Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Conducts First Practice Session in Pads
3/31/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Indiana Conducts First Practice Session in Pads
Bloomington, Ind. -- The Indiana University football squad held its third practice of the spring today, and its first in full pads. The practice, which was held during a steady, yet light, rain at the football practice fields, was termed a "thud" practice (contact but not taking anyone to the ground).
Freshmen Jamarkus Gorman and Herman Fowler, who had participated during the first two spring practices, were ruled ineligible by the NCAA on Tuesday when a Federal court ruled that the NCAA should receive additional time to determine initial eligibility rules. This was in response to an earlier ruling that stated standardized test scores could not be used by the NCAA to determine eligibility.
"This ruling doesn't surprise me," said head coach Cam Cameron. "This rule has created such confusion from the NCAA to determine who is eligible and who isn't that they just decided that they'd stay with the current rule until they determine a final ruling. It's going to be interested the way this thing plays itself out."
"I thought today's practice went well. The weather wasn't bad at all for football. I thought we got a lot done. It was in the category of a "thud" practice. I saw a little bit more than a thud at times but that's good news. I thought it was an excellent practice and good enough that I think we'll be able to have a good scrimmage on Friday. We'll scrimmage for the last 45 minutes on Friday."
"We'll have a normal practice on Friday because we have a lot of fundamental work to do. But, we'll scrimmage from 4:45-5:30."
Additional Cameron quotes:
On position moves: "I think we've done some things that have really helped us. I think Levron (Williams) is beginning to get a better feel at tailback. I think he's kind of a natural there. On defense, I like Justin Smith if he can hold up in there. He looks like he's got a nice feel for that (position). Devin Schaffer's not quite comfortable yet but he's got a chance. I like Ron Bethel. He looks like he's starting to get a feel for corner. (De'Wayne) Hogan is definitely better at fullback than he would have been at tailback. I think every move we've made so far has helped. The only move we haven't made that might be a good move for us is to move A.C. Myler to offense. But, we're not going to make that move unless he wants to."
On offensive tackle Nick Abruzzo: "I'm looking forward to watching the scrimmage on Friday. He could help us. Ability is not the question. It's just a matter if he decides he wants to do it or not. And I think he's trying. He's putting forth some effort."
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CONTACT: Todd Starowitz, Football Media Relations Director
