Dark Spots (what else can go wrong?)

[PAmedic]

what is up with THIS?

LU's Williams suspended for season

By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
November 9, 2005

Lauren Williams' playing career unwittingly ended Oct. 29 in Boiling Springs, N.C.
The Liberty University senior receiver has been suspended for the final two games of the season due to a violation of team and university rules, LU coach Ken Karcher said Tuesday.

"Lauren has gotten too many reprimands on our campus for menial things," Karcher said. "Our wide receivers coach shared with him at numerous times that if he'd had any more, he'd be taken off the field. Lauren chose to make the wrong choice.

"I want to make it clear, it's menial things. But to us, his word should be his word."

Karcher said Williams was not involved in any sort of legal trouble.

Williams caught three passes for 27 yards in LU's 21-16 loss to Gardner-Webb Oct. 29. He caught 20 passes for 327 yards and a touchdown this season, including a 68-yard touchdown reception against Coastal Carolina Oct. 22.

Freshman Dominic Bolden will start in Williams' place.

What the heck?

That was the reaction of many in the Big South when they saw the score from last Saturday's Charleston Southern-Gardner-Webb game.

The Buccaneers, who had never won a conference road game, held one of the top offenses in Division I-AA to seven points and pulled off a stunning 38-7 victory.

The Bucs, who host Liberty Saturday afternoon, seemed to catch the Runnin' Bulldogs by surprise. That shouldn't have been the case, GWU coach Steve Patton said on Tuesday's Big South coaches teleconference.

Patton warned his team before practices on Tuesday and Wednesday that CSU was a capable football team.

Apparently, the warnings didn't take.

"I think they came out hoping to win this game without playing hard," Patton said. "That's disappointing. That's on me as the coach."

CSU's victory adds a bit of spice to Saturday's Liberty game. The Buccaneers still have a shot at winning the Big South title if they can beat the Flames and Coastal Carolina on Nov. 19. A win Saturday would give CSU the most wins in program history (six) and ensure the first winning season in the 14-year history of the CSU program.

"I'm sure that's going to excite them," Karcher said. "They have the hope of beating us and going up to Coastal with a shot to win the league. It'll be a real challenge going down there with what they have on the line."

Extra points

LU linebacker Brandon Duke sustained rib fractures at Gardner-Webb and is out for the season. Nick Hursky is expected to start in his place Saturday. Duke ranks fourth on LU's defense with 62 tackles. ? Today marks the start of the early signing period for basketball recruits. Liberty has one verbal commitment in forward Armon Jones from Charis Prep in Goldsboro, N.C. Another verbal, Canton, Ohio, forward Ricky Jackson, backed out last month. ? Liberty is 11-1 all-time against Charleston Southern with CSU's only win coming in 2000 in Lynchburg before the Big South football conference was formed. Liberty has won all five games at CSU.

[Sly Fox]

Boys will be boys. And when they cross the line they have to pay the price .... particularly at a school like ours

[Chris Lang]

Basically, Lauren racked up too many reprimands of simple university rules. (Something that had to be explained to me. Thanks Mark Edwards!) It was nothing sinister.

[PAmedic]

its a shame- the last games of his senior year. And possibly winnable ones, after going 1-8 so far. oh well- we appear to be consistent w/ regard to discipline, anyway.
as relaxed as the rules seem to be, I'm amazed students are still getting in trouble. Would have like to see them 15+ yrs ago w/ no TV, internet, nothing but those horrendous vocal groups for approved music, and a real dress code.

[eddantes]

As much as I rail on Coach Mr. Magoo -- I mean, Karcher, I think it's respectable that he's -- fairly -- disciplining a star player (who had been warned) -- at a time when Karcher's job could very well be on the line.

[Sly Fox]

We'll forego the confessions of our own indiscretions back in the day.

[PAmedic]

voting "aye" on SLY's suggestion.

and yeah- good for Coach K, though its a little easier to take the moral high ground now that the season's in the bag

[krh44]

I think it stinks. Supposedlt Williams had a few scouts watch him play this year. He could be our next James Mcknight

[Sly Fox]

Trust me, this won't deter the scouts. If they were impressed enough on their in-person viewings then he'll get an invite to their rookie training mini-camps.

[PAmedic]

and his performance this season wasn't going to be helped or hurt in 2 more meaningless games. Its highly likely that write ups at a religious school (for behavior that probably wouldn't have gotten a second look at a state U) won't phase anyone.

if that's how minor they were

[PAmedic]

"I want to make it clear, it's menial things. But to us, his word should be his word."

Karcher said Williams was not involved in any sort of legal trouble.

Remember, this was supposedly "minor": I'm assuming they aren't talking about him rolling somebody out!

[baldspot]

First thing coach has done right all year as far as I'm concerned. Perhaps too little to late though. They are 1-8 for a reason. Anyone else see a correlation.

First and goal at the one leading to an off side penalty - no discipline.
Kid stating he won't get in trouble again and then does - no discipline.

[ATrain]

Failing to stop CSU from gaining 15 yards-no discipline

[PAmedic]

the end is near

[PAmedic]

yet another problem (does it matter at this point though?)

Terrell doubtful for LU finale

By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
November 16, 2005

Liberty University running back Zach Terrell says he is going to play in Saturday's season finale at Norfolk State.
Ken Karcher isn't as optimistic.

The LU coach said Tuesday that Terrell is "doubtful" for the Flames' season finale, but that Terrell would be re-evaluated Thursday after practice. Terrell, who left last Saturday's game at Charleston Southern with a sprained right foot, didn't practice Tuesday and isn't expected to practice today either.

"Zach's a tough kid," Karcher said. "He tells me he'll be ready to go Saturday. But right now, it's iffy. It's a day-to-day type of situation."

Despite only being LU's starting tailback for the last five games, Terrell is eight yards shy of the Big South rushing lead with 615. He's tied for second with Gardner-Webb's Jermaine Boston. Charleston Southern freshman Andre Copeland leads the conference with 623 yards.