RUSTON (Sept. 28 ) - Faced with the only open week of the 2000 season, Louisiana Tech Head Coach Jack Bicknell has used the past few days to work with his two young quarterbacks and allow a number of Bulldog players to heal up.

With all the Tech coaches on the road recruiting, only Bicknell, defensive coordinator Tom Masella and co-offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Rob Spence remained in Ruston to work out with the team. Bicknell said much of the time has been spent with Tech's two young signal callers, Maxie Causey and Luke McCown.

"There is no question they have learned a lot," Bicknell said. "We have watched a lot of film with them and done a lot of 7-on-7 skelly in practice. This allows us to get back to basics and help teach both of them a lot more."

Although Bicknell said he is glad of the opportunity to work more with both of quarterbacks, it has been a difficult week following the 22-10 loss at Tulsa.

"From a coaches standpoint, (the week off) is frustrating," Bicknell said. "You really want to get back out on the field and prove yourself. We usually have another game to focus on but this week we didn't."

However, another positive of the time off was the opportunity to let a number of players rest. "It was definitely a good week to recover physically," Bicknell said. "We were a little banged up, and this has allowed us to get healthy again."

Bicknell said he has given the team the next three days off, and the Bulldogs will return to practice Monday in preparation for Middle Tennessee.