[wwhs65]

They talk a lot of smack for a powerhouse with 27 wins in the last seven (7) years. They have a whole lot more than an incoming freshman to get ready for with Tusculum. Better work on their O line and pass defense!

[BJWilliams]

Welcome to the board wwhs...all I got to say is these are not your daddy's Liberty Flames, so the O-line and pass defense will be more than ready...along with the rest of the Flames. Always good to get some folks from the teams we play to come on for some friendly smack and banter

[TIMSCAR20]

They talk a lot of smack for a powerhouse with 27 wins in the last seven (7) years. They have a whole lot more than an incoming freshman to get ready for with Tusculum. Better work on their O line and pass defense!

WoW taking on our O line? I can't wait for us to blast these guys back to where they play their division II ball. The Flames are for real. Our O line is one of the best things about this team IMO.

[Sly Fox]

We may have one of the strongest O-lines in all of the I-AA/FCS football. Its one of the reasons I am most excited about what we can do this fall.

Our secondary was young and inexperienced last year. But they are back and with a few I-A transfers sprinkled in we should be just fine.

This Florida kid could be the real deal. But I'm not sweating bullets over a kid fresh out of high school facing a Division I squad for the first time.

[Cider Jim]

I'll be disappointed if we don't win by at least 3 touchdowns (how's that for a prediction?).

[SuperJon]

They talk a lot of smack for a powerhouse with 27 wins in the last seven (7) years. They have a whole lot more than an incoming freshman to get ready for with Tusculum. Better work on their O line and pass defense!

Hmm, our O-line. Yea, let's see. The four guys that I know for sure are starters:

6'2 285
6'6 310
6'8 295
6'6 320

The other one that I think is a starter, but I'm not sure

6'2 275


Incoming freshmen with a great chance to have significant roles:

6'6 300
6'8 290


Did I mention that three of those starters are I-A transfers, two from ACC schools and one from an SEC school?

Tusculum might be good, and I give them credit. But saying our O-line should be worried is laughable.

[thepostman]

I have nothing to add....except for I can't believe this thread has gone on as long as it has...

[SuperJon]

Just comparing:

Tusculum DL - average height: 6'2 average weight: 276
Liberty OL - average height: 6'6 average weight 296

I think we'll hold our own.

[Cider Jim]

Tusculum DL - average height: 6'2 average weight: 276
Liberty OL - average height: 6'6 average weight 296

Thanks for crunching the numbers, Super. If you have the time, woud you mind showing us the average height/weight of Tusculum's OL?

[olldflame]

And don't forget that the 6'2" "runt" of our OL "only" bench presses 515!

[SuperJon]

He's up over 515 now.

[SuperJon]

Tusculum DL - average height: 6'2 average weight: 276
Liberty OL - average height: 6'6 average weight 296

Thanks for crunching the numbers, Super. If you have the time, woud you mind showing us the average height/weight of Tusculum's OL?

Tusculum OL - average height: 6'3 average weight: 291
Liberty DL - average height: 6'2 average weight: 265

Remember though, we play a 3-4, not a 4-3. The DL size in a 3-4 is different than in the 4-3.

[jack_sparrow81]

I think we'll win as well, i'm just saying they have some decent kids on the team that will make it interesting

[JDUB]

wow. i've been on vacation all week. i can't believe that he chose the OL to pick on. all i can say is wow

[madmat]

First of all, respect your opponent or you will get embarrassed.

Second, the team enters a week of testing and I think you will see more impressive numbers from the weight room. The team has been running and conditioning first, then lifting. Kill Bill is in charge and he wants the guys to lift after being fatigued, to simulate end of the game conditions. A new piece of equipment has been utilized as well, a special blocking sled/surface which measures the speed and power of different types of blocks. For example, a reach block vs. a down block etc. Move over Ivan Drago!
Then they go out and play 11 on 11, the passing game with blocking in place. This is basically our guys working extra on their own. The O line is working as one, and the comradiery and chemistry is special. Very important to the success of the team.

[TIMSCAR20]

In football conditioning is everything as they well know and there is no coach in America more qualified that Bill G in my opinion. He is simply amazing. Staying healthy will be key. Most teams that experience success in football usually have the good fortune of not having a lot of injuries. Injuries can break even the best of teams. I really hope and pray that everyone stays healthy because I believe this team can be as special as any we have ever fielded up to this point. The pieces of the puzzle are in place. All that is left to do is go out and execute.

[PAmedic]

yeah? well I hear Presby has a new sandbox

seriously- I agree that you have to prepare for everyone, but this really should be nothing more than a tuneup for the guys.

and somehow I knew this thread would bring Papa Bear (I mean, Mat) outta the woodwork!

[madmat]

Medic, Am I that predictable? Shoot, I better re-evaluate my own high school playcalling then.

(O line talk gets me tingling.)

[Sly Fox]

You coach high school football in Ohio. You probably don't have anything in your offensive playbook outside of the tackles.

[madmat]

Just like LU, if its working between the tackles, you look like a genius, as everything else opens up. If our guys take control of the line of scrimmage and force 8 or 9 in the box, there's alot of real estate to cover vertically and horizontally.

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

They talk a lot of smack for a powerhouse with 27 wins in the last seven (7) years. They have a whole lot more than an incoming freshman to get ready for with Tusculum. Better work on their O line and pass defense!

WoW taking on our O line? I can't wait for us to blast these guys back to where they play their division II ball. The Flames are for real. Our O line is one of the best things about this team IMO.

haha You know when Scar gets in on the trash talk that we are going to run them over haha

Im really looking forward to the slaughtering.. i mean game. Maybe afterwards us FlameFans can be the nice ones a point them up the road to LCA where Tusculum will only lose by 10 or so.

I actually found the team picture of their D-Line, I think we will be ok

[olldflame]

Madmat is right about taking every opponent seriously, and from everything I've seen about Coach Rocco and his committment to excellence, he will make sure our guys are as physically and mentally prepared for Tusculum as for Toledo or Coastal.

We on the other hand, have absolutely nothing to do with the preperations for the game or the outcome, and can talk all the smack we want!!

[madmat]

I think it is a hoot to trash talk other schools as a fan, in good fun, that is not demeaning to kids. I thought the Towson guys giving us the business was hilarious last year (til we got beat), and the Wake Forest Photo rip job on our guys, (I was particular to eraser head), was killer. Superjon's head games with Charleston's QB and his girlfriend were classic.
However, how many of our players a. read this stuff, and b. understand the difference between this buffoonary and true game preparation. I think they are in good hands in terms of mental preparation. But I also know some of this stuff does crack them up.

[JDUB]

the players love the pranks, they were giving gaffney a terrible time last year at the csu game. oh wait, those were his own teamates lol

[kiltsareitchy07]

Um, if he's so great, why did he end up at some middle of the pack DII school in Tennessee?

One word- grades...His verbal was very early, and he backed out of it by the winter. Once his first semester grades were out, it changed his entire outlook, and he was forced to go smaller.

Just because I can, I'm gonna talk a little trash about Tusculum's academics. This past year, a women's tennis recruit wanted to play for PC. She applied and was turned down because her grades/SAT scores weren't anywhere near our standards. She ended up at Tusculum on a half tennis/half ACADEMIC scholarship!