LIBERTY REPORT: Football practice, day 1

By Chris Lang
Sports writer
Published: July 31, 2008

News and notes from the first day of Liberty’s fall football camp, held in relatively mild conditions at Williams Stadium Thursday:

* Several players were out with minor injuries, the most notable being receiver Jonathan Crawford, who came into camp with a sore hamstring. He spent much of the day on the exercise bike, trying to keep the hammy stretched out. DB Brandon Saunders also battled a pulled hamstring and missed part of practice. LB Derek Lisko left with a groin pull and RB Terry Williams was out after having a growth on his neck scoped. He underwent a biopsy and was dressed for practice, but he sported a square bandage on the side of his neck.

* DB Kent Hicks did not dress Thursday and won’t dress until some academic issues are resolved, LU coach Danny Rocco said. He added that it would be three to five days before those issues are taken care of.

* Rocco is definitely experimenting with different combinations on the defensive line. Two sets of ends got work with the 1s Thursday—Kevin Richard and Trey Jacobs, and Soeren Wendland and Darryl Robertson.

* At quarterback, Mike Brown and Spencer Landis are both getting reps with the 2s. Rocco said last week that the battle for the backup QB job could be one of the most intriguing battles in camp.

* A-back Zach Terrell spent a lot of time working with the receivers.

* Rocco’s summation of day 1: “In general, this is our third year together as a staff and a lot of these kids are in their third year with us. They kind of know how we practice and what the expectations are. They know the system. They had a really good summer. Bill (Gillespie) had them ready. We’re off to a good start. There isn’t a lot I can complain about.“

* The stadium itself is a bit of a work in progress. All of the premium seats on the home side of the stadium have been removed and will be replaced with new seating. There is talk of a new scoreboard going up on the visitor’s side of the stadium, above the concession stand, but no construction has started as of yet.

* Those of you looking for your usual tailgate spot may have to look elsewhere. Half of the parking lot on the stadium’s west side has been uprooted as the school prepares to construct a Barnes & Noble store. The lot by David’s Place behind the track/soccer stadium is in the process of being paved, and much of the football parking will be there.

Look for a notebook in Friday’s News & Advance with items on kicker Paul Young and some redshirt freshmen to keep an eye on this season.