The Alabama State University football team practiced for more than an hour Wednesday afternoon as they get ready for the Tuskegee Tigers in next week's 88^th Turkey Day Classic. The game on Thanksgiving Day kicks off shortly after 3 p.m. and will be televised live on ESPNU.
 
The Hornets again had a relaxed but focused workout in the warm, breezy conditions of Hornet Stadium.
 
“With no game this weekend, the urgency is not what it normally is,” head coach Reggie Barlow said. “We are focusing in some of the things Tuskegee does and giving them an introduction to that. We'll review the film and continue to get ready.”
 
Traditionally, an open date has preceded the Turkey Day Classic as it being homecoming week and a number of festivities set to kick off the celebration later this week. From a football perspective, Barlow believes the open date and its positive or negative effect is based on the team's performance.
 
“Open weeks are good, but to me it depends on how you are playing,” Barlow said. “If you're on a roll, you don't want to stop playing. We'll take it to get some rest as well as to get extra preparation time for this team. We're going to use it to the best of our ability.”
 
The Hornets will practice Thursday at 11 a.m.
 

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