Millsaps College took the field for the first time in over four months today at Harper Davis Field, beginning its first day of an NCAA mandated 15 practices. Fourth-year head coach Mike DuBose gives some insight on today's opening practice.

Thursday, August 13
Opening Day Comments from head coach Mike DuBose

Talk about the first day of practice and how it went.
"It was good to be back on the field and encouraging to see the retention and carry over from the spring into fall practice. Obviously, several young guys were a little bit lost from a mental standpoint in understanding our system, yet showed an awful lot of athleticism and ability to change directions."

We added four new coaches in the offseason. Talk about how they did today.
"Overall I was very pleased with the staff. There was a lot of passion and enthusiasm on the field, maybe more so than we've had in previous years, and I was encouraged by that. When we left the field, we were a little better football team than when we went on the field. If we can do that everyday, then we have the chance to become good."

What do you try to work on the most in the first five days in helmets and shorts?
"The first two days are helmets and shorts, the third and fourth days are shoulder pads, helmets and shorts (Shells) and the fifth day is full gear. The first five days are used to start to get in shape and implement our offense, defense and special teams in its entirety so that when we start full contact, our players know what they're doing and can just react to the situation."

Injury wise, talk about who couldn't go today and if there were any injuries?
"We've got a couple of guys, including \#Travis Banta\#, that we expected to have back. He had surgery last year and another this summer and is not ready to go yet. \#Martin Haaga\# tweaked his ankle today and a couple of young guys had a little bit of a virus, but for the most part everyone was able to go and we had a good first day." 

Millsaps will be back on Harper Davis Field tomorrow from 3-6 p.m.