Indiana University Athletics
INDIANA FOOTBALL OPENS SPRING PRACTICE
3/28/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
INDIANA FOOTBALL OPENS SPRING PRACTICE
Bloomington, Ind. -- The Indiana football team completed its first of 15 spring practices today at the Mellencamp Pavilion on the Indiana University campus. The practice lasted approximately two and one-half hours and was conducted in helmets only, as mandated by the NCAA.
"It's interesting," said head coach Cam Cameron. "When guys work hard, and our guys have been working extremely hard for the last four months, you'd like to think your guys will be enthusiastic. That's certainly been the case today."
One of the most interesting developments of the spring should be at quarterback where the incumbent, junior Jay Rodgers, will be challenged by freshman Antwaan Randle El. Randle El is also expected to see playing time at wide receiver.
"Jay Rodgers is our starting quarterback," said Cameron. "We played Antwaan a little bit at flanker and a little bit at quarterback so we'll see how he comes along. We'll also see how Earl (Haniford) continues to develop. By the end of the spring the competition should be good for everybody."
"(Antwaan's) the kind of guy, where we are right now, that's really easy to get overly excited about. But, in all fairness to him we've got to develop him. We've got to be careful that we don't ask him to do too much too soon. I think everyone knows the type of kid that he is and I think everyone is getting a feel for what kind of an athlete that he is. What we've got to do is get as many kids like that as we possibly can."
Said Rodgers about the quarterback competition: "I think competition helps everyone. I know that when players at the other positions see the quarterbacks compete they want to take their game up a level. I like being pushed. When you have a player like Antwaan, who can do so many things, you can catch people off guard. You saw the Steelers do that with Kordell (Stewart) a few years ago. If he can play quarterback for a few plays, and then play wide receiver for a few plays, that only works to our advantage."
Randle El on the excitement of his first spring practice: "Now that spring is here IUm preparing myself to play in a game. It was my first spring practice and I felt like I was getting ready to play one of the biggest games of my life. I came in so early this morning that there was nobody here yet. ThatUs the way that I have to approach every day."
The Hoosiers will resume practice on Sunday, March 29, at 2:15 p.m.
Practice will be held on the grass practice fields adjacent to Memorial
Stadium. If weather does not permit the Hoosiers to practice outside,
Indiana will move inside the Mellencamp Pavilion. Sunday's practice will
be in helmets only and is open to the public.
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