[Sly Fox]

Well, its time once again for another showdown with the Chanticleers ...


Coastal Carolina University
Conway, South Carolina

Official CCU Football Site

CoastalFans Football Forum

State University
Enrollment: 7613
Founded: 1954
Conference: Big South
Home Field: Brooks Stadium (Capacity: 6408)




2006 Results:

09/02 - Elon .................................. L (23-20)
09/09 - @ Wofford ........................ W (41-38 )
09/16 - @ Georgia Southern ......... L (38-21)
09/23 - South Carolina State ........ W (33-14)
09/30 - @ Winston-Salem State .... W (31-12)
10/07 - Furman ............................. W (29-27)
10/14 - @ VMI ............................... W (31-27)

Overall: 5-2
Big South: 1-0


Key Players:


#16 Tyler Thigpen
Senior Quarterback
Thru 7 Games: 123-of-193 for 1893 Passing Yards, 15 TDs, 5 INTs + 397 Yards and 4 TDs Rushing



#1 Aundres Perkins
Senior Running Back
Thru 7 Games: 74 Carries for 414 Yards, 5.6 YPC, 3 TDs + 189 Yards Receiving



#19 Jerome Simpson
Junior Wide Receiver
Thru 7 Games: 37 Catches for 591 Yards with 9 TDs



#47 Josh Hoke
Senior Kicker
Thru 7 Games: 7-of-12 on Field Goals with long of 37, 23-of-24 PATs



#34 Jamar Leath
Senior Linebacker
Thru 7 Games: Team-Best 73 Tackles including 3.5 For Loss, Returned INT for 24 Yds, Forced Fumble



#7 Quinton Teal
Senior Defensive Back
Thru 7 Games: 47 Tackles Including 2 For Loss, 2 INTs, Blocked Kick

[Rocketfan]

I am to lazy to do the research right now.....but coastal is giving up a lot more points than i thought. Is this all like in garbage time for some of these games? I just dont' know how you hold wofford to 3 pts ad let VMI score 27, that just has me scratching my head.

[SuperJon]

Wofford scored 38 on them.


They're giving up a ton of points. However, they have been able to score at will.

[bigsmooth]

it has the potential to be a shootout. if we can step up our secondary we can win the game.

[SuperJon]

We can run on them. They're going to be able to pass on us. The question will be can they run on us or can we pass on them?

[Rocketfan]

We can run on them. They're going to be able to pass on us. The question will be can they run on us or can we pass on them?

Well if thats the case, can't we pretty much try to control the clock? I mean 6 minute drives and if we do have some secondary problems we can at least gamble a bit if they can't stop the run. If we do run that much, selling play action may be huge for brock to have another great game.

[SuperJon]

They scored in 38 seconds against VMI. Give them any time and it's deadly.

[SuperJon]

They turn the ball over a ton though. We don't cause too many turnovers so that could help.

[Stevev]

This game is criticle to see how much character we have following 2 heart breaking back to back losses. Coach rocco is going to have to light a fire under this team if it is going to pull off the upset.

[PAmedic]

all things considered it may be better for the Flames to be coming off 2 heartbreaking losses rather than a heroic win or 2. You can't pull that off too many times in a row. All I know is I feel a LOT less confident about this game than I did after Towson in wk3.

[thepostman]

the thing even though we have had these heartbreaking losses no team in the big south is THAT strong that we can't make a game out of it and maybe pull out a win...though Coastal plays very very well at their home stadium....I wouldn't mind taking the trip town, but i must work and make money...freaking money, screws everything up

[Sly Fox]

I believe Chris was accurate earlier when he said no team in the Big South is significantly better than anyone else. I believe all our remaining games will be close and we just need to learn how to win these type of contests. End of story.

I think it should be noted that this is supposed to be CCU's big season. Since they began their program they have built towards this year and they a senior-laden squad. As a result they are extremely dangerous. Next year however, they are going to have major issues filling holes. In the meantime we will have our hands full this week. But this game is winnable despite what some may lead you to believe.

[givemethemic]

Coach's Rocco's press conference from about an hour ago

http://www.yousendit.com/download/WSDet4x3UTk%3D

[nickrichard]

I really do not think there will be a mental let down after the last 2 games. I firmly believe that Rocco has their heads going in the right direction. This is a really big road game, that is winnable. You are still in contention for winning the conference (with a little help) so you have to go in with that mindset. This year is definitely different than years past.

[LUconn]

I think this is all about getting out to an early lead. If it weren't for our last game, I would say that we are VERY difficult to beat from behind. We have a very grind it out type of style that just kills the clock. Perhaps we learned a lesson in the secondary and it will make us that much tougher. Anyway, I think the first 2 possesions on both teams will be the most important.

[PAmedic]

I think this is all about getting out to an early lead. If it weren't for our last game, I would say that we are VERY difficult to beat from behind. We have a very grind it out type of style that just kills the clock. Perhaps we learned a lesson in the secondary and it will make us that much tougher. Anyway, I think the first 2 possesions on both teams will be the most important.

LUConn is right on, here.

If we can't run the ball, or if Brock comes out flat, or starts poorly- WE ARE DEAD.

DEAD.

DEAD.

[Rocketfan]

This is just what we need, a guy who can run, throw and plays with a chip on his shoulder ( and playing at home )


Thigpen the thrower

Teams always knew Tyler Thigpen was a threat with his legs. The Coastal Carolina quarterback ran for 449 yards and four touchdowns last season, and his 77-yard TD run against VMI was the Chanticleers' longest play from scrimmage in 2005.

His arm was a question mark, though. He threw for 1,589 yards and 11 touchdowns last year, completed 54.1 percent of his passes and averaged 144.5 yards per game through the air.

He's already surpassed those numbers through seven games in 2006, throwing for 1,893 yards and 15 TDs. Thigpen has completed 63.7 percent of his passes and is averaging 270.4 yards per game.

He's still a run threat, too. Thigpen has 397 yards and four TDs on the ground.

Earlier this month, Thigpen was added to the watch list for the Walter Payton Award, given to I-AA's top player.

"He's got a little more confidence," CCU coach Dave Bennett said. "And I think he's got a little chip. He's been a four-year starter in this league and he's never even been second-team all-conference. I think he feels like he's got something to prove."

- Chris Lang

[Sly Fox]

Here is the take from Matt Dougherty of The Sports Network:

Liberty (3-4, 0-1) at No. 22 Coastal Carolina (5-2, 1-0), 12:30

The flurry of upsets last week had to make fans in Conway smile. Coastal Carolina will never be a lock with a 9-2 record, but surprising losses by teams like New Hampshire, Richmond, Cal Poly and Southern Illinois could open some doors to playoff spots, and the Chants will be ready to step through if they can win out in the Big South. Of course, the Chants could be an upset victim as well if they play the way they did at VMI against tougher opponents. Coastal Carolina just got by VMI, 31-27, before last week�s bye, and the defense has to be a concern at this point, at least against the run. The Chants rank in the bottom five nationally with 231 yards per game and 5.17 yards per carry allowed on the ground, and that could play into the hands of the Liberty offense. The Flames have dropped three in a row after a fast start, but still feature an effective running game with Rashad Jennings (768 yards, 8 TD) leading the way. They have three I-AA losses by a combined 11 points and took Coastal Carolina to triple overtime during a 1-10 campaign a year ago, so they should be able to stay in this game all the way, especially if Jennings has a big day. A close contest would put the game in the hands of Coastal Carolina quarterback Tyler Thigpen, and that�s usually a good position for the Chants. Thigpen leads the nation with 327 yards of total offense per game and has a long list of last- minute rallies to his credit, including a 29-27 victory over Furman three weeks ago. Look for Thigpen to come through in the fourth quarter again, as the Chants get a close victory to hang in the playoff race. Prediction: Coastal Carolina 27, Liberty 23

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.as ... apoint.htm

[Sly Fox]

Here is more from Chris' notes on Wednesday:

Flames turn to film to figure out flaws

By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
October 25, 2006

After looking at film for two days, it was evident to Liberty's coaching staff how Gardner-Webb was able to shred one of the best defenses in Division I-AA for more than 300 yards and 27 points in one half last Saturday.

The Bulldogs rallied from a 17-0 halftime deficit to win 27-24 and send the Flames to their third straight loss. So what broke down? Several things:

Gardner-Webb made adjustments in its blocking schemes in the second half, neutralizing Liberty's inside linebacker blitzes.

"They changed their protection," Liberty defensive coordinator Tom Clark said. "We just did not react as well as we could have."

With little heat to contend with, GWU quarterback Devin Campbell had time to make smart decisions and his receivers ran impeccable routes.

Liberty's basic zone scheme allowed for plenty of receptions over the middle. LU coach Danny Rocco said the defense used several looks (equal parts Cover 2, Cover 3 and zone blitz), but GWU still was able to effectively move the ball.

The biggest problems came in the red zone, Clark said. Zone defenses are prone to allowing chunks of yardage, but before Saturday, Liberty had been stout near its goal line. That didn't happen Saturday. All three Gardner-Webb touchdowns came from inside the 10.

"We got them into some passing situations in the red zone and we made some mistakes," Clark said. "The first one was a run, and it was just a broken tackle. The second one, we had double coverage on, but we kind of sloughed off on (No.) 85 (Austin Gaines) and he got on the back porch there and they stuck it in there.

"The last one was a fade against a bracket zone kind of coverage. We missed the jam (at the line of scrimmage) and the kid got off easy. (Campbell) put it in a perfect spot. It was an exceptional performance on their part."

Brock's the man (really)

Rocco's hand was forced last week because of the uncertain status of tailback Rashad Jennings (high ankle sprain). Zach Terrell took most of the snaps at tailback in practice. Brock Smith took the snaps at quarterback.

It appears, for now at least, that it will stay that way.

Save for a couple of plays against Gardner-Webb, Smith was Liberty's quarterback. Terrell started at tailback and carried 29 times for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Smith played better than he had all year, completing 15 of 24 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown. The numbers would have been better had Dominic Bolden not dropped a potential 40-yard TD pass.

"It was fun to finally come out and get in a rhythm," Smith said.

Said Rocco: "He played the best he's played all year."

Jennings update

Rocco said Tuesday that Jennings was questionable at best for Saturday's game at Coastal Carolina.

The Big South's rushing leader only carried the ball twice Saturday and didn't have the burst he normally has at the point of contact. He didn't practice Monday or Tuesday, and how much he practices today and Thursday will dictate how much he plays at Coastal.

http://newsadvance.com/servlet/Satellit ... th=!sports

[Sly Fox]

Here is a preview from Ian (who is the Chris Lang of the CCU board) in the Conway fishwrap:

Posted on Thu, Oct. 26, 2006

COASTAL CAROLINA FOOTBALL
Bye week let Coastal rejuvenate for Liberty
Chants use time off to get healthy

By Ian Guerin
The Sun News

CONWAY - Brad Poston's been around long enough to cherish a week off in the middle of the football season.

After 40 consecutive starts - a number that includes every Coastal Carolina game played - the Chanticleers' right tackle wasn't about to complain about his time off last week. Poston debunked ideas that the team could possibly fall apart or forget how to execute during a bye week.

"It's kind of hard to get any closer than we are," Poston said Wednesday. "We've been around each other for a very long time. But it helps with injuries. I'm old and I'm hurt. There are a lot of other guys on the team who are like that."

Offensively, Coastal seemed to be most affected at running back during the first half of the season. Tailbacks Arthur Sitton, Jamie Fordham and Racheed Gause all missed time with injuries.

However, the tandem of Mike Tolbert and Aundres Perkins more than made up for the absences during Coastal's last game. The two paired for 241 yards against VMI in Coastal's 31-27 victory.

The production helped CCU go into the off week on an up note of sorts. It made it a little easier for players and coaches to enjoy the time off.

"It felt kind of good to have a day off," senior defensive back Dewitt Myers said. "We got a chance to watch some other college teams that we really didn't have a chance to watch playing games. It's always good to have the day off. Now we're ready to get it cranked up again."

Coastal (5-2, 1-0 Big South) will find out if there's any rust in its gears - especially on offense - on Saturday against Liberty (3-4, 0-1) at Brooks Stadium. The Flames' defense has allowed just 13.1 points and 182 passing yards per game this season.

The Chants, meanwhile, average 29 points per game, as well as 272 yards per contest. The question, then, is which side will give first.

It's an aspect of the game Coastal had two weeks to ponder.

"You only get one of those during the season," Coastal coach David Bennett said. "It's nice to have it. Our guys have moved around good this week. They look like they're refocused and energized."
_______________________________________________________________

Next game

Who | Liberty (3-4, 0-1 Big South) at Coastal Carolina (5-2, 1-0)

When | 12:30 p.m. Saturday

Where | Brooks Stadium, Conway

TV | none

Radio | WJXY-FM, 93.9; WXJY-FM, 93.7; WIQB-AM, 1050

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/my ... 851232.htm

[Sly Fox]

Here are some gameday stories from Ian at the Myrtle Beach fishwrap:

Chants search for balance against Flames
By Ian Guerin
The Sun News

CONWAY - David Bennett's philosophy on winning football games hasn't changed - you need to run the football.

Buried behind Coastal Carolina's high-powered passing attack, the running game has had its ups and downs.

At times this season - specifically in losses to Elon and Georgia Southern, as well as the victory over Furman - the running game either fell short or struggled to reach 100 yards. And at other times, like victories over Wofford, South Carolina State and VMI, the Chanticleers looked like CCU teams of old, pounding the football and giving Coastal a chance to win.

"To me, I love running the football," Bennett said.

But?

"You've got to be able to throw the football to keep up with today's technology of the game," Bennett said.

For the most part, Coastal (5-2 overall, 1-0 Big South) has done that. Entering this afternoon's game against Liberty (3-4, 0-1) at Brooks Stadium, quarterback Tyler Thigpen is averaging 272 passing yards per game.

The running game, though, has struggled to maintain any consistency, in part because the focus has switched to the passing game.

"Our passing offense is rolling right now, so any kind of running we do would help," right tackle Brad Poston said. "We can run the ball. We know we can run the ball. It's just whether we do or not sometimes. Sometimes we don't do everything we're supposed to do."

According to Bennett, every play would be a running play if the offensive line had its way.

Coastal's stable of ball carriers - despite averaging 5.2 yards per carry overall - has not kept up with the Chants' production through the air, as evident by the play calling.

Only twice this season has the ground game produced more yards than the passing game, something that was commonplace in Coastal's first three seasons of football.

And while the Chants may not accomplish the perfect balance between their rushing and passing games this season, they better do at least one or the other in every game.

"This week it might be rushing for 300," Bennett said. "Next week it might be throwing for 300. You better be able to do both.
Who | Liberty (3-4, 0-1 Big South) at Coastal Carolina (5-2, 1-0)

When | 12:30 p.m. today

Where | Brooks Stadium, Conway

TV | none

Radio | WJXY-FM, 93.9; WXJY-FM, 93.7; WIQB-AM, 1050

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/my ... 871011.htm

CCU FOOTBALL OPPONENT SPOTLIGHT
Jennings joins Flames, family
By Ian Guerin
The Sun News

Rashad Jennings' heart strings were being pulled.

On one hand, Jennings had just completed a successful freshman season at Pittsburgh, a NCAA Division I-A school that had finished in the top three in the Big East three of the past four years.

On the other, family was struggling back home in Forest, Va.

Family won.

In a landslide.

"This is home for me," said Jennings, who has now settled at Liberty. "My dad wasn't doing well healthwise, and I'm a momma's boy. I didn't like her driving six hours to come see me."

Jennings, who along with his Liberty teammates, will play at Coastal Carolina on Saturday, doesn't regret his decision to transfer to Liberty, a mere 15 minutes away from his parent's house in Forest.

His mother, Deborah, doesn't have to pull the long drives as often. It allowed him to start meeting his family, which includes two older brothers, at the house every Sunday for dinner.

And it allowed him to be closer to his father, Albert, who had his right leg and several toes on his left foot amputated due to his struggle with diabetes.

With the help of a prosthetic leg and a walker, Albert has yet to miss a Liberty home game this season. And what he's seen, for the most part, has got to make him proud.

After starting seven games at Pittsburgh as a true freshman and finishing second on the team with 411 yards, Rashad Jennings leads the Big South this season with 768 yards (109.7 per game) and eight touchdowns.

The only drawback this season has been right high ankle sprain suffered during the Flames' game against William and Mary on Oct. 14. Jennings was pulled from the game, and he carried the football just twice last weekend against Gardner-Webb.

"It was pretty tough me being on the sidelines for almost a game and a half," he said. "[But] I've got an angel looking over me because I could have broke my leg."

On Tuesday, first-year Liberty coach Danny Rocco reiterated Jennings' durability. When an assistant showed the coach a freeze-frame shot of the moment Jennings suffered the injury, Rocco said there were stress points on not only Jennings' ankle, but his knee and hip, too.

Sustaining a relatively minor injury compared to what could have happened was likely a product of Jennings' 6-foot-1, 240-pound frame.

And combined with his production in his first two seasons - as well as the fact that he has two-plus years to continue to grow - Jennings believes if he is going to make it to the NFL, he has as good of a shot at making it to the next level at Liberty as he would have at Pittsburgh.

He cited former Flames' back Samkon Gado, now with the Houston Texans. But like his decision to transfer to Liberty, he has another answer closer to home.

Jennings' brother Butch received exposure while playing for VMI and Liberty before joining the New York Giants. (Additionally, the third Jennings' brother, Bryan, played at Virginia Tech and then three different NFL teams.)

Playing beyond his Liberty days, however, is something he won't have to deal with for some time. For now, Jennings is just enjoying the time close to his family.

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/my ... 860956.htm

[Sly Fox]

And here is Chris' gameday story that focuses on Rashad's health:

Ankle a lot healthier for LU's Jennings

By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
October 28, 2006

Perhaps the hands-off approach wasn't the way to go.

Liberty running back Rashad Jennings went through practice last week without any contact, understandable since he was nursing a high right ankle sprain.

Questions lingered. Would he shy from contact? Would he run tentatively? Would he reinjure the ankle the first time he took a hit?

When it came time to hit a hole against Gardner-Webb last Saturday afternoon, he lacked explosiveness and went down in a gang tackle at the line of scrimmage. Jennings only carried the ball one more time. The ankle was too bothersome.

In practices leading up to today's game at Coastal Carolina, Liberty coach Danny Rocco changed his approach.

Jennings didn't practice Tuesday, but Wednesday, he went full bore. No red "non-contact" jersey to hold him back.

Thursday, he was running well, showing no signs of pain. After practice, Jennings said he'd be good to go against the Chanticleers.

"He's got to test himself, and I think that's what we were able to do this week," Rocco said. "We certainly expect him to make a contribution."

Coastal Carolina coach David Bennett foresees the same thing. When asked at his weekly news conference in Conway about Liberty's run game, he said he expected Jennings, the Big South's leading rusher, to play.

"He's a big back that's got good speed and has good strength," Bennett said.

"He's quite a player."

The man who replaced Jennings last week, do-it-all sophomore Zach Terrell, ran for 175 yards and two touchdowns. He won't be a forgotten member of the team, Rocco said, noting that Terrell and Jennings would split carries and that Terrell would get his customary series or two at quarterback.

Offense, though, wasn't Liberty's problem last week against Gardner-Webb.

The Flames allowed 27 second-half points and watched sophomore quarterback Devin Campbell carve up the secondary for three touchdowns after the break.

It won't get easier today.

Coastal's Tyler Thigpen is the Big South's most complete quarterback, using a combination of speed, savvy and arm strength to rack up 327.1 yards of total offense per game.

He's at his best in pressure situations and has improved immensely since LU and CCU last met. Last October, Thigpen was inconsistent at best in leading the Chanticleers to a triple-overtime victory in Lynchburg.

This season, he's been rock solid.

"I watch the tape and I see a good throwing quarterback who can run," Rocco said, adding that Thigpen's a major threat to gain big yards via scramble when his receivers are covered.

And if the Flames want to have any success and keep their slim Big South title hopes alive, they'll have to cover Coastal's Jerome Simpson, who has 37 catches for 591 yards and nine touchdowns.

If the defense succeeds in containing Coastal's powerful offense, the game could rest on Jennings' shoulders.

When Liberty is at its best, Jennings gains huge chunks of yards and keeps the defense off the field.

Jennings and his teammates are still confident, even after letting leads slip away in the last two games.

"We're 11 points away from being 6-1," Jennings said. "We're not discouraged at all. We're out here busting our tails."

http://www.newsadvance.com/servlet/Sate ... th=!sports

[SuperJon]

The rain stopped overnight. It's sunny and breezy but pretty nice outside. It's also 10:00, I need to get dressed and head over to the school. I just wish some more students would've made this trip.

[LUconn]

dang. I was hoping for the rain. Nothing like the slop to slow down a passing attack. Well.. maybe a good secondary.