MONTGOMERY—Alabama State University's football team has an off week after seven consecutive weeks of games and today's (Thursday) practice was the final practice session of the week.  The ASU coaching staff has given the team Friday and Saturday off, but will practice again Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m.
 
Even though it was a short week of practice there was a lot of work the coaching staff wanted the team to work on, along with beginning their preparations for Alabama A&M.
 
“It was just a matter of us working on correcting things we have messed up on over the course of the season,” Head Coach Reggie Barlow said.  “We also wanted to get the guys to understand the importance of the next game and we focused on Alabama A&M and get some extra work in.”
 
The Hornets started workouts around the first of August so with the season 10 weeks in, the coaching staff decided to give the team a couple of days off.
 
“We are going to give the guys Friday and Saturday off and meet back together on Sunday,” Barlow said.  “We are going to have a team-building day on Monday and then practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to get ready for the Magic City Classic.”
 
As with all teams at the point of the season, the Hornets have their share of bumps and bruises and even though the team practiced, they spent the week trying to get some players well.
 
“These guys are beat up and guys like Saeed Lee, who has missed a couple of weeks should be good to go,” Barlow added.  “A lot of these guys are beat up because it is football.  For the most part all of the guys we are counting on should be good and healthy as we continue to get ready for A&M.”
 
The Hornets and Bulldogs will play in the 71^st State Farm Magic City Classic on Saturday, Oct. 27 in Birmingham.  The kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.