Saints visit to get primed for (Aug. 2) scrimmage
<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. — With 31 years in the business, Dan Simmons has overseen many a trip made by the New Orleans Saints.
Still, steps to ensure a successful journey — regardless of how long —must be taken and that’s precisely why the Saints’ longtime equipment manager headed a small group of team officials to tour Louisiana's athletic complex on Thursday.
The purpose of the visit was to begin making specific plans and detail needs for the Saints’ Aug. 2 Black-and-Gold scrimmage to be played at Cajun Field.
“No, this isn’t going to be a very complicated thing for us at all,’’ Simmons said. “You’re just talking about a one-day trip. It’s not like we have to pick up everything. We’re not moving the whole operation like you would for training camp. The facilities here are great, and the university here is going to let us utilize a lot of what’s already here.
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“The staff here has been very cooperative. We’re not going to have to bring a whole lot other than the players’ personal bags.’’
Some of the issues discussed on Thursday’s visit included lockerroom designations, parking, etc.
It’s the side of professional football that very few fans ever consider, but the one that Simmons has spent much of his life performing.
Beginning his 31st year with the Saints, Simmons has had to coordinate training camp moves to LaCrosse, Wisc., to Hattiesburg, Miss., to Vero Beach, Fla. to Ruston to Hammond and most recently to Thibodaux. For the first time this season, however, the Saints have elected to hold their training camp at their home facility in Metairie.
“It’s going to be a new experience,’’ said Simmons, who was the first recipient the Whitey Zimmerman Memorial Award to honor the NFL’s Equipment Manager of the Year in 1994. “Three other teams are doing it now, but I’ve never done it. I’m anxious to see how it’s going to work out. It’s going to be a lot less complicated in that we don’t have to haul everything to another location.’’
Another result of the new approach is the concept of traveling around the state to hold the Black-and-Gold scrimmage, which is the annual end of the first week of camp.
The scrimmage will include some controlled full-contact drives, as well as numerous seven-on-seven and special teams drills. The scrimmage, slated for 7 p.m., is just the beginning.
Numerous interactive games and activities for the fans will be available at the adjacent Tigue Moore Field beginning at 2 p.m. Tickets for the entire day, including the scrimmage, range from $10 to $20. Discounts are available for season-ticket holders, students, military and groups over 20.
Proceeds for the event will be shared by the Saints and the Louisiana athletic department.-->
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Coach Jennings & Bartel on the SportsNote
How many years til the New Orleans Bowl?
How long til the Cajuns make it to the big one in the Big Easy?
Womens Clinic + MEN: Bustle to serve as guest chef at Gentry’s
<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. — Participants in Louisiana head coach Rickey Bustle’s upcoming Women’s Football Clinic will get an early preview of clinic activities.
Bustle will be serving as guest chef at Gentry’s on Wednesday, July 9, beginning at 6:30 p.m., and participants are invited to bring spouses or dates and have dinner with Bustle and his staff.
“Since the clinic’s for women only,” Bustle said, “we wanted to have the husbands and boyfriends have something to take part in. We hope a lot of our fans will come out, and the women that haven’t already signed up for the clinic will do that after the dinner.”
The second annual Women’s Football Clinic is scheduled for Saturday, July 19. More information on the clinic is available by calling Louisiana's football office at (337) 482-6318.
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According to Coach Gibson
I called into Bird's Eye View the other day and asked Coach Gibson who his starting 5 would be, who was the leader on the O-line and what impact if any would the incoming freshman have. He said as of today (which was a few days ago) his starting 5 was
LT #67 Corey Glover So. 6-4 295
LG #62 Greg Hodges Jr. 6-2 305
OC #69 Ronnie Harvey Jr. 6-1 285
RG #77 Demetrios Brooks Jr. 6-3 290
RT #72 Brandon Cox Fr. 6-8 295
average height = 6-3 1/2
average weight = 294
The leader of this group according to Coach Gibson is Jr. LG Greg Hodges. True freshman Brandon Cox is expected to start at RT and Gibson hopes to be able to redshirt incoming freshman Will Chance and Zach Leger. It should be noted for those that don't remember, Cox is a true freshman but did sit out a year after high school to get his test scores up, so really (age wise) he would be a sophomore compared to Leger and Chance.