Brick by brick

FLORENCE

It's not exactly the Great Wall of China, but University of North Alabama football players now have a special wall of their own.

UNA's wall is approximately four feet high and five feet wide, and stands in front of the steps leading to the newly renovated practice field.

The idea of having a team wall came from head coach Mark Hudspeth. Always a master at finding ways to motivate his team, Hudspeth decided to do something special this year.

"Every year I look for some way of inspiring our team and sort of a theme," Hudspeth said. "Last year it was 'Sharpen Your Blade,' and we talked about getting better at practice each day as sharpening our blade.

"This year our theme is 'Brick It Up.' The bricks in the wall represent each player, and the mortar is the perseverance, sweat and blood that holds this team together. Each brick is important, but it's the mortar which is most important."

Hudspeth hopes the wall helps keep his players motivated throughout the long season. That season begins tonight when the Lions host Southern Arkansas at Braly Stadium. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

To make the point hit home with his players, Hudspeth had them ring out the sweat from their jerseys into a bucket after practice each day in fall camp. That bucket of sweat was then used to mix with the powder to make the mortar for the wall.

Each player, coach, manager and trainer then signed a brick, and the wall was built, literally with the players' sweat.

The wall has been a big hit among the players, who touch each day it as they walk out of the locker room to begin practice.

"It's a great idea to get everybody involved," senior wide receiver Joemal Campbell said. "We can look at the wall and remember how hard training camp was, and we know that our sweat is in that wall. It is much bigger than just the outward appearance, and it means a lot to me.

"When we go out to practice and touch the wall we're touching the whole team. It stands for team unity. We know if one brick comes out of the wall it makes it weaker. We want this team to stay strong and united."

Senior safety Bobby Brooks has seen Hudspeth do something different to motivate the team in each of his four seasons. Brooks said it is important for the players to buy into the wall.

"Coach Hud likes to use symbolism like that," Brooks said. "I liked that we all got to design our own brick. That makes it mean more to every player. Touching the wall every day motivates us to work hard at practice.

"It's something that maybe not everybody buys into. Some do and some don't, but the ones who don't are usually the guys that end up quitting."

Senior Sam Hathorn had his wife help him personalize his brick. Hathorn's yellow brick in the center of the wall seems appropriate for the center, who is one of the team leaders.

Hathorn said the wall symbolizes the togetherness of the team.

"It's a constant reminder that we are all in this together," Hathorn said. "We know that we can't do anything by ourselves. The wall symbolizes that we all have to work together to achieve our goals."

Hathorn understands that some people might scoff at the notion that the wall will inspire a college football team.

"Coach Hud said the wall would energize us," Hathorn said. "I know that sounds funny, but it does. It really gets us in the right mindset. People outside the team can't understand that, but for those of us that are in this 100 percent, it really means something."

Hudspeth is pleased with the way his players have brought into the wall concept. Although it is impossible to measure the effectiveness of such a motivational device, Hudspeth feels they are very important.

"Everybody likes to be motivated," he said. "These guys need a dose of motivation every day, and anything we can do to inspire them is important. Building team unity is crucial, and I believe something like this can really make a difference."

Game notes: Although tonight's season opener is a clash of two Gulf South Conference teams it will not count in the GSC standings. Southern Arkansas rotated off of UNA's schedule this year, but with both teams needing another game they agreed on a two-year home-and-home series. UNA has played Delta State as a non-conference game the past two seasons, but that game will count in the GSC standings this year. … Expected to miss tonight's game with injuries are defensive end Dee Pittman (fractured foot), wide receiver Trey Gorman (strained hamstring) and safety Santana Suggs (broken hand). … UNA has won five straight season openers, with its last loss being a 24-21 double-overtime defeat at Samford in 2002, which was Hudspeth's first game as head coach.

Jeff McIntyre can be reached at 740-5737 or jeff.mcintyre@timesdaily.com.