Posted
on Wed, Apr. 30, 2003, The State Newspaper
New
Benedict coach picking up pace
Benedict
football coach John Hendrick discovered his team has a long way to go during his first spring practice in
charge of the program, but the players will get
there in a hurry -- literally.
In
addition to teaching the Tigers a new multiple
I offense and an aggressive 3-3-5 defense, the
former Mississippi State assistant has enforced
a faster tempo at practices.
"I
want the pace at practice to be the same as in
a game," Hendrick said. "I want the defense to chase the ball. I want the offense to get in and out of
the huddle quickly. I want the receivers to run
after they catch the ball so they'll be prepared
to play the game.
"The
defensive linemen didn't understand that after
the quarterback throws the ball they need to
take five or six hard steps toward the receiver.
They can stop if it's incomplete or if there's
a tackle but they need to play until the whistle
blows."
Hendrick
even wants his players to run on and off the
field; sending them back to the sideline during
the spring game and having them go out on the
field again if he wasn't happy with the first
effort.
It
is the first step in trying to make Benedict
competitive in its second season in the SIAC.
Tony Felder took over at Benedict in the second
season after the program had been reinstated
and won five games from 1999-2001 but dropped
to 2-9 last season, including 2-6 in the conference.
