Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Football Kicks Off Spring Ball
03/25/2003 | 12:00:00 | Football
March 25, 2003
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University football team began spring practice on Monday, the first of 15 practices during the next three weeks. The spring season will culminate in the annual Spring Game on Thursday, April 17.
Here's what head coach Jerry Kill had to say after the first day of practice...
What is the situation at running back with Muhammad Abdulqaadir and Tom Koutsos both returning?
"I think we're in a great situation with those two. And not only do we have them, but we have Brandon Robinson. That part of the team I don't worry about. We know that's good. I've got to focus in on the offensive line and the throwing game. I know we'll be able to run the ball. I'm confident with that. How we utilize those guys, we'll do a good job of that, and I know they both feel very comfortable with what's going on."
What is your major emphasis during spring ball?
"We have to develop a defensive mentality. I think we've developed an offensive mentality, but you can't win at any level unless you play defense. What I mean by that is a physical group of people who are going to be aggressive. I felt we played soft and tentative last year. We were young, but we've got to get over that. We have to develop an attitude on defense. I think that's the major focus."
Where does the offense need improvement?
"We need to work on throwing the football and getting pass protection and developing strength in the offensive line. When we get to scrimmage time, we probably won't do much with Koutsos and Muhammad, we'll let the young guys play. We need to develop Antoine Jackson as another tailback."
On sophomore quarterback Joel Sambursky.
"When you think about the growth Kent Williams made mentally and physically from the time he was a freshman, that's what we'd like to accomplish with Joel Sambursky. Our Kent Williams is Joel Sambursky. We have to continue to grow Joel into a special player that we feel he is."
On 6-foot-7, 330-pound lineman Joe Szczepanik, who missed the 2002 season to receive skin cancer treatment.
"He's just happy to be out here. He's still taking cancer treatments. For him to put the helmet on is a tremendous miracle in itself. He has to give himself shots every day. He got four A's in class last semester. I should never have a bad day when you've got a kid like that doing what he's doing. Whether he plays next year doesn't matter to me. He's got a helmet on, and he's out here."
On the positive attitude the team has displayed.
"I think that's the way our whole team is. I don't have to get up and yell and scream about them not hustling and playing hard. We got more done today than we got done in two years on the first day. I'm enjoying the kids we have in our program right now. When all you have to do is teach, it's enjoyable."
Coach Kill identified several players who will experiment with different positions during the spring...Justin George (S to CB), Dejuan Kea (CB to S), Jeff Jones (LB to DT), Billy Beard (DT to DE), Quorey Payne (CB to WR), Lionel Williams (DE to DT).
"It takes you a while to get to know kids. Lionel and Billy, it's their first spring to go through, yet they both had to play last year. We've had to play some guys that really weren't ready to play. We really don't know that much about them yet. We're just finding out that Lionel Williams needs to be here, and so-and-so needs to be there. Until you put them out there, you don't know that. Quorey Payne was a tremendous receiver in high school, but we could not play him there last year because we were so short at corner."
Worth noting: Offensive linemen Andrew Wynn and George Mooney, who are both returning from major knee surgery, practiced Monday, and their progress will be closely monitored.
