March 26, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -
Under clear skies with a cool subtle breeze, the Illinois State football team, which returns 43 letterwinners, took its first step toward the 2006 Gateway Football Conference championship with the first of 15 spring practices on Sunday at Hancock Stadium.
"It was the best first day of practice that we have ever had here," head coach Denver Johnson said. "It's a product of having so many guys back. They knew the drills, they knew where to go and (practice) ran itself extremely smooth. The guys are tuned in, focused and I think I see some improvement already."
The Redbirds, wearing helmets and shorts, worked out for 24, five-minute periods. During four sessions of 7-on-7, the Redbird quarterbacks set the tone for ISU's efficiency with Kevin Brockway completing 11-of-15 passing attempts and Wally Cirafesi completing 12-of-15 tries.
In the four-period team drill, the quarterbacks continued their hot passing, but the defense also made a pair of big plays. Junior Jesse Caesar, sporting a new No. 1 on his jersey, returned an interception off a Cirafesi pass 25-yards for a touchdown. On the very next play, redshirt freshman Kyle Siskowic took a Brockway pass to the end zone from 20 yards out.
"I really liked what I saw on the defensive side of the ball, but I was also pleased with the young quarterbacks," Johnson said. "(The quarterback position) will be an interesting dynamic to watch through the spring. Overall (with how the first practice went), I couldn't be more pleased right now."
Laurent Robinson, Antonio Adams and Dave Mordis were the leading receivers in the team drill with three receptions apiece, while Brockway and Cirafesi were both 8-for-13 passing.
After some conditioning drills, the Redbirds worked on special teams for the next six periods. Sophomores Kevin Mazur and Bobby Kelsey each booted three extra point tries, with Mazur making all three and Kelsey missing one. Mazur was also a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals from 37 yards out, while neither kicker could convert from their one attempt at 47 yards.
For six periods, the Redbirds also focused on technique with their respective position coaches before splitting up into offense and defense for the next three sessions.
The `Birds return to practice on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
NOTES
Redshirt freshman linebacker Brent Gritton will miss the entire spring camp after tearing his right hamstring during a pre-camp workout on Thursday.
Quarterback Anthony Kummer sat out practice with a hip flexor and is listed day-to-day.
Jeremy Joynt, Dan Simnick, Ronnie Tate and Mark Whitaker were all slowed by a viral infection, but each participated in the first practice.
Senior defensive end Ronnie Tate was selected by Johnson to break down practice.
