Tuesday papers & practice notes

Here's what's in the papers today on OVC teams:

The (Clarksville, Tenn.) Leaf Chronicle says Austin Peay players got into pads for the first time Monday, and the Govs are choming at the bit to start hitting eachother. James D. Horne also has a column in today's paper. He says there are three attitudes in Clarksville toward APSU's return to sholarship ball: enthusiasm, apathy and downright hostility to the idea of football. To answer all three, Horne asks a series of Govs players why fans should come out to seem the team play.

The (Nashville) Tennessean has its second story in as many days on Tennessee State. I'd be shocked, but a I-A transfer is again the focus of the story. Former South Carolina quarterback Antonio Hefner is so far the leading candidate to start for the Tiger, according to coach James Webster. It is a good story that TSU fans will want to read. But on their behalf I ask: does it always take a former I-A player to get The Tennessean's attention?

Eastern Illinois is holding its third annual class for woman "Football 102," intended to give ladies a good look at the game, according to a story in the (Charleston, Ill.) Journal Gazette/Times-Courier. Panthers coaches are the instructors. I imagine they enjoy a chance to be surrounded by members of the fairer sex for a change a week or so of camp.

In a column in today's Birmingham News, Ray Melick says Jacksonville State athletic director Jim Fuller isn't pleased at the prospect of a 12th regular-season game for I-AA teams. Fuller believes the move would dilute the market for I-A money games, resulting in smaller checks. And he's not willing to see the Gamecocks play two I-A dates. I'm learning that Melick is always on unsteady ground when he writes about I-AA. He gets the Division I and I-A labels mixed up again in this column, though he makes the correct distinction between I-A and I-AA in a couple spots, so I'll call that an improvement. He may have been led astray, however, by none other than Fuller, who is quoted referring to I-A as "D-I." Come on, coach, your program is D-I. You should know better.

The Southeast Missourian reports on four local players who are listed at No. 1 on SEMO's depth chart for their respective positions. Among them, placekicker Colin Schermann, cornerback Monroe Hicks, linebacker Seth Harrell and offensive tackle Zach Leible.

And now, reports for the schools' Web sites on their recent practices:

JSU is preparing for an 80-play scrimmage today at 3:30, according this report. The Gamecocks also are getting ready for Fan Day, set for Sunday at 2 p.m. at Paul Snow Stadium. Coach Jack Crowe singled out three defensive linemen whose play impressed him in Monday's practice, Santez Mays, Duane Tolbert and Brandt Thomas. There's also a video interview with Crowe.

Murray State has a report on Monday's practice, which was a hot one. There's also another photo album. Also, Racers coach Matt Griffin is tabbed as one of 80 "hot coaches" in the country by the magazine American Football Monthly, according to this release form MSU.

Samford Coach Bill Gray named his team's captains after monday's practice. They are Josh Brennard, Graham Lemmond, T.C. Myers and Freddy Young. The Bulldogs also have another practice photo album available.

UT-Martin Coach Jason Simpson said the race for the Skyhawks' starting quarterback slot is among three players: junior college transfer James Pritchard, redshirt freshamn Greg Preston and true freshman Dexter Anoka.

Tennessee Tech has a detailed report up from Monday's practice. Of note: last year's starting quarterback Stephen Britton returned to the team after completing some summer class class requirements.