I just wanted to take a second and offer thanks to the folks I got to talk to yesterday, Mr Connolly, Mr Hodges, Coach Godsil and to the FlameFans who were in attendance.
This blog will take a break with the completion of spring practice but when we come back in August, we will be previewing each Flames football contest every Friday night, and will have a wrap up of the day's game Saturday night once the recap is up. Thank you to everyone and their kind words and hope to see many of you out in Williams Stadium August 30.
Fanning the Flames,
BJ Williams
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008
April 19, 2008
As I write my final spring practice entry, the 2008 Spring football game is drawing to a close. I'll update with the final score a little later but here are some of the things gleaned from today:
First, the team named the 2008 captains:
Offense
OL Mike Godsil
RB Rashad Jennings
QB Brock Smith
Defense
LB Nick Hursky
DB Ryan Greiser
DL Colin Dugan
Next the team handed out two awards:
Samkon Gado Award (Player showing most improvement over the course of spring practice)
WR Jonathan Crawford (more on him in a moment)
DB Donald Manns
Luke 2:52 Award (whole person development)
DE Steve Ackley 2008 graduate
Stars on offense:
QB Brock Smith. Smith was extremely efficient, and threw two TD passes, including a gorgeous deep ball to Dominic Bolden in the end zone. Smith could be looking at a very good last season as the #1 Flames signal caller
WR Dominic Bolden- Bolden will be the #1 receiver in the fall and he showed it today making a host of stellar catches including a leaping catch on the sideline and the over the shoulder catch on the pass from Brock Smith referenced above.
WR Jonathan Crawford- Crawford had a TD catch on a fade and made a number of good catches as well. Both Bolden and Crawford can count on big seasons this year
RB Rashad Jennings- Rashad played well, running with purpose and eating up large amounts of yardage. He didnt have any huge runs but he will very likely have a big season as well
Defense:
LB Mike Connoly- Mike has been fighting with Ian Childress all spring and it will go right into the fall as to who will be #1 at the Jack position
DB Chuck Duffey- Duffey was all over the field defending against offensive players, and actually had a couple interceptions on the day.
Donald Manns- Manns did get beaten on the TD catch by Matt Lambros, but for the most part he showed why he was voted the most improved player on defense for the spring
Ryan Greiser- The hard hitting defensive back from PA had another pair of bruisers in the game and defended very well.
Ben Shipps- although not a defensive player, special teams was included on teh defensive side of the ball and he looked very good. He hit a 26 yard field goal and both of his extra point attempts. I think he will have the inside track for the kicking job come the fall.
This concludes the 2008 spring practice season for the Liberty University Flames, now the players will work out and official practice for the 2008 season should begin August 1 as the team prepares for the season opener against North Greenville College on Aug 30
Until then...
Fanning the Flames,
BJ Williams
First, the team named the 2008 captains:
Offense
OL Mike Godsil
RB Rashad Jennings
QB Brock Smith
Defense
LB Nick Hursky
DB Ryan Greiser
DL Colin Dugan
Next the team handed out two awards:
Samkon Gado Award (Player showing most improvement over the course of spring practice)
WR Jonathan Crawford (more on him in a moment)
DB Donald Manns
Luke 2:52 Award (whole person development)
DE Steve Ackley 2008 graduate
Stars on offense:
QB Brock Smith. Smith was extremely efficient, and threw two TD passes, including a gorgeous deep ball to Dominic Bolden in the end zone. Smith could be looking at a very good last season as the #1 Flames signal caller
WR Dominic Bolden- Bolden will be the #1 receiver in the fall and he showed it today making a host of stellar catches including a leaping catch on the sideline and the over the shoulder catch on the pass from Brock Smith referenced above.
WR Jonathan Crawford- Crawford had a TD catch on a fade and made a number of good catches as well. Both Bolden and Crawford can count on big seasons this year
RB Rashad Jennings- Rashad played well, running with purpose and eating up large amounts of yardage. He didnt have any huge runs but he will very likely have a big season as well
Defense:
LB Mike Connoly- Mike has been fighting with Ian Childress all spring and it will go right into the fall as to who will be #1 at the Jack position
DB Chuck Duffey- Duffey was all over the field defending against offensive players, and actually had a couple interceptions on the day.
Donald Manns- Manns did get beaten on the TD catch by Matt Lambros, but for the most part he showed why he was voted the most improved player on defense for the spring
Ryan Greiser- The hard hitting defensive back from PA had another pair of bruisers in the game and defended very well.
Ben Shipps- although not a defensive player, special teams was included on teh defensive side of the ball and he looked very good. He hit a 26 yard field goal and both of his extra point attempts. I think he will have the inside track for the kicking job come the fall.
This concludes the 2008 spring practice season for the Liberty University Flames, now the players will work out and official practice for the 2008 season should begin August 1 as the team prepares for the season opener against North Greenville College on Aug 30
Until then...
Fanning the Flames,
BJ Williams
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
April15, 2008
Well the internet may have down yesterday but that was the only connection that wasn't working on campus yesterday as all three quarterbacks were hitting. One of the best plays was a long touchdown from Brock Smith to Dominic Bolden, who had beaten Pat Calvary on a deep route down the middle. The defensive side had a couple nice plays, including KaJuan Lee making n excellent interception right up against the sideline, and Chris Rocco very nearly intercepted a ball tipped by Kyle O'Donnell. Also, Chuck Duffey has an excellent pass deflection in one of one with Jonathan Crawford. Things are looking very bright for Liberty entering the final week. The team will have one more practice in full pads Thursday night, and then a light practice Friday before the 3rd Annual Spring Football Game at 1 PM Saturday.
Until Thursday...
Fanning the Flames,
BJ Williams
Until Thursday...
Fanning the Flames,
BJ Williams
Friday, April 11, 2008
April 11, 2008
The team was right back out Friday afternoon for the 9th practice of the spring. Dominic Bolden was back at practice today after not being on the field yesterday, and he did not miss a beat. He made a number of catches in passing drills and definitely is looking to solidify himself as the #1 receiving target for Brock Smith come the fall of 2008.
A player who showed very well the last few sessions is Aaron Hewlett. With the absence of BJ Hayes, Hewlett has ascended to the backup "A-back" position behind Zach Terrell. He will prove very versatile as an A-back, a wide receiver and also a kick/punt returner.
Other new faces who are beginning to make a name for themselves are Mark Blakeney and Stetson Tchividjian. Even though both made some unfortunate drops on a few passes, both showed very well, particularly in the spread sets.
The team mixed things up in the 11 on 11 drills, with Spencer Landis working with the first team and Mike Brown working with the second team. The offense did very well, but the defense, particularly DBs Kent Hicks and Donald Manns made very good plays deflecting passes.
Also, I got to see Manny Rojas working with the linebackers during practice today. Many who remember him from his time on the field know he left as the #2 all time tackler in Big South Conference history.
The team will be back for its final Saturday practice before the annual spring football game Saturday morning at 10 AM there is a chance of rain so stay tuned on that one...
Until then...
Fanning the Flames,
BJ Williams
A player who showed very well the last few sessions is Aaron Hewlett. With the absence of BJ Hayes, Hewlett has ascended to the backup "A-back" position behind Zach Terrell. He will prove very versatile as an A-back, a wide receiver and also a kick/punt returner.
Other new faces who are beginning to make a name for themselves are Mark Blakeney and Stetson Tchividjian. Even though both made some unfortunate drops on a few passes, both showed very well, particularly in the spread sets.
The team mixed things up in the 11 on 11 drills, with Spencer Landis working with the first team and Mike Brown working with the second team. The offense did very well, but the defense, particularly DBs Kent Hicks and Donald Manns made very good plays deflecting passes.
Also, I got to see Manny Rojas working with the linebackers during practice today. Many who remember him from his time on the field know he left as the #2 all time tackler in Big South Conference history.
The team will be back for its final Saturday practice before the annual spring football game Saturday morning at 10 AM there is a chance of rain so stay tuned on that one...
Until then...
Fanning the Flames,
BJ Williams
Thursday, April 10, 2008
April 10, 2008
Tonight the team was back out after a day in the weight room, and the team is very eagerly anticipating the spring football game next Saturday. I spent much of my time at the field observing the two kickers, David Drake and Ben Shipps as well as the guys working on returns. Aaron Hewlett, Pat Calvary and Eugene Rogers were working with one of the coaches on ball tracking so chances are those three along with Dominic Bolden and Jon Crawford will be seeing time returning kicks and punts in 08.
As for the kickers, Both Drake and Shipps did well on teh shorter kicks from 20-30 yards. Both og them had some struggles in the 30-40 range, although Drake did split the uprights on a 50 yard attempt and Shipps did the same on a couple from 45. My hope is we wont HAVE to attempt kicks from that far out, but if we do, we have at least two kickers that can give the ball that kind of leg.
As a side note, senior linebacker Ian Childress was chosen to lead the jumping jacks.
Until Friday night...
Fanning the Flames,
BJ Williams
As for the kickers, Both Drake and Shipps did well on teh shorter kicks from 20-30 yards. Both og them had some struggles in the 30-40 range, although Drake did split the uprights on a 50 yard attempt and Shipps did the same on a couple from 45. My hope is we wont HAVE to attempt kicks from that far out, but if we do, we have at least two kickers that can give the ball that kind of leg.
As a side note, senior linebacker Ian Childress was chosen to lead the jumping jacks.
Until Friday night...
Fanning the Flames,
BJ Williams
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
April 8, 2008
Its been a challenge to be able to observe the last few sessions with sickness and major projects taking up my time and making posting more of a challenge. The AMR department did have an excellent writeup on last night's practice so in lieu of a proper post about last night here is a link to their writeup on the official athletics site:
http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm?PID=10869&newsID=2512&TeamID=
I will have another writeup after the third Thursday practice.
Fanning the Flames,
BJ Williams
http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm?PID=10869&newsID=2512&TeamID=
I will have another writeup after the third Thursday practice.
Fanning the Flames,
BJ Williams
Sunday, April 6, 2008
April 6, 2008
Well the LU football team completed their first full week of spring drills yesterday and though I missed a number of practices due to illness, I did get a chance to see a lot and here are some of my observations after the first week:
LU has the potential to score A LOT of points in 2008. The Flames scored 30 or more points in 10 of 11 games in 2007 (including the last 5). LU scored 40 or more points 5 times, 50 or more points 3 times and finished 4 points short of the all-time single game scoring record of 77 in a victory over VMI in the final home game of the season. With almost all of the offensive skill players returning in 2008, there is a chance that LU could rewrite the record books for both the school and potentially in the nation.
Second, WR could very well be the deepest position on the roster offensively. Jonathan Crawford and Dominic Bolden are showing that LU may not have a #1 and #2 receiver in 08, but rather a #1 and #1a. Crawford made a spectacular catch in a scrimmage yesterday on a 40 yard pass from Brock Smith. Both he and Bolden have shown that they are capable of eating up a lot of yards after the catch as well.
Third, is the emergence of BJ Hayes. he has started the spring as the #2 "A-Back" behind 2 year starter Zach Terrell but he has shown that he could be a very good option to complement Rashad Jennings if ZT needs a rest during a game.
Defensively, the backfield looks like it could be very stout with Kent Hicks and Pat Calvary at the corners making a number of good defensive plays. Mike Connolly, behind Ian Childress on the depth chart, could definitely see more time with the first team as he made a number of stops and actually nearly intercepted passes each time I observed.
The spring football game is approaching and as the team begins its second week, we should see things look somewhat more established as to who will have the inside track going into the summer.
Fanning the Flames,
BJ Williams
LU has the potential to score A LOT of points in 2008. The Flames scored 30 or more points in 10 of 11 games in 2007 (including the last 5). LU scored 40 or more points 5 times, 50 or more points 3 times and finished 4 points short of the all-time single game scoring record of 77 in a victory over VMI in the final home game of the season. With almost all of the offensive skill players returning in 2008, there is a chance that LU could rewrite the record books for both the school and potentially in the nation.
Second, WR could very well be the deepest position on the roster offensively. Jonathan Crawford and Dominic Bolden are showing that LU may not have a #1 and #2 receiver in 08, but rather a #1 and #1a. Crawford made a spectacular catch in a scrimmage yesterday on a 40 yard pass from Brock Smith. Both he and Bolden have shown that they are capable of eating up a lot of yards after the catch as well.
Third, is the emergence of BJ Hayes. he has started the spring as the #2 "A-Back" behind 2 year starter Zach Terrell but he has shown that he could be a very good option to complement Rashad Jennings if ZT needs a rest during a game.
Defensively, the backfield looks like it could be very stout with Kent Hicks and Pat Calvary at the corners making a number of good defensive plays. Mike Connolly, behind Ian Childress on the depth chart, could definitely see more time with the first team as he made a number of stops and actually nearly intercepted passes each time I observed.
The spring football game is approaching and as the team begins its second week, we should see things look somewhat more established as to who will have the inside track going into the summer.
Fanning the Flames,
BJ Williams
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
April 1 2008
Well after a break for the weekend to get over some sickness I was back out at practice as the boys were in full pads once again and tonight I focused on observing the 11-on-11 drills and the 7-on-7. Really tonight the offense shined, expecially the first team. Rashad Jennings had a number of big runs, including a couple that easily would have been touchdowns in a game situation. Brock Smith was very efficient on the night as well going 8 for 11. The stars on defense though were Kevin Richard and Chris Rocco. Both made solid hits in the tackling drill adn kept themselves very well in 11-on-11 for the defense.
Next practice is Thursday night at 7 PM.
Fanning the Flames,
BJ Williams
Next practice is Thursday night at 7 PM.
Fanning the Flames,
BJ Williams
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