notes from training camp

[bigsmooth]

here is the latest from the lynchburg fishwrap......nice omission of Inge's first name......some papers never change. seriously i pray that his injury is not serious and that he will be able to play soon. any of you local guys see the scrimmage???

Flames' lineman Inge sidelined by knee injury
By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
Friday, August 12, 2005


"I was trying to pin down and get low with a linebacker on a screen, and he cut back inside," Inge said. "He stopped, and I kind of planted on the inside of my foot and left my knee behind a little bit. Then I collapsed down. I didn't really feel it until I tried to stand back up. It didn't feel too right."
Inge, who is a key anchor on the offensive line along with fellow preseason All-Big South selection Markus Ferguson, said he will undergo an MRI either Monday or Tuesday to see if there is any serious damage.

Inge said Thursday that there wasn't significant swelling in the knee, and that he never heard a distinct pop when he was hurt. LU coach Ken Karcher said team athletic trainers haven't given him any indication that the injury is serious. In Inge's place, converted tight end Chris Luck, a Liberty High grad, is practicing at left guard.

"Obviously, there's concern," Karcher said. "But there's nothing you can do about it. He's a starting guard for us and a key element, and now we're forced to make adjustments. Probably in the long run, we're going to get guys reps that weren't going to get reps."

Other notable players who continue to sit out drills are backup offensive lineman Rhett Parson and starting defensive lineman Brett Ackley. Both are rehabbing from arthroscopic surgery - Parson on his knee, Ackley on his shoulder.

Karcher said both are projected to participate by late next week.

Suit 'em up

Today marks the first of five two-a-day sessions in the leadup to the Sept. 3 opener against Concord (W. Va.). The first practice, held from 8:30-11 a.m. at the field behind Hancock Athletic Center, will be a normal one. Tonight, the team will hold a scrimmage at Williams Stadium from 7-9.

Karcher said Friday that the Flames will run between 75-125 plays tonight.

The scrimmage is designed mostly to see how far the freshmen have progressed in learning the playbook, and then executing that knowledge in a game-like situation.

"With the young guys, we're trying to find out who may help us this year," Karcher said. "There will be a big separation for the freshmen after the first scrimmage of who is probably going to have a redshirt opportunity, and who is going to have a chance to play."

Karcher said he's been impressed early with freshman defensive backs, Pat Calvary and Anthony Porter and running backs Ryan Greiser and Rod Fluellen.

Whither TJ?

Travis Johnson, Brock Farrel's backup last season at quarterback, decided not to return to Liberty's football team this fall. That leaves LU with two freshmen behind Farrel on the depth chart - Zach Terrell and Brock Smith.

Johnson missed football practice last spring after deciding to play for Liberty's baseball team.

"Travis has decided to pursue opportunities elsewhere," Karcher said. "I don't even know where he is."

Go Back

[Sly Fox]

Hey, at least we are getting news from them. I've corresponded with the new beat writer, Chris Lang. He had already found our board through a Google and has been lurking on here since back before Big South media day. Apparently, the fishwrap is making an effort to amp up their LU coverage. That can only be a good thing considering the decades of near denial of our existence.

As for Inge, hopefully its nothing serious. We are paper-thin along the O-line. And if Farrel is going to get any time or our newbie RBS are to find any holes we need a healthy front for these first few contests where we will likely be overmatched talentwise (outside of the opener).

[PAmedic]

I'm sure "Lang" has LOVED seeing the fishwrap take its daily pounding on here. Maybe he can help change the image- at least as far as sports go. Must say it seems as though there HAS been a dramatic increase in objective, if not positive reporting on Flames Sports from those guys lately. It is 2005 though, nice of them to wake up after 30 years.


(By the way, Chris- I sent you a PM; see the top of your screen. and welcome to our home on the web)

[chris lang]

Hi folks. Registered, but I'm still pending approval. Just wanted to clarify one thing about today's story. The web people cut off the first two paragraphs, which indeed identify Mr. Inge as Kevin. No one in the newsroom has any control over that. (Plus, they neglected to put my story from the Central Va. Women's Golf tourney on the web.)

As far as the fishwrap comments go, I'm fairly thick skinned, so it doesn't bug me much. From reading your group of knowledgable and passionate posters, I can tell that there is some dismay over the way the N&A has covered LU in the past. Nothing I can really do about that. All I can do is cover the school in the best way possible and try to improve on what we've done in the past. That's something my sports editor wants to see happen, and it's something that I will make happen.

We're not oblivious to the fact that Lynchburg is a huge Va. Tech/UVa. town. But it's silly to treat LU like it's a second-class citizen, especially considering it is the one school that's actually in town.

Oh, and Sly Fox, that feature on the O-line was pushed back to Sunday's paper. Sitting at Donald's Bagels getting ready to write it as we speak.

Chris

[HarrisburgFlame]

Chris:

it's great to have you here. I think the N&A can play an important role in promoting LU athletics. In college I took a sports administration class and we spent a week or so evaluating different media strategies. For too long LU has not used local media to its advatage - promoting the program in a positive light. For too long it seems the N&A has spent too much time chasing after UVA stories and has demonstrated ( in my opinion) a negative bias towards Jerry Falwell. I am glad to hear the N&A is taking positve steps to make the Lynchburg area aware of what LU is and hopes to become.

Welcome to the board and I look forward to reading your work this season!

[PAmedic]

chris, you're showing as a registered member (#109 in fact) so it SHOULD only be a matter of time until your login works (gotta love ProBoards!)

[jimflamesfan]

Welcome aboard, Chris!

Sort of scary knowing that you're actually reading what we write about LU! Hope you enjoy covering the games.

[chris lang]

Actually, for someone who is completely new to the beat and still finding my way around, this has been a very nice resource.

(Don't worry. Nothing posted here will end up being quoted in the fishwrap. ;D)

[thesportscritic]

Chris Lang

If you have an aol email address then for some reason the activation code doesn't get to that address. I have had that same problem and I used an alternative email address.

[bigsmooth]

welcome aboard chris. i really do appreciate the coverage being that im in raleigh. thanks for the explanation of the omission, and for stepping up the coverage on the flames!

[LUfbfan315]

This is LUfbfan3-my registration hasn't been approved still.

I think Karcher needs to work on his comments in the media. I don't know that I've read ONE article where he is quoted that he didn't make an offensive comment about at least one player. If I were Travis Johnson, I'd have left too-why waste all your eligibility with a coach who clearly doesn't notice any talent in you? I don't know, that's just my thoughts on it.

It is nice to have one of the writers on the board-Welcome Chris Lang.

I'd be interested to hear how the scrimmage went.

[Stevev]

Personally I think that Travis Johnson screwed himself by missing spring practice just to have a shot at baseball. Even then he didn't make that much of an impact on the baseball team. I can see why Karcher is disappointed in someone with potential in making such a poor decision like that. The fact is that you have to go with the person was there in spring practice unless the other guy is significantly more talanted than the start which was not the case here. He was recruited to play football and that was his upside. Karcher's comments were a little offensive but I am not going to hold it against him. All I expect to see is results on the field. Something that has been missing for a long time.

[chris lang]

I'll write a scrimmage update early next week. I missed it tonight. I had plans on making it, but I was assigned to cover a golf tournament, and I didn't get off the course in Amherst until after 8. So I wasn't able to make it to the stadium in time.

[givemethemic]

I give total props to the N&A. Having grown up in Lynchburg and reading the paper since I first started reading, this past year has been the best year. Chris its great to have you here and look forward to having you on are shows through out the year. By the way guys look for an annoucement this week about some new shows that will pertain to Liberty Athletics. With that just givemethemic.

[chris lang]

I'll keep my eyes open for that, givemethemic.

FWIW, it seems like the first two paragraphs are being cut off on all of our web stories. I'll mention it to my SE when I go in tonight after golf and have him talk to the web people. Makes it a little hard to read when you miss those two grafs.

[Sly Fox]

I believe the first two paragraphs problem probably has something to do with the ad placement in your copy. Its bumping up the pic & ad and deleting everything after the byline. But then again, I'm just a TV guy. What do I know?

Echoing the sentiment of some of the others on here, its good to see Chris making his presence known on the board. If all anybody ever hears in a newsroom is the negative slant on a school, its tough to be objective. I know from personal experience. But if you are exposed to some divergent viewpoints you can be more well-rounded when writing. Sounds pretty strange coming from a graduate of a school whose reputation is that of never considering opposing ideas, huh?

[Dale Gray]

I am having the same problem as Chris, I am registered but waiting approval. Been waiting almost 2 weeks.

[LUconn]

Hey this is fun, all of these N&A guys showing up after we've been ripping them for months. So you wouldn't happen to be THE Chris Lang would you? The UNC bust? Actually I think he was Kris Lang so probably not. You're probably sick of hearing that anyway.


Edit: you can email Mark to get that process rushed I bet. [e-mail] I figure he does the approving.

[chris lang]

No, that's not me. Anyway, if you want to rip the paper, rip away. It's not going to bug me much. I've only been working there a month, anyhow.

[PAmedic]

Now you can say you've "got friends in low places".

that is, until you write stuff we don't like and I'll volunteer to bum rush you just to yank TRBCRs chain. He likes that apparently.

[TRBCer]

C'mon, man...I was just coming to the defense of a friend. I wasn't offended or anything and I wasn't trying to offend. We're all on the same team here, right?

[Sly Fox]

Its all in fun, trbcer. We're all on the same team.

[PAmedic]

much luv dude, much luv.

[flamesfan710]

Hey I just wanted to say that I got a chance to watch some of the scrimmage Saturday nad I was impressed with Greiser at RB. Terrell had a nice run though, although he has to make some better pass decisions. Those were the only ones that stood out. Somebody else that saw more of the scrimmage can elaborate on who really looked good

[PAmedic]

Tell us more about Greiser. I've never heard anything other than positive about him, but we gotta convince my friend SLY.

Pix would be good too if allowed (or even if not!)

[BJ]

Hey y'all this is flamesfan710 again

I don't have any pics, but from what I saw, he is very quick going side to side. he had this one run where he hit the line, bounced outside and got about 15 yards before being pushed out of bounds. He is almost a hybrid of Sam Gado and Dre Barnes. He has power to push the pile for short yardage, but he can cut real well and move east to west very well if there isn't anything inside.

[chris lang]

I really like what I've seen so far of young Mr. Greiser. For one, he loves contact. He seeks out the hit and has excellent footwork. He's also got excellent vision and surprising cutback ability.

Look for some more news in tomorrow's fishwrap (we have the first two paragraph thing figured out). I'm not going to scoop myself on the board.

[PAmedic]

see, we've already helped the ol' fishwrap improve itself. won't be long now til they stop lining the cages at the pet store w/ it as well.

[PAmedic]

and I'm gonna hold out here and wait until Ryan has some legit game experience under his belt to do the "I told ya so" dance.

esp you, SLY

[flamesfan710]

chris said:

I really like what I've seen so far of young Mr. Greiser. For one, he loves contact. He seeks out the hit and has excellent footwork. He's also got excellent vision and surprising cutback ability.

Look for some more news in tomorrow's fishwrap (we have the first two paragraph thing figured out). I'm not going to scoop myself on the board.

I concur with your assessment Mr. Lang. I also enjoyed your writeup in the fishwrap today. Terrell really could surprise some people. He has an element of mobility that none of the QBs I have seen in my previous 3 years at LU have. I know that Karcher runs a pro-style offense but I think he ought to see about working a few plays to take advantage of that mobility if/when Terrell gets to play. I see the Concord game as a good opportunity for that sort of experimentation