Lions open practice

Many welcomed the rain showers that feel steadily in the Joplin, Mo., area all day Thursday.
One person who didn’t? That would be Missouri Southern head football coach Bart Tatum.
When asked if he rain was a welcome addition to the first day of fall football practice, the third-year coach said, “Not for me. I love the heat and humidity … no wind. That is my favorite kind of weather. For our players, I think it was nice.”
Mild temperature with a smattering of sprinkles was abound as a plethora of veterans and newcomers took the field at Fred G. Hughes Stadium in preparation for the Missouri Southern Lions.
Practice started at 10 a.m. Thursday and last until the group broke for lunch a little afternoon noon.
“We wanted to get off on the right foot and check everybody’s conditioning,” explained Tatum of day of activities. “We wanted to introduce what our package will be. Everything is pointing to Harding on August 30.”
The Lions, coming off a 6-5 season, opens the 2008 season in 22 days, hosting Harding.
During the 7-on-7 drills, the team rotated four different quarterbacks, but returning starter Adam Hinspeter got most of the reps. Also getting a lot of work was Roland Thompson, Lee McClendon and Collin Howard.
“It was a really good feeling to get out there after a monotonous summer with an everyday routine,” said Hinspeter, a senior from Centralia, Mo. “I think a lot of guys are ready to start a new routine and get everybody back together.”
Hinspeter had plenty of weapons to throw to on the day, but the passing-first offense also mixed in some running plays.
“I like all of the athletes we have brought in since Coach Tatum has been here,” said Hinspeter. “We have gotten a lot more athletic every year.”
Two of the athletes brought in to catch passes were not participating Thursday. Former Webb City (Mo.) standout Landon Zerkel was on the sidelines in street clothes, while former Cartage (Mo.) standout Stephen Poston was in Washington, Mo., competing in the American Legion baseball State Championships.
“Day one … day one is overrated,” said Tatum after the fact. “We have to figure out where we are at over the course of three weeks or four weeks and two months and three months down the road. “Then we will see where we are at. Success is a relative term for a 6-5 team. For some people that is a losing season and we got a long way to go.”
The 6-5 record, however, was the first winning season in 11 years for the Lions.