By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Forrest City football isn't around the corner -- it's here.
For Mustang Football coach Donnie Willis, it got a little closer this morning.
Originally scheduled to begin two-a-day summer drills on Aug. 12, Willis was informed today that the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) had moved that date from the 12th to Aug. 5.
"That changes things," Willis said.
Equipment will be given out on Monday, Aug. 2, from 8 until 11 a.m., at the field house. The players will begin team drills on Tuesday, Aug. 3.
Full-fledged two-a-day summer drills begin Thursday, Aug. 5.
The season opener is Friday, Sept. 3, at home against Poplar Bluff, Mo.
Poplar Bluff replaces Wynne as the Mustangs' opening season opponent -- at least for this year and next year -- when Forrest City will go there.
Wynne opted not to renew its long-standing contract with Forrest City. The Mustangs would have opened on the road at Wynne, had the 'Jackets stayed on the schedule.
So that move gives the Mustangs a home opener for the second straight year.
The other change to the Mustangs' schedule brings Sylvan Hills -- who replaces Blytheville in the AAAAA-East conference part of the schedule -- to Sam Smith.
"It's here," Willis said of the 2004 season. "Things will really begin to roll the next couple of weeks."
Willis said several returning Mustang players took advantage of the summer to lift weights get some work in.
"It was good, but it can always be better," Willis added.
The two-a-day drills for the 2004 Mustang football team will be from 8 until 9:30 a.m., and from 5 until 6:30 p.m.
The team will go into full pads on Friday, Aug. 6.
The Mustangs are trying to replace assistant coach Ryan Wallace, who resigned recently.
*The Forrest City Junior Mustangs are scheduled to open the 2004 season on Thursday, Sept. 2, when they host Marianna.
The Junior Mustangs coaching staff returns head coach Rich Trail and assistants Stan Siler, Barry Hodges, Sonny Shields as well as getting some parttime help from new coaches Chris Houser and Chris Kennon.
Lewis Etheridge and John Burgess will once again lead the Forrest City seventh-grade football program, which will get underway as soon as the school year begins.
Game tickets for three of Arkansas State's football opponents in 2004 are now on sale at the ASU Box Office in the Convocation Center.
Fans may purchase tickets to Arkansas State's games at Missouri (Sept. 4), LSU (Sept. 11) and Ole Miss (Oct. 2) by contacting the Box Office at 870-972-2781 or 1-888-ASU FANS.
"Buying tickets for these road games at the ASU Box Office is the best way to assure that Arkansas State fans will be able to sit together as a group," said Box Office Manager Kenny Brewer. "Some ASU fans from those areas are calling to purchase tickets for that reason."
Tickets for the Missouri contest in Columbia, Mo., are $30, while tickets in Baton Rouge, La., for the ASU-LSU game are $36. Football fans may watch ASU play Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss., for $40.
Brewer said that all unsold tickets must be returned to the host schools no later than seven days prior to the game.