Despite a few setbacks, the Alcorn State Braves are on the practice field preparing for a new season.

The school has been without a certified trainer since October, and a lack of one prevented the Braves from hitting the field Monday as planned. The team opened practice Wednesday, then was unable to practice again Thursday due to a scheduling conflict with Mississippi Sports Medicine, who is providing the school with athletic trainers during spring practice.

“We had a miscommunication (Thursday),” Alcorn head coach Johnny Thomas said. “We’ll be ready to roll (Friday and today).”

The Braves were on the practice field again Friday.

After completing today’s practice in helmets and shorts, the Braves plan to go to full pads Monday, and Thomas said he will learn much more about his team when that occurs.

“Without contact it’s hard to get a true measure of if your team is learning anything,” Thomas said. “Once we get in contact drills we’ll see how some people do and how they’re learning and look for some consistency.”

While the team was unable to practice Thursday, several members of the Braves’ offense went out to the field to work on their own and help the underclassmen learn the system.

“We’re trying to get better working on our own,” senior guard Todd Johnson said. “There’s a lot of seniors coming back this year, so we wanted to help the underclassmen learn for when their time comes in the future, or if we get hurt.”

Even with a few hiccups in the schedule, Thomas said he is feeling good about his team’s demeanor in practice.

“The first few days everyone’s excited and jumping around,” he said. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm right now and I’m hoping that carries over throughout the spring.”