited a workout as any of the spring period from a players and coaches view.

"I thought our effort was excellent, but we hurt ourselves with too many penalties," Griffin said. "We have to eliminate those, we can't be offsides and have a delay of game flag."

Griffin has been pleased all spring with the way the Racers are protecting the football. Now through two spring scrimmages that total about 100 plays, the Racers have not an interception or lost the ball on a fumble.

"I like that we have no turnovers, and on defense we have 11 hats getting to the football," Griffin said.

CALIFORNIA KID: Gerald Goldberg is perhaps the most unique story on the Racers squad. The senior defensive lineman from Camarillo, California is a thousand miles from home, roots for the Dodgers and has a background in farming, he grew up helping his father on three farms growing flowers.

"I've always been around flowers," said Goldberg, who is an advertising major and art minor at Murray State. "I want to be in graphic design when I graduate and use that to help my father's business."

However, the 2006 football season comes first and Goldberg wants badly to reverse the 2-9 season of 2005.

"I want to have a good senior season, I've played football a long time and that was the worst I've ever gone through," Goldberg said. "I want to go out on a good note."

Goldberg has enjoyed being with new MSU assistant coach Johnny Jernigan who coaches the Racer defensive linemen.

"I think coach Jernigan could still be a player," Goldberg said. "He's all business on the field, sometimes he shows us stuff in practice and he hits even though he doesn't have pads on, I think he's a good coach."

Goldberg will be counted on to anchor the MSU defensive line in the 2006 season.

RACER FOOTBALL COOKOUT: The Racers spring game is coming up on April 21 at 7 p.m. at Roy Stewart Stadium. The team is having a cookout before the spring game and everyone is invited. The cost is $6 per person and all fans, students and parents are asked to RSVP to Diana Waller, MSU's football secretary. Her number is 270-762-6181.

Murray State University Athletics

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