Fall Camp Underway

By John Antonik for MSNsportsNET.com
August 4, 2003

RODRIGUEZ REPORT | PHOTO GALLERY

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia’s first day of fall camp consisted of fundamental and technique work, according to Mountaineer head coach Rich Rodriguez.

The coach said a good portion of their offensive and defensive packages will be installed this week. “By the end of the week we’ll have 60 percent of our package in so we’ve got a lot of mental work to do,” he said.

Because of new NCAA regulations prohibiting more than one practice per day, the coaching staff has had to be creative in coming up with ways to occupy the players’ time.

“We’re going to try and use all of the time we have wisely. It’s a little different for us -- this new model that we’re doing,” said Rodriguez. “The players probably like these one-a-days. I think the first practice is probably a little bit of a shock to them because it’s a little intense but the biggest thing now is that they’ll have a lot of recovery time tomorrow. They’ll keep their legs more than they would have in the past.”

Several members of West Virginia’s recruiting class were absent Monday for various reasons.

Touted defensive back Vince Beamer was kept out of practice while the NCAA Clearinghouse clarifies some paper work recently submitted.

“We should know something in the next couple of days,” said Rodriguez.

The coach indicated that five players in this year’s class – James Alford, Chris Bassler, Kevin Burke, Antonio Lewis and Michael Meggett -- will grayshirt and defer enrollment until January.


	Veteran defensive line coach Bill Kirelawich demonstrates a technique during Monday's practice. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks)

“They’re all guys that we’ve signed and we have talked to them about grayshirting and they’re willing to do that because our numbers are full at 25 this year,” said Rodriguez. “They’re going to be really good players and we’re looking forward to having them join our program.”

Rodriguez also announced that Justin Williams, a junior center from Moorefield, W.Va., has decided to give up football.

“Justin has decided not play anymore,” said Rodriguez. “He’s got one year left to graduate and he hadn’t played a whole lot – he hadn’t started or anything – but I guess he decided his heart wasn’t in it. If you’re heart is not in it it’s a tough sport to play.”

Players practiced in helmets and shorts Monday. Practice resumes Tuesday afternoon.

News and Notes

Wide receiver Jubal Thomas missed the first portion of practice awaiting word from the NCAA Clearinghouse to begin practicing. That word finally came around 4 p.m.

“We had to get his final paper work in and I guess it’s a little tougher getting it from over in California. I think we should have done it a month ago but there were some guidance counselors on vacation and all of that kind of stuff,” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez says having Thomas out on the practice field today was important, “There’s an acclimation period so he has to practice the first two days in shorts. So while everyone else would have been in pads he would have still been in shorts.”

According to strength and conditioning coach Mike Barwis, three of the five starters along the offensive line will be “right at or close to the 300-pound range.”

Of the linemen, Barwis said senior Tim Brown is probably in the best shape. “They’re in great shape,” said Barwis. “There are no fat kids running around out there now.”

Veteran trainer John Spiker began his 29th fall camp at West Virginia Monday afternoon. Spiker, who started at WVU with Bobby Bowden in 1975, also worked three seasons at Pitt and two at North Carolina before returning to his alma mater.

In the money well-spent category: A good tipoff that the coaching staff is pleased with West Virginia’s artificial surface installed last year is the fact that the first practice of fall camp took place inside the stadium. In the past, fall practice was always up on the grass practice field. Count Spiker among the believers, “It’s made a dramatic difference (in reducing injuries),” he said.

Former coach Jim Carlen used to have short “Coke breaks” back in the late 1960s for his players during football camp. Today the players take “popsicle breaks.”

Touted receiver Chris Henry worked with the second group Monday. All eyes were glued on the 6-foot-5, 190-pound sophomore from Belle Chasse, La. On one play, Henry caught a short pass and began to run up field with the ball tucked loosely under in his arm. That prompted Rodriguez to yell, “Tuck the ball away Hollywood!”

Joe Sykes, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound linebacker from Grenada, Miss., did not graduate from Holmes (Miss.) Community College and must return to school to finish one more credit to earn his associate’s degree.

The first offensive line Monday consisted of Ben Timmons at center, Dan Mozes and Geoff Lewis at guards, and Tim Brown and Jeff Berk at tackles. Rodriguez says the move of Berk from guard to tackle was made easier because of the emergence of Mozes last spring.

“But like I told all of our guys, we’ve got 28 more days before our starters are fixed,” said the coach. “There’s going to be some ins and outs and some shuffling going on in the next couple of weeks.”

Rodriguez noted that West Virginia will have to use two Sundays to get their 29 days in this fall. “We may have a light practice in shorts this Sunday,” said Rodriguez. “We won’t do something real heavy because it will be after a big scrimmage.”

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