It's time to look to the future of Panther football. While fans, alumni, friends and former coaches and players will always have the past successes to look back at with pride, the question of what does the future hold for the Panthers program is not as clear. We are still awaiting the announcement of the new head coach at Ferrum, and while I have no insight as to who it will be, I have come up with a list of things that I think can help the program into the future.
Over the years, I have seen a Ferrum home football game become more of a modern event. Improvements to the field, a new scoreboard, the hedge, and tailgating... but sadly, there appears to be a somewhat fluctuating fan base. Over the last 6 seasons, I have looked at the attendance patterns of the home games, and this is what I have found.
The average attendance from 2005-2010 was 2167 per home game. Interestingly enough, Ferrum's best year for attendance over the last 6 seasons was in 2007 when the average attendance was 3002 per game. The second best year was in 2005 when Ferrum went to the playoffs. That year the average home attendance was 2714. In that six year span, the worst year for attendance was this past season in which the average home attendance was 1552. It is a proven fact that teams that are winning have higher attendance patterns, and I know that the economic conditions of the nation have caused people to scale back on spending and travel, but even when Ferrum was 9-0 in 2005, the last home game against Christopher Newport was only attended by 2384 people. This is not even 50% sold out with an undefeated team.
So if one is looking to the future of Ferrum football, one must try to find ways increase attendance patterns. The team, the football program, and in turn the College will benefit from a simple marketing of Ferrum football.
Here are some suggestions:
Make the game more fan friendly- Yes there is a 50-50 raffle, and that is good, but how about sponsorship of a field goal kicking contest. This could take on many forms, but I have seen a contest sponsored by Southwest Airlines called "Kick for the Sky Contest" where two fans in attendance are chosen at random and at halftime, are given the chance to kick three field goals from 10, 20, and 30 yards. If they hit all three, they win two round trip tickets anywhere Southwest Airlines flies. If they miss one, they lose, but still get a t-shirt for participating. This is just an example, and could be sponsored by a local restaurant, or motel, or any establishment with a prize to offer.
What about an ad in the program at Va. Tech Home games. It could identify times where Ferrum plays at home when Tech is on the road and invite fans to experience a DIII game while the Hokies are on the road. In this past season, this could have benefited attendance at 2 home games.
Is it possible to have a Pep Band at the games? I know over the years, Ferrum has utilized area high School bands, but why can't Ferrum have a band? Is this a cost issue? I am sure there are ways to finance this project, and this would make a more entertaining halftime, and game. I am not talking about a 200 piece marching band, but a 20-30 member pep band.
Game sponsorship by local merchants. There are almost always 5 home games on a schedule. Ferrum could seek sponsorship of these games by individual local merchants, and in turn, the advertisements that these companies would receive would be of benefit to them. Some that come to mind would be MW Windows and Doors in Rocky Mount. BB&T in Rocky Mount, and BB&T in Ferrum. Dairy Queen, Pizza Hut, etc., etc.
These sponsors could be given a block of tickets, and they would be allowed to give the tickets away for free. This would possibly create a fan, and lead to future ticket sales.....I mean we are not selling out, so why not give a few tickets away- It would generate concession revenue, and more importantly it would generate good will. Imagine the exposure that Ferrum football would get if BB&T for example was a sponsor of a Ferrum home game, and on the Friday before the game, all of the tellers were wearing a Ferrum football t-shirt., with a button saying ask me about free tickets to the game.
Home game themes are also something that may be worth reviewing. While some games are already designated such as Family Weekend, Homecoming , and Senior Day, How about reviving Franklin County day, and possibly Military Appreciation Day.
Season Tickets need to be made available. This may be something that will take time to generate sales of, but it will happen. I would think that Ferrum could designate the center section of the stands for season ticket holders....Also there could be online ticket sales. This will be very convenient for fans that have to travel great distances, and for opposing teams fans.
What about a t-shirt launcher for the Home games. There could be T-shirts that have been specially made with the the F/Panther logo on the front, and a sponsoring agency's logo on the back....This is a write off for the sponsor.
Enhance the Online broadcast to include a live video feed. I am under the impression that this is in the works, and can be expected to be available in the near future. This will again get more exposure to the football program, and to a sponsor.
In short, more in attendance gets Ferrum more exposure. More exposure may mean a larger stable of athletes interested in Ferrum College athletics.
Ferrum needs to step out of the shadows, and get noticed. They are never going to be as large as Virginia Tech, nor do I think they should be, but I think increased exposure will help the program and the College overall. These are just some ideas I have had...I would be interested to see what other ideas are out there- Please leave a comment.
Minggu, 28 November 2010
Rabu, 24 November 2010
Recruiting Needs for the Panthers
As this season saw the entire defensive line return from the season before, next season will see only one return. This will be the largest void to fill going into 2011. Willie Taylor, John Branch, and Zach Leonard are all graduating Seniors, and this leaves Shawn Winfrey from this unit returning. Ferrum lists a lot of defensive linemen on their roster, but the size that they are losing up front will be hard to replace.
Linebacker Chris McCalla will be another big loss on the defensive side of the ball. It looks as though the defensive secondary will be in tact next year, and this will be big as experience factor will be huge.
On the offensive side of the ball, look for this unit to be losing Thomas Porter, and Quintel Banks . On the offensive line, Ferrum loses Andrew Allwine to graduation. Michael Walker, who is listed as a Senior will have another year of eligibility as he was out this season due to injury (Medical Red Shirt) So while the offense does lose some key players, the depth in the backfield will still be strong. It will be a priority to develop the FB position vacated by Banks. Look for Justin Donnelly to step up to this position.TE Vince Munch will be graduating this year, and while Ferrum as a rule does not throw the ball all that often, Vince has provided valuable blocking skills, and has proven to be an important target in the offensive scheme.
Long Snapper Clayton Walvoort is a name that does not come up much on the blog, but he has played a critical role in the success of the Ferrum kicking and punting game. His is a skilled player that will be a priority to replace next year. The receiver of most all of the Walvoort snaps is Senior punter T.J. Grzesikowski. This loss will be a huge one for the Panthers....Not only will Ferrum lose one of, if not the largest player on the team, they will also lose one of the most successful punters in the schools history. Over the last four years, T.J. has punted 183 times for a total of 7580 yards to end with an average of 41.42 yards per punt. His longest punt came against Maryville in 2009 as he launched one 66 yards. In that game, T.J. had three punts over fifty yards and he averaged 52.6 yards per punt that day. His strength not only lies in his punting distance, but also in his ability to pin opponents back deep in their own territory. He can hit the corners with accuracy when needed. T.J. will be a large loss for the Panthers. Look for this position to possibly be filled by Wesley Franklin.
So overall, I would say that the defensive front four will be the most critical loss, and will be Ferrum's main recruiting emphasis. This while important, will be dealt with efficiently, and I do not worry that there will be a solid front four on defense next year.
Linebacker Chris McCalla will be another big loss on the defensive side of the ball. It looks as though the defensive secondary will be in tact next year, and this will be big as experience factor will be huge.
On the offensive side of the ball, look for this unit to be losing Thomas Porter, and Quintel Banks . On the offensive line, Ferrum loses Andrew Allwine to graduation. Michael Walker, who is listed as a Senior will have another year of eligibility as he was out this season due to injury (Medical Red Shirt) So while the offense does lose some key players, the depth in the backfield will still be strong. It will be a priority to develop the FB position vacated by Banks. Look for Justin Donnelly to step up to this position.TE Vince Munch will be graduating this year, and while Ferrum as a rule does not throw the ball all that often, Vince has provided valuable blocking skills, and has proven to be an important target in the offensive scheme.
Long Snapper Clayton Walvoort is a name that does not come up much on the blog, but he has played a critical role in the success of the Ferrum kicking and punting game. His is a skilled player that will be a priority to replace next year. The receiver of most all of the Walvoort snaps is Senior punter T.J. Grzesikowski. This loss will be a huge one for the Panthers....Not only will Ferrum lose one of, if not the largest player on the team, they will also lose one of the most successful punters in the schools history. Over the last four years, T.J. has punted 183 times for a total of 7580 yards to end with an average of 41.42 yards per punt. His longest punt came against Maryville in 2009 as he launched one 66 yards. In that game, T.J. had three punts over fifty yards and he averaged 52.6 yards per punt that day. His strength not only lies in his punting distance, but also in his ability to pin opponents back deep in their own territory. He can hit the corners with accuracy when needed. T.J. will be a large loss for the Panthers. Look for this position to possibly be filled by Wesley Franklin.
So overall, I would say that the defensive front four will be the most critical loss, and will be Ferrum's main recruiting emphasis. This while important, will be dealt with efficiently, and I do not worry that there will be a solid front four on defense next year.
Minggu, 21 November 2010
Ferrum's 6th Head Football Coach Just My Opinion
Until now, I have attempted to show neutrality on my postings where the next head football coach is concerned. I have felt that it would be best to keep these discussions on a back burner as I did not want to provide distractions to the players or anyone associated with Ferrum football during the season. As the season has ended, I think that this is an appropriate time to express my opinion on the next Ferrum coach.
Ferrum finds itself in a unique position. Searching for the 6th head coach in program history.The history of Ferrum football is steeped in the tradition of success. Success that can be measured in wins, or players that have gone on to be All Americans, and players that have gone on to play in the pro's, and also in National Championships. As the years have passed however, Ferrum finds itself farther and farther from the days of Bruce Gossett, Keith Gary, Al Lattimer, and Chris Warren. National Championships have not been a true possibility since Ferrum appeared in the D3 National semifinals in 1988, and 1989. ( the last one that was brought back to Ferrum was in 1977 at the Junior College level.)
The landscape has changed where Ferrum football is concerned. Ferrum's days as a Junior College are long gone, and the ability to secure the athletes necessary to compete on a National level is far more difficult. Ferrum's membership in the USA South conference puts it in direct recruiting competition with schools that only a few years ago did not have a football program.
Schools of the USA South and when their football programs began:
Averett University- 2000
Christopher Newport University 2000
Ferrum College 1955
Greensboro College 1997
Maryville College 1892
Methodist 1989
North Carolina Wesleyan 2004
Shenandoah University 2000* (This is the year that Shenandoah Re-Introduced football. They previously fielded a football team, but discontinued the program in the 1960's)
As a Junior College, Ferrum derived much of it's talent from large college programs that would direct recruits to Ferrum to improve their academic standings, as well as their football skills. Of course there were walk-ons, but Ferrum was fortunate in a lot of respects to have some very talented players sent to them. Recruiting was part of the process, as it is now, but in reality, there was very little competition for the JUCO type talent in Virginia and the surrounding states.
So now, Ferrum is in the ranks of D3, and the competition is far greater, and the recruiting is far more competitive. This, along with tuition costs (@ $32,000.00 per year) and the rural location of Ferrum makes recruiting more difficult. Who ever the coach is will have to be able to navigate all of these challenges to secure the best available athletes.
The next coach will have to have a proven record of success, and will have had to coach at the college level. This coach will too have to appreciate the rural lifestyle that Ferrum offers, and so will his family. This may be a limiting factor.
The next coach will have to appreciate the emphasis placed by the College of academics first, athletics second, and must be able to continue the tradition of guiding these athletes as they develop into not only outstanding football players, but also outstanding young men.
Lastly, it is very important that Ferrum field a competitive team. I believe that this coach, whoever it is, should try to rekindle the winning tradition that Ferrum was once known for. To strive for success in the USA South, and look to build a program that is ranked nationally, and competing nationally. I want to see Ferrum in the Stagg Bowl.
While there are 238 teams in D3 football, there are also 27 conferences. Ferrum began the season ranked 138th in the nation, and the USA South was ranked 22nd of those 27 conferences. (Rankings by d3football.com)
The tasks in front of the new coach provide a tall order, but the program has to be developed into a contender. It may take several years. In any case, Ferrum should hire a coach with his eye on the future, while remembering the glory of the past, and look at this as being a long term building process.
In my opinion, Coach David Harper is the perfect choice for Ferrum's sixth head coach. Coach Harper has everything that Ferrum is looking for in a head coach, and is well aware of the winning traditions of Ferrum's past. He knows what it takes to build a team, and has been a proven success as as player, offensive, and defensive coordinator. Under Coach Harper, I think Ferrum will take on a new image in the local and surrounding communities, and this will revitalize the interest in Ferrum football from a local area fan base. He will continue to influence and guide his players in a way that will benefit them well after leaving the campus. David Harper is a family man, and has a strong set of core values that are at the heart of how he deals with his players today. This will certainly be a positive carry over for the College and the players. I fully support David Harper, and believe that if he is chosen as the head coach, he will be an exemplary representative of the college, both on and off of the field, and he will be a winner, successfully forging the next chapter of Ferrum football.
I am expecting an announcement in December.
Ferrum finds itself in a unique position. Searching for the 6th head coach in program history.The history of Ferrum football is steeped in the tradition of success. Success that can be measured in wins, or players that have gone on to be All Americans, and players that have gone on to play in the pro's, and also in National Championships. As the years have passed however, Ferrum finds itself farther and farther from the days of Bruce Gossett, Keith Gary, Al Lattimer, and Chris Warren. National Championships have not been a true possibility since Ferrum appeared in the D3 National semifinals in 1988, and 1989. ( the last one that was brought back to Ferrum was in 1977 at the Junior College level.)
The landscape has changed where Ferrum football is concerned. Ferrum's days as a Junior College are long gone, and the ability to secure the athletes necessary to compete on a National level is far more difficult. Ferrum's membership in the USA South conference puts it in direct recruiting competition with schools that only a few years ago did not have a football program.
Schools of the USA South and when their football programs began:
Averett University- 2000
Christopher Newport University 2000
Ferrum College 1955
Greensboro College 1997
Maryville College 1892
Methodist 1989
North Carolina Wesleyan 2004
Shenandoah University 2000* (This is the year that Shenandoah Re-Introduced football. They previously fielded a football team, but discontinued the program in the 1960's)
As a Junior College, Ferrum derived much of it's talent from large college programs that would direct recruits to Ferrum to improve their academic standings, as well as their football skills. Of course there were walk-ons, but Ferrum was fortunate in a lot of respects to have some very talented players sent to them. Recruiting was part of the process, as it is now, but in reality, there was very little competition for the JUCO type talent in Virginia and the surrounding states.
So now, Ferrum is in the ranks of D3, and the competition is far greater, and the recruiting is far more competitive. This, along with tuition costs (@ $32,000.00 per year) and the rural location of Ferrum makes recruiting more difficult. Who ever the coach is will have to be able to navigate all of these challenges to secure the best available athletes.
The next coach will have to have a proven record of success, and will have had to coach at the college level. This coach will too have to appreciate the rural lifestyle that Ferrum offers, and so will his family. This may be a limiting factor.
The next coach will have to appreciate the emphasis placed by the College of academics first, athletics second, and must be able to continue the tradition of guiding these athletes as they develop into not only outstanding football players, but also outstanding young men.
Lastly, it is very important that Ferrum field a competitive team. I believe that this coach, whoever it is, should try to rekindle the winning tradition that Ferrum was once known for. To strive for success in the USA South, and look to build a program that is ranked nationally, and competing nationally. I want to see Ferrum in the Stagg Bowl.
While there are 238 teams in D3 football, there are also 27 conferences. Ferrum began the season ranked 138th in the nation, and the USA South was ranked 22nd of those 27 conferences. (Rankings by d3football.com)
The tasks in front of the new coach provide a tall order, but the program has to be developed into a contender. It may take several years. In any case, Ferrum should hire a coach with his eye on the future, while remembering the glory of the past, and look at this as being a long term building process.
In my opinion, Coach David Harper is the perfect choice for Ferrum's sixth head coach. Coach Harper has everything that Ferrum is looking for in a head coach, and is well aware of the winning traditions of Ferrum's past. He knows what it takes to build a team, and has been a proven success as as player, offensive, and defensive coordinator. Under Coach Harper, I think Ferrum will take on a new image in the local and surrounding communities, and this will revitalize the interest in Ferrum football from a local area fan base. He will continue to influence and guide his players in a way that will benefit them well after leaving the campus. David Harper is a family man, and has a strong set of core values that are at the heart of how he deals with his players today. This will certainly be a positive carry over for the College and the players. I fully support David Harper, and believe that if he is chosen as the head coach, he will be an exemplary representative of the college, both on and off of the field, and he will be a winner, successfully forging the next chapter of Ferrum football.
I am expecting an announcement in December.
Rabu, 17 November 2010
10 Panthers named to USA South All Conference team
Marcus Mayo was named the USA South offensive player of the year, and led a group of 10 Ferrum Panthers on the USA South All Conference team. Mayo, along with Vince Munch, Jack McDowell, Willie Taylor, Tae Motley, and T. J. Grzesikowski were all first team selections..For the full story, please click on the title of this article.
T. J. GrzesikowskiConsistency is key to success
In his second year, T.J. had his best statistical year, as he won the NCAA statistical championship for punting finishing #1 in D3 football. That year, T.J. punted 47 times for 2059 yards and an average of 43.8 yards per punt.
T.J.'s Junior year would see him fall statistically, but still have very impressive and consistent numbers. In a year that had his best ranking tied for third in the nation, T.J.'s numbers slipped, and going into the last game of the season, T.J. was ranked 39th in the nation. There was no way to win a second championship, but it would be important to finish strong. In his last game that year, T. J. punted 5 times for a total of 263 yards and an average of 52.6 yards per punt. In that game, T.J. sent what would be his longest punt of his career 66 yards, and had 3 punts of more than 50 yards.
That day, T.J. moved up 27 spots in the national ranking to finish the season 12th. The season ended with T.J. having punted 42 times for 1673 yards averaging 39.8 yards per punt.
This season, battling an injury, T.J. again put up impressive numbers. It would not be until after the third game that T.J. would be ranked nationally. (This was due to a requirement that anyone ranked has to average 3.6 punts per game, and T.J. had not reached that average). After the third game, T.J. was ranked 5th nationally.
T.J. would again slip and see his ranking fall to 18th after the fourth game against North Carolina Wesleyan. This would be his lowest ranking of the year, and from that point on, T. J. climbed in the rankings. Going into the CNU game, T.J. was ranked 8th in the nation. after a good showing at CNU, he climbed to 6th. The next week against Averett, T.J. had another solid day. The low point was a 29 yard punt at the beginning of the 4th quarter. This may have cost him, as at the end of the day, he had slipped back to 8th nationally. so while it looked improbable to win the national championship, T.J. would have to go out on Senior Day and really put up big numbers if he was going to have a chance. Again, T.J. would not disappoint. While he did not win the national statistical championship, that last game saw T.J. send out 6 punts for 240 yards, with one being over 50. This was enough for T.J. to finish in 4th in the nation, and first in the conference.
While T.J. has ended his career at Ferrum, I believe that he will have a future at the next level. Will that be the NFL...I would think that is a real possibility, but who knows it may be Canada, or Arena football....no I doubt Arena football- the field is not long enough for T.J.
(Photo by Tammi Armstrong)
Defensive and Special Teams Highlights from this season
For Ferrum, their defense, while not as blessed statistically, did show a lot of heart and character this season.
Willie Taylor was the tackles leader this season with 55. (33 solo, and 44 assists) with his best game coming against Southern Virginia University. Second in that category was Safety Tae Motley.
This year, Ferrum had 8 interceptions. Marco McNeal had 3 of the 8, and led in this category. The longest interception return was 32 yards by McNeal.
In the statistic of fumble recoveries, Ferrum had 8 recoveries, and Cedric Hargrove led with two of these. Cedric also had one pass interception this season. Of these recoveries, the longest was by Tevin Handley. This recovery was taken 24 yards "to the house" against Shenandoah.
Sacks were led by Willie Taylor as he was a part of 6.5 sacks, accounting for 46 yards lost by the opponents.
Special Teams-
In the kickoff return department, Ferrum had 37 returns, and of those, Dominique Lesine led with 12 for 304 yards. Steven Harris had the longest return. 93 yards for a score against Shenandoah.
Punt Returns were led by Marcus Mayo. Mayo returned 25 punts for 455 yards. Of those, 3 were for touchdowns. Mayo finished 3rd in the nation in this category. Interestingly enough, he was only second in the conference, as Kentel Noel from CNU led the nation.
Field Goals were an area that Ferrum struggled this year. Scott Puschell was not as consistent as anticipated, but he did tie the longest field goal record of 47 yards against Emory and Henry. I look for Scott to have a much improved year in 2011.
Kickoffs were handled this year by freshman Wesley Franklin. While it is difficult to find a statistical ranking for kickoffs, Wesley averaged 50.8 yards per kickoff. The average starting point for the opponents was the 36 yard line, and while this may not be at the top of the charts, it compared well with his opponents. Wesley improved greatly as the year went on, and I would expect this trend to continue next year.
T.J. Grzesikowski again handled the punting duties for the Panthers. T. J. finished first in the conference with an average of 42.4 yards per punt, and this placed him 4th in the nation. More to come on T. J. in a future article.
So on the defensive side of the ball, as with special teams, there were a lot of bright spots. Next year the defense will look a lot different, especially up front, but expect the black hats to play Ferrum football. They will will be aggressive, tenacious, and leave a mark on whoever gets in their way.
Willie Taylor was the tackles leader this season with 55. (33 solo, and 44 assists) with his best game coming against Southern Virginia University. Second in that category was Safety Tae Motley.
This year, Ferrum had 8 interceptions. Marco McNeal had 3 of the 8, and led in this category. The longest interception return was 32 yards by McNeal.
In the statistic of fumble recoveries, Ferrum had 8 recoveries, and Cedric Hargrove led with two of these. Cedric also had one pass interception this season. Of these recoveries, the longest was by Tevin Handley. This recovery was taken 24 yards "to the house" against Shenandoah.
Sacks were led by Willie Taylor as he was a part of 6.5 sacks, accounting for 46 yards lost by the opponents.
Special Teams-
In the kickoff return department, Ferrum had 37 returns, and of those, Dominique Lesine led with 12 for 304 yards. Steven Harris had the longest return. 93 yards for a score against Shenandoah.
Punt Returns were led by Marcus Mayo. Mayo returned 25 punts for 455 yards. Of those, 3 were for touchdowns. Mayo finished 3rd in the nation in this category. Interestingly enough, he was only second in the conference, as Kentel Noel from CNU led the nation.
Field Goals were an area that Ferrum struggled this year. Scott Puschell was not as consistent as anticipated, but he did tie the longest field goal record of 47 yards against Emory and Henry. I look for Scott to have a much improved year in 2011.
Kickoffs were handled this year by freshman Wesley Franklin. While it is difficult to find a statistical ranking for kickoffs, Wesley averaged 50.8 yards per kickoff. The average starting point for the opponents was the 36 yard line, and while this may not be at the top of the charts, it compared well with his opponents. Wesley improved greatly as the year went on, and I would expect this trend to continue next year.
T.J. Grzesikowski again handled the punting duties for the Panthers. T. J. finished first in the conference with an average of 42.4 yards per punt, and this placed him 4th in the nation. More to come on T. J. in a future article.
So on the defensive side of the ball, as with special teams, there were a lot of bright spots. Next year the defense will look a lot different, especially up front, but expect the black hats to play Ferrum football. They will will be aggressive, tenacious, and leave a mark on whoever gets in their way.
Selasa, 16 November 2010
Some highlights from the 2010 season
Soon I will start looking forward, but there will probably be a couple of more reflective posts before that. In looking back at this season, while there were disappointments, there were also pleasant surprises. At the beginning, players found out two pieces of news that would not be easy to take. One was that Mike Vann would not be on the team this year, and the other was that Coach Davis was retiring at the end of the season. If these two pieces of news were painful, the good news was that Marcus Mayo was returning.
From that point on, the season was sort of a mixed bag. Here are some of the highlights of 2010.
Emory and Henry- A good game with a bad result. Ferrum fell in Double overtime. In this game Scott Puschell tied the Ferrum record for the longest field goal in the schools Division 3 history. The kick was 47 yards.
Southern Virginia University- Ferrum had a really good day on paper, but not on the scoreboard. The Panthers led in almost every statistical category.. First Downs, Rushing Yards, Passing Yards, Time of Possession, and had far fewer penalties. A 70 yard interception return for the Knights may have been their best highlight of the day. This would provide their second of four victories.
Bridgewater- In Ferrum's first road game, there were not a lot of positives. The Panthers were dominated in most all phases of the game, but only trailed by four at the end of the third quarter. The major highlight was a 76 yard punt return by Marcus Mayo for a TD.
North Carolina Wesleyan- Homecoming and the ground breaking of the Hank Norton Athletic Center were the off field highlights, but on the field, Ferrum ran into a tough Bishops team. Again on paper Ferrum was pretty much dominated. but lead 14-10 going into the fourth quarter. Mistakes ruined any chances of a win as Ferrum turned the ball over three times in the last quarter. In this game Justin Donnelly caught two touchdown passes.
Methodist- Marathon could best describe this game. A triple OT thriller that saw Marcus Mayo score four touchdowns...two on punt returns. In the end, Ferrum would get its first win of the season, 51-45.
Greensboro- On the road to Carolina for the second week in a row, Ferrum was out to avenge last years loss to the Pride. In what would turn out to be a fairly close game, Derrick West caught two touchdown passes to help Ferrum get their second win in a row, 28-20.
Shenandoah- In their return home, Ferrum put it all together against the Hornets. 478 rushing yards for the Panthers, coupled with a 93 yard kickoff return, helped Ferrum gain their third win in a row, and their second game in three weeks scoring over 50 points. Final- 56-20.
Christopher Newport- On the road again, Ferrum traveled to Newport News to take on the Captains. Riding a three game winning streak, Ferrum looked pretty good at times. Leading at the half, Ferrum would lose the lead on the first play of the third quarter and the Captains never looked back. Marcus Mayo had his best day as a passer, throwing for 207 yards, and 2 touchdowns.
Averett- In what I think was probably the best overall game of the season, Ferrum dominated the once first place Averett Cougars. In this game, Ferrum lead 14-3 at halftime, and was up 28-6 at the end of the third quarter. Steven Harris had 191 all purpose yards (52 rushing, 65 Receiving, and 74 on Kickoff returns) He also scored 2 touchdowns.
Maryville- Ferrum closed the season at home, facing the Scots of Maryville. Ferrum's running game was stymied the entire day, but Mayo threw two touchdown passes, and caught one. In the end it was not enough as Ferrum lost it's season finale 23-21. This game marked the end of Coach Davis' career at Ferrum.
Defensive notes coming soon!!
From that point on, the season was sort of a mixed bag. Here are some of the highlights of 2010.
Emory and Henry- A good game with a bad result. Ferrum fell in Double overtime. In this game Scott Puschell tied the Ferrum record for the longest field goal in the schools Division 3 history. The kick was 47 yards.
Southern Virginia University- Ferrum had a really good day on paper, but not on the scoreboard. The Panthers led in almost every statistical category.. First Downs, Rushing Yards, Passing Yards, Time of Possession, and had far fewer penalties. A 70 yard interception return for the Knights may have been their best highlight of the day. This would provide their second of four victories.
Bridgewater- In Ferrum's first road game, there were not a lot of positives. The Panthers were dominated in most all phases of the game, but only trailed by four at the end of the third quarter. The major highlight was a 76 yard punt return by Marcus Mayo for a TD.
North Carolina Wesleyan- Homecoming and the ground breaking of the Hank Norton Athletic Center were the off field highlights, but on the field, Ferrum ran into a tough Bishops team. Again on paper Ferrum was pretty much dominated. but lead 14-10 going into the fourth quarter. Mistakes ruined any chances of a win as Ferrum turned the ball over three times in the last quarter. In this game Justin Donnelly caught two touchdown passes.
Methodist- Marathon could best describe this game. A triple OT thriller that saw Marcus Mayo score four touchdowns...two on punt returns. In the end, Ferrum would get its first win of the season, 51-45.
Greensboro- On the road to Carolina for the second week in a row, Ferrum was out to avenge last years loss to the Pride. In what would turn out to be a fairly close game, Derrick West caught two touchdown passes to help Ferrum get their second win in a row, 28-20.
Shenandoah- In their return home, Ferrum put it all together against the Hornets. 478 rushing yards for the Panthers, coupled with a 93 yard kickoff return, helped Ferrum gain their third win in a row, and their second game in three weeks scoring over 50 points. Final- 56-20.
Christopher Newport- On the road again, Ferrum traveled to Newport News to take on the Captains. Riding a three game winning streak, Ferrum looked pretty good at times. Leading at the half, Ferrum would lose the lead on the first play of the third quarter and the Captains never looked back. Marcus Mayo had his best day as a passer, throwing for 207 yards, and 2 touchdowns.
Averett- In what I think was probably the best overall game of the season, Ferrum dominated the once first place Averett Cougars. In this game, Ferrum lead 14-3 at halftime, and was up 28-6 at the end of the third quarter. Steven Harris had 191 all purpose yards (52 rushing, 65 Receiving, and 74 on Kickoff returns) He also scored 2 touchdowns.
Maryville- Ferrum closed the season at home, facing the Scots of Maryville. Ferrum's running game was stymied the entire day, but Mayo threw two touchdown passes, and caught one. In the end it was not enough as Ferrum lost it's season finale 23-21. This game marked the end of Coach Davis' career at Ferrum.
Defensive notes coming soon!!
Minggu, 14 November 2010
The Seniors
I want to take a moment to recognize the Panther Seniors. This was a group that really put forth extraordinary effort, and were true representatives of Ferrum football. They will be missed. (They appear in no particular order)
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| #78 Michael Walker Position: Offensive Lineman Height: 5-7 Weight: 265 Class: Senior Hometown: Boydton, Va. High School: Park View Injured in the 2010 season- Will be eligible to play in 2011 |
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| #61 Clayton Walvoort Position: Long Snapper Height: 6-0 Weight: 215 Class: Senior Hometown: Moneta, Va. High School: Staunton River HONORS 2007-08 USA South Academic All-Conference Team 2008-09 USA South Academic All-Conference Team 2009-10 USA South Academic All-Conference Team 2010-11 ESPN Academic All-District First Team |
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| #72 Andrew Allwine Position: Offensive Line Height: 6-3 Weight: 270 Class: Senior Hometown: Loxahatchee, Fla. High School: Seminole Ridge HONORS 2009-10 USA South Academic All-Conference Team |
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| #89 Vince Munch Position: Tight End Height: 6-3 Weight: 215 Class: Senior Hometown: Springfield, Ga. High School: Effingham |
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| #97 John Branch Position: Defensive Tackle Height: 6-0 Weight: 270 Class: Senior Hometown: Manassas, Va. High School: Stonewall Jackson HONORS 2009-10 USA South Academic All-Conference Team |
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| #38 TJ Grzesikowski Position: Punter Height: 6-3 Weight: 300 Class: Senior Hometown: Seminole, Fla. High School: Seminole HONORS USA South All-Conference honorable mention, 2007 USA South Special Teams Player of the Week, 9/22/08 USA South All-Conference 1st team, 2008 NCAA Div. III Punting Statistical Champion, 2008 D3football.com All-South Region 1st team, 2008 VaSID College Division All-State 1st team, 2008 America Football Coaches Association All-America Team, 2008 Associated Press Small College All-America second team, 2008 D3football.com All-South Region 1st team, 2008 D3football.com All-America third team, 2008 Consensus Draft Services 2009 D-III Preseason All-America Team USA South All-Conference 1st team, 2009 D3football.com All-South Region 2nd team, 2009 D3 Senior Classic Preseason All-America First Team, 2010 2009-10 USA South Academic All-Conference Team |
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| #26 Thomas Porter Position: Running Back Height: 5-7 Weight: 188 Class: Senior Hometown: Thomasville, N.C High School: Bshp. McGuinness |
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| #42 Quintel Banks Position: Full Back Height: 6-1 Weight: 230 Class: Senior Hometown: Lynchburg, VA High School: E.C. Glass HONORS USA South All-Conference 1st team, 2009 USA South Offensive Player of the Week, 10/25/10 |
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| #54 Zack Leonard Position: Defensive End Height: 6-2 Weight: 250 Class: Senior Hometown: Roanoke, Va. High School: Patrick Henry HONORS USA South All-Conference honorable mention, 2007 USA South Defensive Rookie of the Week, 10/31/07 USA South All-Conference 2nd team, 2009 |
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| #92 Willie Taylor Position: Defensive Lineman Height: 6-3 Weight: 285 Class: Senior Hometown: Onancock, Va. High School: Nandua HONORS USA South All-Conference 1st team, 2008 USA South All-Conference 1st team, 2009 D3 Senior Classic Preseason All-America Second Team, 2010 USA South Defensive Player of the Week, 10/11/10 |
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| #23 Chris McCalla Position: Linebacker Height: 6-0 Weight: 220 Class: Senior Hometown: Leesburg, Va. High School: Heritage |
Ferrum loses in finale against MaryvilleDavis leaves the Panther sideline
It is hard to determine what to write after this game. I did not expect this loss. They way Ferrum had been playing, I really thought that the Panthers would win, and go out on a high note. Someone forgot to tell Maryville.
On Senior Day, and what would be coach Dave Davis' final game, the Panthers came up short and lost 23-21
To write this article based on statistics would do little to capture what this game was about. Yes there were impressive stats, and I will try to point some of those out in a future article, but this game was full of emotion. A retiring coach, and a tough group of Seniors that any coach would be proud to call his players, playing what would be their last college game.
Their is nothing harder than when you realize that what you have had until this point, what you have enjoyed to this point, and what you have worked for, while having been worth it, is ending and their is nothing that can be done about it. The only thing that you can hope for is that this inevitable ending is made somewhat less painful in this case by a win. This was not to be.
Both teams played hard, and in the end, it appears that the Scots ability to control the time of possession, especially in the fourth quarter, denied Ferrum the chance to overcome the third quarter deficit.
So Ferrum ends the season with a record of 4-6. and tied for third with Shenandoah.
This was a season that I thought would prove difficult. With the loss of three offensive linemen from last year, the loss of Matt Dobson, and the fact that Mike Vann was not returning, to me left too many question marks, and while I predicted in the pre season that they would finish 4-6, the progress that they showed after starting 0-4, was remarkable. Great strides were made, and this team showed heart and had the never quit attitude that was necessary.
For Coach Davis, I am sure it was disappointing. I am sure he would have liked to end with a win, but this was the last piece in a successful and satisfying career. He will look at his years at Ferrum with fond memories, and his last game will just become part of the bigger picture. A picture of young men fighting hard, a picture of practices, games and many fun times. A picture of unfortunate injuries, a picture of players playing through pain. A picture of the refs and both their good and bad calls, a picture of those last second wins and losses. A picture of the fans leaving Adams stadium both excited and sometimes disappointed, but always returning to see the next game. A picture of those hands on the sideline held high with four fingers, and a picture of the teams shaking hands at the end of the game. In the end his memories will collectively recall Panther Pride. A sentiment that is more learned instinctively than taught, and something that in the end is more important than a W. Congratulations Coach Davis on your career, and know that the players fans and especially the parents of those you have coached appreciate all you have done.
On Senior Day, and what would be coach Dave Davis' final game, the Panthers came up short and lost 23-21
To write this article based on statistics would do little to capture what this game was about. Yes there were impressive stats, and I will try to point some of those out in a future article, but this game was full of emotion. A retiring coach, and a tough group of Seniors that any coach would be proud to call his players, playing what would be their last college game.
Their is nothing harder than when you realize that what you have had until this point, what you have enjoyed to this point, and what you have worked for, while having been worth it, is ending and their is nothing that can be done about it. The only thing that you can hope for is that this inevitable ending is made somewhat less painful in this case by a win. This was not to be.
Both teams played hard, and in the end, it appears that the Scots ability to control the time of possession, especially in the fourth quarter, denied Ferrum the chance to overcome the third quarter deficit.
So Ferrum ends the season with a record of 4-6. and tied for third with Shenandoah.
This was a season that I thought would prove difficult. With the loss of three offensive linemen from last year, the loss of Matt Dobson, and the fact that Mike Vann was not returning, to me left too many question marks, and while I predicted in the pre season that they would finish 4-6, the progress that they showed after starting 0-4, was remarkable. Great strides were made, and this team showed heart and had the never quit attitude that was necessary.
For Coach Davis, I am sure it was disappointing. I am sure he would have liked to end with a win, but this was the last piece in a successful and satisfying career. He will look at his years at Ferrum with fond memories, and his last game will just become part of the bigger picture. A picture of young men fighting hard, a picture of practices, games and many fun times. A picture of unfortunate injuries, a picture of players playing through pain. A picture of the refs and both their good and bad calls, a picture of those last second wins and losses. A picture of the fans leaving Adams stadium both excited and sometimes disappointed, but always returning to see the next game. A picture of those hands on the sideline held high with four fingers, and a picture of the teams shaking hands at the end of the game. In the end his memories will collectively recall Panther Pride. A sentiment that is more learned instinctively than taught, and something that in the end is more important than a W. Congratulations Coach Davis on your career, and know that the players fans and especially the parents of those you have coached appreciate all you have done.
Jumat, 12 November 2010
Panther Profile- Coach Dave Davis
Ferrum College Head Football Coach
1994-2010
Record of 87-79
Thanks Coach Davis for a job well done! You leave many fans, players, and coaches having impacted all with the your dedication, character, and passion for football,
Wishing you a wonderful retirement!
Kamis, 11 November 2010
Week 11 Predictions
Going into this week, I have predicted 34 right,and 14 wrong. The best I can do is 38-14. This however would be better that 31-21 last year. Lots of misses on the pre-season predictions. I will look closer at this later, but for now here are my last picks for the year.
Maryville @ Ferrum
Shenandoah @ Greensboro
Averett @ North Carolina Wesleyan
Methodist @ Christopher Newport
Maryville @ Ferrum
Shenandoah @ Greensboro
Averett @ North Carolina Wesleyan
Methodist @ Christopher Newport
Maryville @ Ferrum- Senior Day
While the Panthers have been eliminated from the conference race, Saturday offers great opportunity for the 2010 team. The chance to close a season at 5-5...which began by the way at 0-4. A chance to finish a solid third place in the conference. A chance for Marcus Mayo to add to the Ferrum College record for passing yards in a season. He broke this record last week against Averett. He has thrown for 1156 yards, and that eclipsed the old mark of 1153 held by Phil Jones which was set in 1989.
A chance for 10 seniors to play in their last college football game, and a chance for Coach Davis to end his career at Ferrum with his 88th, and final win.
While this game is bound to be watched, played and listened to with a melancholy feeling, this is a game that cannot be taken for granted, Maryville is a strong team, that while not showing it in their record, beat first place Averett this season, and have been in some very close games that did not go their way. Their defense can compete, and this may give Ferrum some trouble, but overall, I think it will not be that effective.
For the Scots to stay in the game, they will have to test the Panthers pass defense. Their quarterback is putting up some strong numbers, having completed over 55% of his passes for 1448 yards. Look for them to throw long and often. In the long run, I expect Ferrum to win easily as I think the Panther offense will prove too dominant.
This contest will close the book on Coach Davis' successful career, While the future coach of Ferrum football is unknown, Coach Davis can leave the field Saturday as a person who has been an effective, and affective coach. The impact he has had on countless players, is a testimony to the job he has done, and to his character. He can rest assured he will leave the field a winner, no matter what the score.
My Prediction:
Ferrum 38
Maryville 20
A chance for 10 seniors to play in their last college football game, and a chance for Coach Davis to end his career at Ferrum with his 88th, and final win.
While this game is bound to be watched, played and listened to with a melancholy feeling, this is a game that cannot be taken for granted, Maryville is a strong team, that while not showing it in their record, beat first place Averett this season, and have been in some very close games that did not go their way. Their defense can compete, and this may give Ferrum some trouble, but overall, I think it will not be that effective.
For the Scots to stay in the game, they will have to test the Panthers pass defense. Their quarterback is putting up some strong numbers, having completed over 55% of his passes for 1448 yards. Look for them to throw long and often. In the long run, I expect Ferrum to win easily as I think the Panther offense will prove too dominant.
This contest will close the book on Coach Davis' successful career, While the future coach of Ferrum football is unknown, Coach Davis can leave the field Saturday as a person who has been an effective, and affective coach. The impact he has had on countless players, is a testimony to the job he has done, and to his character. He can rest assured he will leave the field a winner, no matter what the score.
My Prediction:
Ferrum 38
Maryville 20
Minggu, 07 November 2010
Ferrum Throttles Averett 34-13
In what appeared to me to be the most all around consistent effort of the year, Ferrum overpowered the Averett Cougars 34-13. I was impressed with the Panthers play on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the Panthers out gained the Cougars 376 yards to 331. Through the air, Averett was as strong as I thought they would be, passing for 315 yards, but their running game was held to 16 yards rushing on 23 attempts.
Ferrum was utilizing an effective attack of running and passing, but in typical Ferrum fashion, the run was the weapon of choice. Ferrum ran the ball 50 times for 219 yards, and Marcus Mayo threw the ball 18 times for 157 yards completing 8 with one interception and two touchdowns.
In the backfield, Mayo led all rushers with 58 yards rushing. While the Panther ground game seemed especially effective, the defense provide more than an adequate compliment. Willie Taylor was in on 10 tackles, and had one sack, while Delano Hall was in on nine tackles, five of them solo.
This was a very satisfying game to watch. Ferrum came out and played Ferrum football for the entire game.
Although they gave up a lot of yards to the Cougars through the air, the Panther secondary was effective in controlling Averett All American Jeremy Dixon. While he had a record day in receiving yards, he only found the end zone once. Ferrum applied pressure to him, and to the quarterback to limit the effectiveness of their passing game.
So this day was just an excellent effort, and an example of what Ferrum can be. Unfortunately, the Panthers race for the conference championship is officially over. Ferrum was eliminated as both CNU, and NCW also won.
So on to Senior Day, and let's end this season 5-5 with a win over Maryville. The Scots are coming to Adams field, and it's time to close the season on a high note. both for the Seniors, but also for Coach Davis.
Ferrum was utilizing an effective attack of running and passing, but in typical Ferrum fashion, the run was the weapon of choice. Ferrum ran the ball 50 times for 219 yards, and Marcus Mayo threw the ball 18 times for 157 yards completing 8 with one interception and two touchdowns.
In the backfield, Mayo led all rushers with 58 yards rushing. While the Panther ground game seemed especially effective, the defense provide more than an adequate compliment. Willie Taylor was in on 10 tackles, and had one sack, while Delano Hall was in on nine tackles, five of them solo.
This was a very satisfying game to watch. Ferrum came out and played Ferrum football for the entire game.
Although they gave up a lot of yards to the Cougars through the air, the Panther secondary was effective in controlling Averett All American Jeremy Dixon. While he had a record day in receiving yards, he only found the end zone once. Ferrum applied pressure to him, and to the quarterback to limit the effectiveness of their passing game.
So this day was just an excellent effort, and an example of what Ferrum can be. Unfortunately, the Panthers race for the conference championship is officially over. Ferrum was eliminated as both CNU, and NCW also won.
So on to Senior Day, and let's end this season 5-5 with a win over Maryville. The Scots are coming to Adams field, and it's time to close the season on a high note. both for the Seniors, but also for Coach Davis.
Jumat, 05 November 2010
Week 10 predictions
Going into this week, I am 32-12. I was 2-2 last week, missing the Ferrum @ CNU game, as well as the Averett @ Shenandoah game. Last year at this same time, I was also coming off of a 2-2 week, but was overall just 27-17. Maybe I have improved a little.
This week, here is how I think things will shake out.
Ferrum @ Averett
Greensboro @ Methodist
Christopher Newport @ Maryville
North Carolina Wesleyan @ Shenandoah
This week, here is how I think things will shake out.
Ferrum @ Averett
Greensboro @ Methodist
Christopher Newport @ Maryville
North Carolina Wesleyan @ Shenandoah
Kamis, 04 November 2010
Ferrum @ Averett-Another Tough One To Predict
Ferrum will take to the road for the fourth time in the last five games to challenge the Averett Cougars. After having been predicted by D3football.com to win the USA South, and having led the conference for most of this season, Averett comes into this game having suffered its second loss of the season, and they have fallen out of first place in the conference.
Ferrum is not going into an easy game by any means. While Averett lost last week, they are still a strong team. Averett has proven to be the team to beat all season long. To me, the two games that they lost were unexpected, and they like all teams at this point in the season are probably dealing with injuries, but make no mistake this team is much like Christopher Newport in that they have size and speed. They have an excellent receiver in Jeremy Dixon who has 47 catches this year for 670 yards and four touchdowns, and judging by these numbers, they will not hesitate to throw the ball.
For Ferrum this needs to be another offensive display. I think it will be a high scoring, and it like last year may go into overtime. Ferrum will have to create turnovers, and produce points. Penalties need to be eliminated, and you MUST get pressure to their QB. If they throw successfully, it wil be a long day for the Panthers
My prediction:
Ferrum 31
Averett 38
Ferrum is not going into an easy game by any means. While Averett lost last week, they are still a strong team. Averett has proven to be the team to beat all season long. To me, the two games that they lost were unexpected, and they like all teams at this point in the season are probably dealing with injuries, but make no mistake this team is much like Christopher Newport in that they have size and speed. They have an excellent receiver in Jeremy Dixon who has 47 catches this year for 670 yards and four touchdowns, and judging by these numbers, they will not hesitate to throw the ball.
For Ferrum this needs to be another offensive display. I think it will be a high scoring, and it like last year may go into overtime. Ferrum will have to create turnovers, and produce points. Penalties need to be eliminated, and you MUST get pressure to their QB. If they throw successfully, it wil be a long day for the Panthers
My prediction:
Ferrum 31
Averett 38
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