Game gives receivers chance to improve
Four fights also broke out during Tuesday’s practice.
Published April 18, 2008
For the MU football team to have a successful 2008 season, the wide receivers will need to live up to high expectations. The group returns last season’s starters, redshirt sophomore Jeremy Maclin and senior Tommy Saunders, but will also see some new faces, including junior Danario Alexander.
“It’s good to have those veterans in there, and we also have a lot of guys coming up such as Danario Alexander,” senior quarterback Chase Daniel said. “We can hopefully showcase him if he stops getting hurt. He’s having a great spring, and when he gets in there, he’ll be ready to go.”
Aside from Maclin and Saunders, there are several open slots for receivers.
“We got guys that need to step up,” Maclin said. “We have only four guys that have played at the Division I level so far.”
Last season, MU was known for its great receivers and boasted a combined attack of the height of William Franklin, the speed of Maclin and one of the best tight end duos in the nation — first-team All-American Martin Rucker and then-junior Chase Coffman.
“We lost some great players,” Pinkel said. “But players like (junior wide receiver) Jared Perry have certainly improved. We got a good group coming back. We don’t have the depth that we did last year, and we’ll probably never have that again. But also, it’s an opportunity for some younger players to come in.”
Daniel is busy trying to build off of his Heisman Trophy campaign from last season while also being the leader for the offense. “For me, it’s my leadership, attitude and accuracy,” Daniel said. “I’m trying to get the best that I can, while also gelling with these new receivers.”
During Tuesday’s practice, several players lost their tempers, resulting in four fights, one of which was between Maclin and sophomore defensive back Carl Gettis. During a drill, Maclin caught a pass from Daniel and was tackled into the end zone by Gettis. When the players stood up again, Gettis kept hold of Maclin, resulting in a pushing match, which ended up with both players on the ground before it was eventually broken up.
“We just get frustrated a little bit,” Maclin said. “(Gettis) wouldn’t let me go, so my temper started flaring. That’s the thing about it though, it stays on the field, and it doesn’t go back into the locker room.”
Referring to the fights, Pinkel said “It’s bush league. It doesn’t happen very often around here, but I had a few words of wisdom about that after practice.”
The team will conclude spring practice this Saturday with the annual Black and Gold Game. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. and will be featured live on ESPNU.
“There’s not many people that get to have their spring game on national TV,” Daniel said. “It’s definitely good for the program with all of the promotion that that brings.
Everyone’s just ready to go. Everyone wants to get done with the schoolwork and just have a couple weeks off. Everyone needs it, our bodies need it, but we’re going to try and put on a good show for the fans come Saturday.”
