RELEASE DATE: 8/16/05

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DEFENSE STANDS OUT IN FIRST DAY OF TWO-A-DAYS – RUNNING BACKS GET IN WORK

MANSFIELD – The defense got its chance to standout in the first allowed practice day of two-a-day sessions Tuesday.

Through a light rain in the morning session and a relatively cool afternoon in uppers, the defense created much of the excitement of the day ignited by a number of big hits.

Anchored by returning veterans Keith Slezak, Rob Smiley, Andre` Turner and Ronnie Montgomery the defense held the upper hand in skelly and special teams drills. The defense also got a boost with the addition of Eddy Brown, a former starter at Michigan State and standout in the Arena Football League, joining the coaching staff as defensive secondary coach.

The offense did manage to make a little noise of its own behind the solid running of Poohbear McNeal, Rodney Davis and Paul Garafolo.

The Mountaineers have a mandated single session on the field on Tuesday before a two-a-day session on Wednesday.