Practice was scheduled to last from 10-12 this morning. They have ended a couple recent practices early, so I was at least aware of the possibility. I was sitting in my car in the parking lot at around 11:25, not hanging around outside, when all of a sudden practice ended. I had to grab my camera from the backseat and rush over. GOL didn't waste any time walking off (sometimes he lingers on the field talking with coaches), so I jumped in about 30 seconds after he started with Shannon and Shane from WFTV. Later, I was told he had one of those "effort and enthusiasm" type responses to the first question. There were some things I wanted to ask, but without knowing what had been asked, I held off.
On the depth chart:
"We have a big scrimmage Saturday and we'll sit down after the scrimmage to solidify the depth chart. Monday school starts. Next Wednesday we'll start working on FIU. We'll have a depth chart hopefully Sunday and go from there."
Shannon asked about injuries. Specifically, about RB Taj McGowan who was overcome by heat at Tuesday's practice and had to be taken to the hospital for IV fluids.
"Taj McGowan, it's real simple. Kids like that love the game of football. He got dehydrated so he had to get some fluids. We're in pretty good contact shape, good conditioning. Some of these freshmen, especially at the skill position, have hit the wall a little bit. They've got to get their legs back underneath them. They're not used to playing at this speed. They lack some strength you need to play at this level. Eventually they're going to be very good players, but right now they've got to show a lot more to get on that playing field."
Shane from WFTV asked how the running backs were doing. GOL kind of blurted out "not really" when asked if he was pleased but then said he was pleased.
"There's five of them. I've been rotating them all. You can't make the team in the tub. There's too many injuries right now at those positions. They have to learn to play through some pain. That's part of the game. Every day you can't have something wrong with you. Some guys got to grow up a little bit. That's part of maturity and growing up. Hopefully the light comes on for some of them."
On that note, Will Stanback has been nursing something, same with Dontravious Wilson. Taj McGowan had the heat issue. I'm not sure if he was out there today. Michael Willett, a walk-on, a couple folks have said he's been doing some nice things and I heard he got banged up. So the only 100 percent RB could be C.J. Jones.
What does he want to see during Saturday's scrimmage?
"Execution on both sides. The kicking game. We'll have referees there. Hopefully not a lot of penalties. And play to the speed of the game. Really execution on all three phases of the game, offense, defense and special teams."
