MONTGOMERY, Ala.—The Alabama State University football team begin their final week of spring practice putting in final preparations for the Annual Black and Gold Game scheduled for this Saturday.
With so many returning players from last season's 7-4 team, the coaching staff has been looking hard at evaluating the players to find out who can help this team when the fall rolls around.
“We've had 13 or so practices to evaluate these guys and to see where they are and the spring game will still be an opportunity to evaluate some other guys,” Head Coach
Reggie Barlow said. “This game is for the fans and for us to give back to our fans and we can see where we are. Hopefully we can keep everyone healthy and have a good time.”
The Hornets have over 50 returning players out for the spring, but with the new defensive coordinator, the Hornets have spent the entire spring installing a new defense.
“If you know Coach Ramsey (defensive coordinator), you know he is always installing,” Barlow said. “There is something new he showed me on his phone last night. We have a lot in and we have thrown a lot at the guys to see what will stick and there has been some things that have stuck, but what we will do in the game will be basic stuff. We want to give these guys who haven't been getting as many reps, an opportunity. So we will just play our basic offense and defense and they will be able to react and play.”
The Hornets have wanted to accomplish a lot of things over the past few weeks in practice and would like to get to a comfort level coming out of spring practice, but as always, there are some players that are ahead of others in their progression.
“I think for some guys we are where we need to be, but there are some guys that have obviously taken a step back and they are not where they need to be,” Barlow said. “With a day two left we need to figure out a way to get something out of them and hopefully we will be able to do that.”
The final practice of the spring is scheduled for Thursday, April 25 at 11 a.m.
