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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels' Strong officially back
8/10/2001 | Football
Aug. 10, 2001
By Gregg Ellis, Daily Journal
OXFORD --- After missing all last season with a stress fracture in his left foot, Ole Miss All-SEC linebacker Eddie Strong was eager to get back onto the football field.
Thursday morning, his long-awaited return finally arrived as the Rebels' upperclassmen reported for their first practice.
"Man, it was good to be back on the field," the junior from Batesville said. "I'm 100 percent healed, and I'm just excited to be here learning the defense and getting ready. Football is fun again."
Like Strong, junior center Ben Claxton knows the feeling of watching the game unfold from the sidelines. Against Tulane in the season opener, the former freshman All-American suffered a fractured left ankle and didn't start again until the Music City Bowl against West Virginia.
"Sitting out makes you really appreciate the opportunity that's been given to you," he said. "As athletes, we sometimes take our health for granted.
"I'm not normally one to look forward to two-a-days, but this summer I was."
Strong, Claxton and the rest of their teammates were greeted with much cooler-than-expected temperatures, thanks to heavy rains and clouds that hit Oxford early Thursday morning. Just in case, though, a cool-down tent has been constructed to aid for the days when the mercury readings reach the high-90s.
Many coaches prefer the August heat to help players get into playing shape. However, Rebels coach David Cutcliffe says that theory is a bit overrated.
"These players have been running all summer and are in good shape," he said. "We have a high-tempo practice anyway, and that's where you get your real conditioning."
As for his team's first full practice, Cutcliffe says he was really encouraged by attitudes and the players' energy level.
"I didn't see anything I didn't like," he said. "Obviously, you're going to have a few mistakes on the first day. But for the most part, everybody was always where they needed to be."
Cutcliffe also said quarterback Eli Manning was impressive and noted, "he separated himself from the other three." The other three he is referring to are David Morris, Seth Smith and Michael Spurlock. Morris is the top backup, while Smith and Spurlock and battling for the No. 3 position.
In other news, freshman defensive lineman McKinley Boykin from Bessemer, Ala., finally received medical clearance and practiced for the first time. However, linebacker L.P. Spence, a transfer from Northeast Community College, remains sidelined following irregular heart palpitations he experienced Monday afternoon.
"I'm not sure when he will be back," Cutcliffe. "Right now, we are watching him very closely and evaluating him day-to-day."
Ole Miss resumes two-a-day practices today. Monday, the team will be in full pads for the first time.
