Moderators: jcmanson, Sly Fox, BuryYourDuke, Class of 20Something
Jerry Falwell can have him! I just wish we were playing Liberty next season. One gander into Baranosky's facemask (with the Kiss-style theatrical makeup), and the boy would be on his knees praying, "Oh, Lord, just get me out of here!!!!!"
Why the hell anyone would choose Liberty over JMU is beyond me. He will play his 11 and be done.
Sly Fox wrote:Its good to have the classes back in session. Go get 'em, Chris.those players that we never see on the field... probably won't be seen around campus next year
I'm curious to see how all of these transfers play into the offers being made to HS seniors.
By Chris Lang
clang@newsadvance.com
(434) 385-5529
In years past, football players whose careers didn’t work out at the state’s two biggest schools would consider maybe transferring to Richmond, James Madison or William & Mary if they wanted to stay in-state.
But Liberty? No way.
“That wasn’t even a consideration,” Liberty coach Danny Rocco said.
Since the school hired Rocco as its coach in December 2005 and began to put loads of needed money into its football facilities, times certainly have changed.
A year after landing five transfers from FBS schools, Rocco landed two more Monday when former Virginia offensive lineman Marshal Ausberry and former Virginia Tech safety Kent Hicks enrolled at Liberty.
“They have certain expectations, because they‘ve been in bigger places, they‘ve been in the ACC,” Rocco said. “If they didn‘t see things that met their expectations, they wouldn‘t come. … They come in here and see this facility (the new Williams Football Operations Center), and this facility is beautiful. The weight room is big-time. All of a sudden, they‘re coming in going, ‘gee whiz, I didn‘t know I-AA (FCS) football looked like this.’”
Hicks, who has two years of eligibility remaining, was considered one of the top five Virginia recruits in the 2003-04 signing class, which included Virginia’s Chris Long and Virginia Tech’s Sean Glennon and Eddie Royal. He played his prep ball at Culpeper High School, was a SuperPrep All-American and earned defensive MVP honors for the West squad in the 2004 VHSCA all-star game.
The 6-2, 206-pound Hicks struggled to adjust to Bud Foster’s defensive scheme at Tech. Early last season, Hicks left school to pursue other options.
Rocco said he’ll wait until after spring practice to issue Hicks a definitive position, meaning he’ll work some at safety and corner. Liberty returns plenty of talent in the secondary, including safety Ryan Greiser and cornerback E.L. Estes, who were second-team all-Big South selections.
“He‘s a big, athletic defensive back,” Rocco said. “He‘s got the skills to play corner. He‘s got experience at safety. He really seems like he is really focused and really re-energized over having a second opportunity to have some success.”
Rocco recruited Hicks as a Virginia assistant before Hicks signed with Tech.
Ausberry’s enrollment was widely expected. Firmly entrenched behind Ian-Yates Cunningham on Virginia’s depth chart at right guard, Ausberry wanted to transfer to either Liberty or James Madison so he’d have a chance to start. The 6-foot-5, 314-pound Ausberry already received his bachelor’s degree from Virginia before asking to be released from his scholarship and enrolled in LU’s graduate education program Monday. He’ll be reunited with former Cavaliers Eddie Pinigis and Vince Redd at LU.
Ausberry started 11 games as a sophomore, a season that culminated with Virginia beating Minnesota in the Music City Bowl. Though Liberty has a need at right guard with all-conference selection Jarrett Winfrey graduating, Rocco said he’ll try Ausberry at a variety of positions during the spring to see where he fits best.
“He got an opportunity at Virginia to taste it, but he got beat out by a younger player,” Rocco said. “He wants to finish his career with an opportunity to compete for a starting position. He has a chance to be a really good player.”
EXTRA POINTS: Glenville State has pulled out its scheduled Sept. 1 game at Liberty, leaving the Flames three open dates still to be filled in the upcoming season. North Greenville, a Division II power from South Carolina, could fill one of the spots, Rocco said. … Alfonso Bailey, a defensive back from Fort Myers, Fla., who signed with Liberty last February but sat out due to academic reasons, is enrolled in school for the spring semester and has rejoined the football team. … LU’s spring practice begins March 23 and the spring game will be held April 21.
In years past, football players whose careers didn’t work out at the state’s two biggest schools would consider maybe transferring to Richmond, James Madison or William & Mary if they wanted to stay in-state.That's a great introduction, Chris, and thanks for the whole article.
But Liberty? No way.
“That wasn’t even a consideration,” Liberty coach Danny Rocco said.
Since the school hired Rocco as its coach in December 2005 and began to put loads of needed money into its football facilities, times certainly have changed.
Liberty lands U.Va. transferhttp://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Sa ... s!colleges
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Jan 23, 2007
Marshal Ausberry, a starter on the University of Virginia football team in 2005, has transferred to Liberty University and will play his final college season there.
A 6-5, 315-pound offensive guard who was a backup in 2006, Ausberry completed work on his sociology degree at U.Va. last month. He said yesterday that he's looking forward to playing a leading role in 2007 for the Division I-AA Flames, whose coach is former U.Va. assistant Danny Rocco.
"It's definitely an exciting thing to be here and be with these guys," said Ausberry, who's also been re-united with former U.Va. teammates Vince Redd and Eddie Pinigis.
Pinigis, an offensive tackle, stands 6-8 and weighs 295 pounds. Redd is a 6-6, 275-pound outside linebacker in Liberty's 3-4 defense.
"It's a shame I couldn't find bigger guys to come down here and play I-AA football," Rocco said.
Ausberry, 22, requested his release from U.Va. last week. Rocco then called Cavaliers coach Al Groh, who told him to feel free to pursue Ausberry. A graduate of West Springfield High who's a devout Christian, Ausberry also considered James Madison University before picking Liberty.
"I don't have any hard feelings" toward U.Va., Ausberry said. "It's a great program for anybody to be a part of."
The list of former U.Va. players at Liberty could grow before the start of the 2007 season. Others who could end up in Rocco's program include Chris Johnson, Robbie Catterton and Bud Davis.
- Jeff White
Sly Fox wrote:And from the Richmond fishwrap, and indication of who else from UVa might be on the way:
Liberty lands U.Va. transfer
Richmond Times-Dispatch
... He said yesterday that he's looking forward to playing a leading role in 2007 for the Division I-AA Flames, whose coach is former U.Va. assistant Danny Rocco.
... "It's a shame I couldn't find bigger guys to come down here and play I-AA football," Rocco said.
- Jeff White
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Sa ... s!colleges
JLFJR wrote:Thanks for your input, PA! Very helpful.
PAmedic wrote:Sly Fox wrote:And from the Richmond fishwrap, and indication of who else from UVa might be on the way:
Liberty lands U.Va. transfer
Richmond Times-Dispatch
... He said yesterday that he's looking forward to playing a leading role in 2007 for the Division I-AA Flames, whose coach is former U.Va. assistant Danny Rocco.
... "It's a shame I couldn't find bigger guys to come down here and play I-AA football," Rocco said.
- Jeff White
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Sa ... s!colleges
Football Championship Subdivision
Football Championship Subdivision
JLFJR wrote:Thanks for your input, PA! Very helpful.
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