It is one day closer to the season opener against Jacksonville State and the Alabama State Hornets have started their weekly practice session which includes a Tuesday night practice beginning at 7 p.m.

With the game against the Gamecocks coming quickly, the Hornets coaching staff is still working on some things to expect from a JSU team with a new coaching staff and new philosophy.

"They have some talent up there," Head Coach Reggie Barlow said. "They have had some transfers come in and they have a quarterback that transferred in from Minnesota. We know they are going to be physical and they are going to play fast. They will be excited to play us and it will be Coach Clark's first game out and we're looking forward to it."

"The Gamecocks are going to be good. They have great running backs that have some experience and one gained almost 1,000 yards last season. We have to make sure we play combative and run to the football."

There will be similarities in the game for the two coaches. The first game of the 2007 season ASU hosted Jacksonville State with the Hornets pulling out a 24-19 victory. The win was the first for Reggie Barlow who was coaching his first game as head coach of the Hornets. The game will also be the first game for new JSU coach Bill Clark.

"We both came back to our alma mater to our first collegiate head coaching job," Barlow said. "Obviously we have known Coach Clark a long time and like me he spent his first few years in college as an assistant coach before becoming a head coach."

ASU's Wednesday practice will go back to a 3 p.m. start at Hornet Stadium.