Practice report, 4/3

Hey everyone. Practice has ended. Here's what we learned:

• DT Mike Blanc said his father, who lives in Haiti, wasn't able to communicate with his family here in the states for a good while after the earthquake there on Jan. 12. Mike said it was chaos down there. His father is fine now, though, living with an aunt and aiming to make a jump to Bahamas. Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, is basically toast. The Blancs have family in Bahamas, so that may become their new place.
  
  
• Mike Blanc was born in south Florida and his mother lives there now.
  
  
• We received differing reports on S Mike McNeil's health today. Coach Gene Chizik said, of course, that McNeil is basically 100 percent. Assistant coach Tommy Thigpen said McNeil often performs well during the first half of practices, but begins limping during the second half. It's apparent to me that McNeil remains a work in progress physically.
  
  
• McNeil suffered a compound fracture of his left leg almost exactly one year ago. Coaches are hopeful he will re-emerge as a starter in time for the 2010 season.
  
  
• Thigpen seemed higher on fellow S Aairon Savage, whom he praised for showing a "burst" of acceleration that hadn't been there before. Savage is attempting a comeback after losing two seasons to torn knee ligaments.
  
  
• Emory Blake said it's important for him to finish the spring as the No. 3 receiver -- or in an even bigger role. ``You want the coaches to be thinking about you."
  
  
• Auburn will scrimmage on Saturday. Chizik is bringing in officials to create authenticity.
  
  
• WR Darvin Adams didn't have much to say. He's looking to build on what was a strong 2009, though he wasn't named to the All-SEC team. Adams said the snub doesn't bother him anymore.