[Sly Fox]

Here is a feature on Eddie by Chris:

Pinigis a comfortable fit on LU's offensive line

By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
September 26, 2006

When disgruntled Virginia right tackle Eddie Pinigis hastily left Charlottesville and transferred to Liberty two days before the end of LU's preseason camp, Flames left tackle Stephen Sene had a few questions.

Considering how public the spat between Pinigis and Virginia coach Al Groh had become over playing time, Sene wasn't sure what kind of teammate he was getting in Pinigis. How would he fit in? Was he one of those ego players who would demand a starting job before even attending his first practice?

"It was awkward at first," said Sene, who played a year at South Carolina before leaving Columbia. "We had all been together through the spring and through the summer and through camp. We all kind of had mixed feelings about it, but that was before we even met the guy."

Once Sene and the rest of the linemen met Pinigis, the feelings of uncertainty went away.

"He was real humble about coming in and stepping it up for the team," Sene said. "It's not like he came in and said, 'this is my spot, and I deserve this.' His attitude coming in was just great, and our attitude toward him was welcoming."

Pinigis won his teammates over with his work ethic and his friendly personality, but talent helps, too. Liberty coach Danny Rocco knew adding a 6-foot-8, 295-pounder who started three games against ACC foes last season would complete LU's offensive line. He's an anchor on the right side, helping Liberty rack up a Big South-best 225.8 rushing yards per game.

The Flames head into Saturday's game at Wake Forest as a decided underdog, but in former Jefferson Forest standout Pinigis, Rocco has a player who has battled hard against some of the best defensive players in the ACC.

He held his own last year against NFL draft picks Boston College's Mathias Kiwanuka and Florida State's Kamerion Wimberly. He'll have another tough challenge Saturday slowing a Wake defense that leads the ACC in sacks (14) and has the league's sack leader in defensive end Bryan Andrews (3.5 sacks).

"Eddie is and will continue to be kind of a stabilizing force for us on the offensive line," Rocco said. "He's been playing well; his game down at Savannah State was his best game of the year. He has been in that environment before and he's played against that caliber of defensive end. I think there's a little calming factor there that he does bring."

It's taken some time for Pinigis to become comfortable with that leadership role, considering he joined the team so deep into training camp.

He had to adapt to some of the subtle differences between the offenses at Virginia and Liberty, and Rocco admitted that some of the terminology in LU's offense confused Pinigis at first. But four weeks into the season, he's close to having the offense down, and that was evident in the run and pass protection Liberty showed at Savannah State. Liberty ran for 296 yards and allowed no sacks against the Tigers.

Pinigis is as comfortable in his new home as his teammates are with him. The decision to transfer came so quickly that some natural worry crept into his mind during those whirlwind days in August when he went from Cavaliers backup to Flames starter.

"A lot of people were telling me, especially the coaches up at UVa, that I was going to regret this, and stuff like that," Pinigis said. "It could work either way. I could have stayed up there and regretted staying up there. So far, it's been good, and I feel like I made the right decision. I've been here for a month and there's been no regrets at all."

Pinigis also had to consider the social ramifications of the transfer. He built many friendships at Virginia but also found some trouble.

In April, Pinigis and teammates Zak Stair and Mike Brown were arrested in connection with a break-in and a fight at a Charlottesville fraternity party. The case still has not been resolved; a hearing for the misdemeanor charge is set for Nov. 9 in Charlottesville General District Court.

The incident proved to be an eye-opener for Pinigis.

"I was thinking (Liberty) would be a good school to go to," Pinigis said. "Maybe not as much partying and all that stuff, and I'd get to know God better. That was definitely a huge factor, and I think it's going to help me out in the long run."

Moving back to Lynchburg allowed Pinigis to reconnect with family and friends, including former JF teammates Stevie Ray Lloyd and Rashad Jennings.

The two sat behind Pinigis as he answered a question Tuesday, cracking jokes and making faces at Pinigis as he tried to talk with a straight face.

It felt like old times. For Pinigis, being home felt right.

"Everybody on the team likes him a lot," Lloyd said. "He fits in really well here. It's just awesome being back playing with him again. It's like we're in high school again, but in college. It's a lot of fun."

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