The Alabama State football team was back at work Tuesday night with a spirited practice at Hornet Stadium.
The Hornets (3-2 overall, 3-1 SWAC) will host the Texas Southern Tigers (1-4, 1-2) this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Cramton Bowl. The game will be broadcast live on WVAS 90.7 FM and video streamed free of charge on bamastatesports.com.
“I enjoyed the intensity,” head coach
Reggie Barlow said of Tuesday's practice. “Guys were running around making plays. We were trying to create that atmosphere on defense with guys running to the ball every play and trying to force turnovers. Offensively, we are continuing to develop our running game off of last week's performance and last week's practice. I thought the guys did some good things on offense. Overall, the intensity and energy were good.”
Alabama State is coming off its best all-around performance of the season in a 54-14 win at Alcorn State. And although not an overconfident team, nor one lacking for confidence, last Saturday's performance did provide a boost for the unit.
“Our team is not a team that lacks confidence, but I do think when you struggle, there can be that negative thought process,” Barlow said. “In last week's game, with the way we scored and finishing and getting turnovers, it definitely helped the morale and energy level tonight. Guys were enthused, and came out practicing hard.”
Texas Southern's offense has shown the ability to produce big plays. Under first-year head coach Darrell Asberry, a total of 11 players have at least a 20-yard catch or a 20-yard reception this season, and the Tigers have scored at least 30 points three times in five games.
“They scored a lot of points,” Barlow said of the Tigers. “Their head coach is also their offensive coordinator, and they run a lot of route concepts, which defensively we have to work on and stay on top of. They have really solid players. One of their receivers, Fred Plummer, is averaging over 20 yards per catch. They played a number of quarterbacks, and all of them are good players, with Rudolph Johnson probably their most athletic, as he's a threat to run as well.”
The Hornets will practice Wednesday at 3 p.m. and Thursday at 11 a.m.
