Today was the first press conference of the 2016 season as coaches Turner Gill, Robert Wimberly, and Joe Dailey met with the media this afternoon to discuss the 2016 season and the Virginia Tech game. Here are a few notables from today’s press conference:
1.There’s a general excitement that football is back.
The first words out of Coach Gill’s mouth were “its football time!” Regardless of the opponent, but also because of the opponent. The coaching staff and players haven’t faced anyone other than themselves in almost a year. So, obviously, they’re excited to have some live action, but there’s also a heightened level of excitement because the first game is against Virginia Tech.
“I’m excited that we’re playing Virginia Tech,” Gill said. “One of the main reasons is our fans can continue to get on down there to Blacksburg. We’re going to have a great showing of our fans. Being right here in the state of Virginia, to play a formidable opponent as in Virginia Tech with great tradition. Frank Beamer has established that program in a great way, and we are just looking forward to a great opportunity.”
2. Coach Gill expects Lane Stadium to be the loudest atmosphere any of his teams’ have played in since he’s been at Liberty.
Coach Gill says he expects the atmosphere on Saturday to be the loudest atmosphere any of his teams’ have played in since he’s been at Liberty. “I have never been at Virginia Tech, I’ve played against Virginia Tech, but I’ve never been, myself, to Lane Stadium. From what I’ve heard, and what I understand, I know that it gets pretty loud and everyone is in to it. So, I think this will probably be the loudest for our team here at Liberty University.”
Offensive coordinator Joe Dailey says he’s been reiterating to his offense that they need to stick to their routine so they won’t be distracted by the crowd noise. “Every athlete has a routine at each position. You have to not be distracted by an internal or external factor. If you can recall your assignment and demonstrate it mentally and physically that you understand what you’re asked to do, and do so in a chaotic moment, you’re going to have an opportunity to be successful. If at any point in time you get distracted by an internal or external factor, the percentage of you being successful goes down significantly.”
Coach Wimberly
3.The first 2 series, on each side of the ball, will be crucial if the Flames hope to have any success on Saturday.
One of the main ideas reiterated throughout the press conference by the Flames’ coaching staff was the need for Liberty to play well during the first 2 series, in every phase of the game.
“I think the first two series of every phase of the game,” Gill said. “How do we come out? Same thing for them, how do they come out? At the beginning of the season, and playing a formidable opponent in Virginia Tech, for us, the first 2 series are very important in order to be very competitive.”
Coach Wimberly expounded on this point. “Coach Gill always emphasizes to our team, as well as our staff, the first 2 series. We’ve got to do a great job during the first 2 series of not giving up major, explosive plays, where they can pick up a 70 yard touchdown on a run or a pass because that just sets the tone. As a coach, you try to get your guys motivated, but if we can just make them work the first 2 series and then allow our staff to really find out what their theme is going to be Saturday. I think we’ll have an opportunity and I feel real strongly that if our young men do that, we’ll be ok.”
4.The Flames coaching staff has admired Coach Fuente from a far for a while.
Both Coach Gill and Joe Dailey highlighted the time Fuente spent at TCU as offensive coordinator from 2009-2011. Fuente has coached two in NFL quarterbacks in Andy Dalton (Bengals) and Paxton Lynch (Broncos).
“I’ve always watched their quarterbacks, and how they have played,” Gill said. “You look back at all the quarterbacks that have played for him, at TCU, Memphis, they all have done very, very well. So, I know that he can teach the game of football to his quarterbacks and his offensive side of the ball.”
“(Coach Fuente) is a guy that I studied as a young football coach, early on, when he was at TCU.” Dailey said, “a lot of the plays that people are running today he had a hand in creating back in the mid-2000s. It’s exciting to go against a guy that has been that influential in the game of football.”
Solomon McGinty
5. Solomon McGinty faced Jerod Evans in JUCO ball in Texas.
Liberty team captain and starting SPUR safety, Solomon McGinty has been Defensive Coordinator Robert Wimberly’s go to man on the insight of Virginia Tech’s new starting quarterback Jerod Evans. McGinty and Evans matched up against each other in JUCO ball in Texas.
“Solomon played against him in JUCO.” Wimberly continued, “so, early on we were able to watch his Hudl film, but I’m assuming Virginia Tech got real smart and they got that down. So, we haven’t really been able to follow up on that, but just listening to Solomon and when we did have an opportunity to watch the film, we saw that he was a very athletic young man. (He) could throw the ball extremely well, and he seemed like a smart football player. Solomon has a lot of respect for him, but of course he is excited about the opportunity, as much as us, to get out there and play on Saturday.”
6. Updated depth chart.
The depth chart was released for the first time since before training camp began several weeks ago. The most notable item is Damian King is slotted as starter at one wide receiver spot ahead of Zac Parker. Also, Alpha Jalloh and Frankie Hickson are listed as the starting kick returners.
7. Injury report.
Michael Henderman is out and Gill says he is week to week. Henderman was expected to be the starting left guard. Lucas Holder slides over from center to left guard as Dontae Duff assumes the role of starting center.
Will Brown is out for 2-3 weeks with a lower body injury. Brown was fighting with Tolen Avery for the starting spot at defensive tackle.
Tight end Will Johnson is out and is listed as week to week with a lower body injury. Offensive lineman Ernst Anderson is out for an “undetermined” amount of time with a lower body injury.
