Ferrum College Football Report

Ferrum Athletics-A Very Bright Future

2012-02-12T06:15:00.000-08:00

As the Super Bowl is now in the books, many people may think that football is officially over. While this may be true between the sidelines, college football is a year around effort on the part of coaching staffs around the country.
In Division III football, recruiting is just as important to the success of the program as it is at University of Michigan, or University of Alabama, but in many respects, it is a far more difficult task.
Division I schools will attract the top high school talent. They have scholarships to offer, and this is an effective tool to build a successful program. With success comes name recognition of the school, and this attracts better recruits. Its a snowball effect, and if managed properly, the successful programs will remain successful.
FCS Schools, and DII schools, also offer scholarships, but in fewer quantities.
Division III schools do not offer scholarships, and will typically attract players that play for the love of the game. They will not have been on the radar of many , if any of the DI schools, but their talents will usually be well known to D III coaches.
The USA South has eight schools that compete in football. Of those eight, 3 are in Virginia. The Old Dominion Athletic Conference will also have eight teams in the upcoming season, and of those, 6 will be from Virginia. These numbers illustrate the competition for regional talent.
What separates these schools as far as successful recruiting goes is the success of their athletic programs, their academic offerings, campus beauty and amenities, and of course their tuition. I am sure there are other factors, but I think these play a major role.
Ferrum is making great strides in many areas. The campus is beautiful, and the upgrades that have been undertaken over the last several years make Ferrum a state of the art facility. The College continues to develop its academic offerings, working to provide excellence in the classroom while maintaining the small class size that will lead to more individual attention for the student.
Tuition is a limiting factor when it comes to competing with other schools in the recruiting arena. State schools will, for obvious reasons, charge far less tuition, and this works to the detriment of all of the private colleges who may be competing against public schools.
Christopher Newport University is the only State supported school in the USA South Conference, and the tuition savings that this provides makes it very difficult for other conference schools in the recruiting arena. CNU has enjoyed much athletic success, but the question is what can Ferrum do to become the school of choice for those regional athletes that play for the love of the game?
Tuition and college affordability is a major consideration in the best of economic times, but in today's economy, Colleges have to work to make the college experience as rewarding and enriching as possible, while keeping costs within reach.
Soon, Ferrum will have a new Biomass Boiler in place and this should reduce the electric bill that the college pays. Ferrum's agriculture program has developed a working farm that produces many of the vegatables that the college cafeteria uses regularly. While these initiatives may not reduce tuition, it may well slow it's rise.
The college is on the right path, and as for success in their athletic programs, Ferrum is showing well rounded success in all of the major sports, and even in some of the newer athletic endeavors on the campus.
Football finished with a 7-3 record, and was playing for the conference championship. Men's Basketball is closing in on the end of their season, and has had a strong effort, staying in the top three in the conference standings for the majority of the season. Women's Basketball currently is in first place in the conference having run a gauntlet of top ranked conference opponents with recent wins over CNU, Greensboro, and Methodist. The Lady Panthers are in a strong position to capture the regular season title, and host the USA South tournament.
Baseball has gotten off to a good start as the Panthers are 2-1 early in the season.
Ferrum's newest sport, Women's swimming, competed in it's first season, and finished a respectable 2-6. On the surface, this may not look like a great record, but in three of their losses, they fell by 13 points or less. The season was capped off by Fresman Anneleisse Alvarez's performance in the Virginia Tech invitational. Click the link below for the recap of her performance.

Alvarez competes in the VT Invitational

Men's LaCrosse will soon embark on its second season after finishing a strong 6-8 in it's first season. I look for both of these new programs to continue to improve and to be a force in the seasons ahead. Winning, no matter what the sport, casts a school in a positive light. It brings attention to the school, and gives it name recognition that helps in recruiting efforts in all sports. Ferrum is making huge positive strides in their athletic endeavors, and I look for this trend to continue...Football is no exception.

Go Panthers!

2012 Schedule

2012-02-04T06:04:00.000-08:00

Although this has been available for a good while, I thought I would go ahead and post it.

Ferrum College 2012 Football Schedule

A couple of changes are apparent right off the bat. Shenandoah will be a non conference game, and will replace the spot that had been taken by Bridgewater. Also, Southern Virginia University is back after not being scheduled last year, in favor of Hampden-Sydney College.
The Christopher Newport game will be much earlier in the season as Ferrum travels to Newport News on October the 6th for a 1 p.m. kickoff. Lastly , Ferrum welcomes the LaGrange Panthers to W.B. Adams field on November 3rd for a first ever meeting between the two schools.
It should be an exciting year!

2007 Highlight Film

2012-01-27T23:44:00.000-08:00

Ferrum by the Numbers

2012-01-27T08:30:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be interesting to look back at the statistics from this past season, and see if any inferences can be drawn. While it will be difficult to know how things will go in 2012, I believe that the finishing order from this past season will give insight as to who will be able to challenge for the 2012 USA South title.
Teams that I believe will have a much improved record will be Methodist, Averett, and N.C. Wesleyan. Lower tier teams will likely be Greensboro and Maryville, but with the Scotts going into this season with a new coach, they are more of an unknown than anything.
Another team that is an unknown will be the LaGrange Panthers. As this will be their first season in the conference, it is difficult to get a read on their ability.
They finished 4-6 on the year, and while there is not a lot known about their opponents, I do know that two of their wins came against Maryville, and North Carolina Wesleyan. I will feature their team as the start of the season gets closer.
What is known for the upcoming season is that Christopher Newport and Ferrum will again be very competitive for the conference championship. In fact, I am of the opinion that whoever wins the conference, has to defeat CNU to win the title. I am also of the opinion that if any team can beat the Captains, Ferrun can.

Last season, Ferrum led the conference in in four categories for team rankings....Rushing Offense, Rushing Defense, Pass Efficiency Defense, and Sacks allowed. This was a marked improvement over the 2010 season, and the Panthers did play for the conference championship, but in that game, it appeared that Christopher Newport dominated the Panthers in two of those four areas.
Ferrum's rushing offense was strong, putting up 208 yards, and 4 rushing touchdowns, but their ability to defend the rush was challenged as the Captains reeled off 241 yards rushing, and had 3 touchdowns on the ground. Through the air, CNU connected for 223 passing yards and 4 touchdowns. Ferrum did not allow a sack.
So what does all of this mean? Well, these numbers to me suggest that while Ferrum made a huge first step in its first year under Coach Harper, to win the conference championship, the defense still has some work ahead of it.
Defense wins championships, and for the Captains to have run 21 more offensive plays, and to have had well over 100 more offensive yards suggests an inability on Ferrums part to shut down the Captains offense. The Captains had 13 third down situations, and converted six of them. They went for it on fourth down 4 times and converted three.
There is no denying that Christopher Newport has a talented team. In the upcoming season, they will lose very few of their core players, so I would expect them to again be very strong.
For Ferrum, their much improved defense has to get even better. This, to me would have to start with their front four. Simply put, to beat Christopher Newport, this unit has to dominate the line of scrimmage. They have to be Bigger, Faster, Stronger, and Smarter. This means dedicating time to an off season workout schedule, and being even better prepared for next season. The front four is a talented group of players, but they have to look at football as a year around endeavor, and work on improving every day.
As for the secondary, this year yeilded huge improvements over the previous years.This is a trend that must continue. The improvement shown in 2011 must be the starting point for where this unit will be in the next few years.
This year, valuable seeds were sown. Ferrum is building a program that will be one of the premier programs not only in the USA South, but in the South Region. I look for the recruiting to continue to be solid, and for this team to take its next step in its continued improvement.

Go Panthers!

Coming Soon: Panthers Streaming Video

2012-01-15T06:39:00.000-08:00

In a recent phone conversation with Gary Holden, Sports Information Director at Ferrum College, I was told of new enhancements coming to the College's Internet coverage of Ferrum athletics. The College is in the process of installing the necessary hardware to develop live streaming video of athletic events.
Much of the equipment is in place, and according to Holden, the ability to broadcast streaming should begin fairly soon. It is hoped that several spring athletic events will initiate the streaming coverage.
To me this is another huge step for Ferrum athletics. The better Internet experience for the fan will allow much more enjoyment, and this will also allow for added exposure for Ferrum ahletics.
Stay tuned as more details become available.
Go Panthers!

A Detailed Look to the Future

2011-12-23T01:31:00.000-08:00

So Ferrum has finished the first season under Coach Harper. I for one am very impressed and satisfied with the results of this season. While Ferrum did not win the USA South conference, they did far better than some people would have predicted, and even outpaced the coaches poll projection from Media Day.
So where does Ferrum go from here? While the 2011 season was one where the Panthers were in contention, and put themselves in a position to play for the conference championship, there is still room for improvement.
First they need to assess their talent. Who is returning, and who is not?
The offense looks to me that it will suffer the most losses:

QB/PR Marcus Mayo
OL Jack McDowell
OL Michael Walker
OL Ivan Eames
RB Steven Harris
RB Corey Smith
RB Justin Donnelly
TE Chris Duble

On the defensive side of the ball, Ferrum will lose only two players:

DB Delano Hall
LB Tremaine Whitney

While it would appear that the Panthers are fortunate on defense, the offensive losses will leave the coaches in a position of having to fill quite a few holes.

The loss of Marcus Mayo is huge to the offensive productivity. Look for this void to be filled by Tim Reynolds, or Tyler Brubaker. Reynolds appeared in eight games for the Panthers, and in his freshman season, ran for 106 yards on 9 attempts. That translates into an 11.8 yard per rush average.... he also scored two rushing touchdowns. Reynolds played his high school football in Arlington at Yorktown High School, and had a successful high school career. He has a strong arm, and good speed. I look for him to have very productive years at Ferrum. Tyler Brubaker also is in contention for the starting assignment. Very athletic, Brubaker brings good speed, and ability to what will be his Senior year. He has been used mostly at Wide Receiver where this past season, he caught 13 passes for 224 yards and one touchdown. While Brubaker has been valuable in that role, look for him and Reynolds to be in strong competition for the quarterback job.

The offensive line is an area that Ferrum really must solidify. Losing Jack "fear the beard" McDowell, and Michael Walker leaves two gaping holes in the O-line. These two players were very instrumental in Ferrum's conference leading rushing attack, and someone will need to step up the take their place. I look for Zach Bossio, and Cam Bailey to return as starters, as well as J.L. Tyree. Beyond that, experienced players seem hard to come by. Michael Cherry is a possibility, but he only appeared in two games this past season after playing in 7 in 2010. If available, I would look to him as a potential starter. Other names that jump off the page are James Schambach, and Robert Reed. The O-line has plenty of depth, but whoever fills these voids, will lack experience. In the long run I doubt that this will be a problem.

Ferrum will lose three running backs, and while all three had major roles in the offensive game plan, Ferrum has seven returning backs for the upcoming season. Among those are Dontavious Gilbert, Dominique Lesine and Ty Saunders. Look for these three to get the majority of the carries, but I would expect some rotation of less experienced backs when appropriate to build playing time.

On defense, Ferrum will have to replace two major contributors to this year's team. Delano Hall and Tremain Whitney were involved in 121 tackles, and combined for 5 interceptions. The loss of these two players are key, but Ferrum is fortunate in that losses are minimal on the defensive side of the ball.
Look for the DB position to be filled by either Alphonso Green or Devaris Mosley, while the LB position will likely be filled by Jatavious Adams. Ferrum will be solid at linebacker.
From my perspective, I look for Ferrum to again be a solid team. If I were to guess, I think they will be recruiting for all of the positions being vacated, but overall the cupboard is quite full, and I look for Ferrum to have another successful year.

Strength and conditioning training will be of paramount importance as time goes on. It is vital that Ferrum build a team that is well conditioned, bigger, faster, and stronger than their opponent. This past season, Ferrum was successful in most of their endeavors, but in their three losses, of which I saw two, I personally believe that a lot of the problem was size, speed, and strength and conditioning. To me this is one of the next hurdles that Ferrum must cross to compete for a conference title, and beyond.....and beyond is where the goal should be. Ferrum, in my opinion must seriously look into implementing a department of strength and conditioning for all athletes. This will mean hiring a staff that is dedicated solely to athletic conditioning. This is already in place at CNU, and other colleges around Virginia. Yes this would mean hiring more full time staff, and more expense to the college, but it is necessary to take all Ferrum sports forward.
I was in a restaurant this past week, and was wearing my Ferrum Alumni cap. The cashier commented that he had never heard of Ferrum, and asked where it was. After answering, the poor guy probably wished he had never asked. I can get pretty enthusiastic when talking about Ferrum, and before I had my change in my pocket, he knew where it was, its football history as a Junior College, when it transitioned to DIII, that all pro running back Chris Warren went there, and is now on the coaching staff, and that the Norton Center will be opening in the spring of 2012. He may have wished he had never asked, but one thing is for sure...He can never say that he has never heard of Ferrum ever again.
I bring this up as I see this as another opportunity for the college to put the focus on getting the word out about Ferrum, and in particularly Ferrum athletics. I believe that all of the athletic teams can benefit if Ferrum will dedicate another full time position in the office of Sports Information. This, as I have said before, is important mainly due to the growth that Ferrum athletics is experiencing. (Men's Lacrosse, and Women's Swimming are the newest sports at Ferrum), and while there are two other coaches that share the title of Assistant SID, this, in my opinion needs to be a full time position.

This will likely be the final post of 2011. It's been a great year, and I can't wait to see what 2012 holds. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

Go Panthers!

McDowell selected to play in D3 Senior Classic

2011-12-07T03:00:00.000-08:00

Ferrum Senior offensive tackle Jack McDowell has been selected to participate in the D3 Senior Classic all star game this Friday night in Salem, VA. This selection comes on the heels of his being named to the second team all region team (South Region) earlier this week.
McDowell, from Shady Side Maryland is the fourth Panther to be selected to participate in the game in the last two years. Last year, Willie Taylor, Zach Leonard, and All American T.J. Grzesikowski participated in the classic.

Congratulations Jack- Glad to have a Black Hat in the game.

For more information on the game, go to their website at:

http://www.d3seniorclassic.com/

McDowell Named to Second team All Region

2011-12-05T16:48:00.000-08:00

Senior offensive tackle Jack McDowell (Shady Side MD) was named today to the D3 football.com All Region second team. McDowell was the lone selection from Ferrum. This selection recognizes McDowell as one of the top offensive tackles in the South Region....a region that includes 55 teams. (See link below:)

Division 3 South Region teams.

Congratulations Jack! This is a huge accomplishment.

To view the entire All Region team, view the link below:

2011 D3football.com All South Region team

Coach Harper-Moving Ferrum Football in the Right Direction

2011-11-30T19:11:00.000-08:00

As I look back at the 2011 season, I cannot help but be impressed with where the football program is. After several years of mediocrity, ( the last five years, Ferrum was 23-26) with 2005 being the last time the Panthers won the conference championship, Ferrum was one win away from it this year.
In his first year, Coach Harper must feel very satisfied to have been in a position to contend for the conference championship. To end the season at 7-3 is a great first step. Now as is the norm, Coach Harper must look to the future and see what obstacles he will face in the off season, and in preparing for the 2012 season.
Of primary concern must be filling the holes left by departing Seniors. By my count, the offensive line, and the offensive backfield will be hardest hit. The loss of Jack McDowell, and Michael Walker will cause Coach Harper and Coach Isernia some concern, but by the looks of the current roster, there is a lot of depth on the offensive line.
The backfield will lose Marcus Mayo, Steven Harris, Justin Donnelly, and Corey Smith. These are huge losses, but as for running backs, Ferrum is very deep. The loss of Mayo will cause a substantial amount of concern, but the ability of back up quarterback Tim Reynolds should ease the worries. Reynolds appeared in eight games, and ran the ball nine times. On these carries, Reynolds averaged over 11 yards per carry. In the passing department, Reynolds threw only twice, and completed one of those. While his in game experience may be somewhat slight, I look for Reynolds to display a strong athletic talent, and while there will be a learning curve, Ferrum should be solid at this position.
On the defensive side of the ball, Ferrum will lose Defensive Back Delano Hall, and Linebacker Tremaine Whitney. These losses will leave Ferrum with two productive players to replace. Whitney was the third leading tackler for the Panthers with a total of 65 tackles, and Hall was not far behind with 56 tackles on the year.
Overall Ferrum will not lose that many players. This is good news, and on the surface, I think Ferrum will be really strong next year. So why is there such a turnaround from 4-6 to 7-3? I have to give the credit to Harper and the rest of the Panthers coaching staff.
I think that the staff has done an excellent job in their first year of recruiting, and has had great success in amassing talent. This success in recruiting is something that must continue, and become a consistent element of the team building process. Beyond recruiting, I see another reason for the change is the approach that Harper has taken with the players. He is emphasizing many things other than football. His goal, as it appears to me is to develop the entire student athlete. To develop their athletic skills is a given, but Harper's interest in his players is to show them the importance of being a quality person, Being a responsible student, and being able to give back to their community. Football is such a unique mirror of life.....learning to overcome obstacles to achieve the best possible outcome, while protecting what is important to you. Harper and his staff are developing young men who will excel on the football field, and in life.
Getting back to the outlook for the 2012 season, I think Ferrum will be as good if not better than this year. For Ferrum, the ascent to a conference championship is a process, a process that will take time, time to continue amassing talent, time to shape that talent into bigger, faster and stronger athletes and time to teach their system to the players....a system that will make them winners, both on and off the field.

Let's Finish The Job

2011-11-30T06:31:00.000-08:00

While I am very excited to see the progress being made on the Norton Center, I have to wonder about what was called Phase II. In recent conversations with staff members at Ferrum, my understanding is that it is a matter of obtaining funding for the reaming part of the project.
The second phase would include a new press box, and new restrooms, along with upgrades to the stadium facade. Some would say that Phase One has been costly enough, and that the College is still looking for more donations. While there are efforts to secure the remainder of the funding for Phase I, one must not loose sight of the big picture...to provide a top quality athletic facility for athletes, fans, students, and alumni.
As for a new press box, I can personally verify that the need for this is tremendous. I have recently been inside the existing press box, and it is quite antiquated. I am quite certain that this is the same press box that was there when I graduated in 1982, and after my recent visit, it may be best described as a match box.
In there that day, along with myself, were two ESPN announcers, the clock operator, the scoreboard operator, One reporter, the Sports Information Director, Computer operator for stats, backup statistician, two spotters, and the PA announcer. That is twelve people in an area about 8' x 20'...and those may be generous measurements. On the top of the press box are a myriad of other people to include coaches and camera operators. The need for additional space is punctuated by the fact that there are two additional ground level press boxes that house visiting coaches and other broadcasters.
For the most part, these press boxes are made of 2x4's and plywood, and while I am sure they were just what was needed at one time, they have far outlived their usefulness, and there needs to be an upgrade.
The restrooms are as basic and bare bones as you can get. While they do function, they need to be larger, and be more aesthetically pleasing. I will spare detailed descriptions, but take my word for it, they can be much better.
As for the stadium facade, I am not exactly sure what this upgrade would consist of, but I am thinking that the plan was to brick the front of the stadium.
In the original artists renderings, the entire facility would look something like the picture below:

I have no idea what shape the new press box may take, but I do think it is important to develop a building that will be usable for years to come and to not build something that will be outgrown too quickly. I would propose staying with the current trend of Phase I...to build something state of the art to be proud of, and to serve the college for years and years to come. I would also suggest that the press box have ample room for a quality concession, and an area for souvenir sales. Lastly, the press box should have a President's box or suite for the best seat in the stadium.
I have heard talk of lights on the field for night games, and the installation of an artificial surface. These too would be outstanding upgrades, but these do not come without cost.
I am sort of traditional, and like the grass surface. I would not be opposed to an artificial surface, but it would need to be a top grade surface, and would be very expensive. The fact that the Lacrosse programs utilize the field could enhance justification for the artificial surface, but for now, let's get the Norton Center dedicated, and let's work toward the completion of Phase II.
This project has come so far, and I anxiously await the dedication of the Norton Center in May. Ideally I would like to see a seamless transition to Phase II, and I believe that it will take far less time to complete this second phase.
If you want to donate to the Norton Center, either phase, please follow the link below:

http://www.ferrum.edu/giving_to_ferrum/give_a_gift_online.aspx

It's a New Day at Ferrum

2011-11-23T04:35:00.000-08:00

The Ferrum campus has seen such transformation. Renovations to classrooms and academic buildings, the addition of a bookstore, a music center, a new regional health center, four new dormitories, and the wonderful renovations to the Franklin Hall complex have shaped Ferrum into a modern first rate facility.
Athletic facilities have also seen wonderful upgrades. The Ferrum baseball field is without a doubt one of the gems on campus. The renovations to the Swartz Gym pool for the newly formed swimming team, the Penn-Rodiger Soccer field, the women's softball field, and lastly, the Hank Norton Center.
The Hank Norton Center, costing 5.5 million dollars, will be a first rate, state of the art facility for outdoor athletics. The facility will have a huge impact on recruiting at Ferrum, and in the long run will make Ferrum much more competitive.

The facility ground breaking was held on October 2nd, 2010, and construction continues. Please take time to look at the video just released by the college about the Hank Norton Center. Use link below:

http://www.ferrum.edu/hank_norton_center.aspx

USA South All Conference Team Laden With Panthers

2011-11-16T16:51:00.000-08:00

The USA South announced it's All Conference team today, and Ferrum placed a total of 15 players on the team. 16 awards were given to Panthers, but Marcus Mayo was recognized twice. Mayo was first team Quarterback, and second team punt returner.
Mayo also was recognized for the second consecutive year as Offensive Player of the Year, while Freshman Josh Oliver was Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Full article at the link below:

USA South All Conference team

Ferrum Ends Season 7-3Solid Second Place Finish

2011-11-13T02:43:00.000-08:00

As so it is over. The 2011 season, Coach Harper's inaugural season, has come to a close, and from where I sit, this has been a really successful year. Ferrum took care of business today defeating the Averett Cougars 33-25 to finish the season 7-3, second place in the conference.
While I was not able to listen to the game, I have reviewed the stats, and it looks like Mayo really solidified himself as USA South Offensive Player of the Year. He had a great game, and if I had a vote, he would certainly get mine.
It appears to me that the Panthers were dominate early leading 13-7 at the half, and 33-9 by the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, it was all Averett as the Panthers did not score, while the Cougars hung 16 fourth quarter points on the board. Averett was far more solid offensively than I anticipated, but Ferrum was no slouch either. In the long run, Ferrum was the stronger team, but Averett did not roll over. They did not give up, and in the end, made the score far more respectable.
So Ferrum has to now begin the process of building toward next year. They will be losing a good deal of talent from this team, while at the same time will have a good amount returning. This will be the subject of a future article, but for now Ferrum, enjoy the fact that you finished a solid second place, and laid the foundation for even more improvement in the future. Way to go Seniors!

GAMEDAYSenior Day

2011-11-12T05:23:00.000-08:00

Today, Ferrum puts the wraps on what has been a very successful season. A very positive and strong first step in the right direction. No it has not been a perfect season, and no there is no game next week, but this team, made great inroads to a bright Ferrum football future.
As for today, Ferrum hosts Averett. The Panthers need to finish the season with a strong statement. They need to dominate this game in all phases, and put the rest of the conference on notice that they will be a force in the USA South conference for a while.
So what can we look forward to today? First I think we can look forward to a win. Averett is not having their best year, and has struggled against the stronger teams in the conference. As far as records go, if Marcus Mayo can complete just seven passes, he will break his own record for pass completions in a season. Also, every pass attempt that Mayo puts up adds to his record of pass attempts in a season. Lastly, although not a record, if Mayo can get 60 yards rushing, he will have 800 rushing yards for the season.
Look for the Panthers to make a statement defensively, after a tough game against the Captains. I think you can expect the Cougars to have a difficult time moving the ball, and while they will rely on their ground game, I expect that the Panthers will shut that down most of the game.
While today marks an end to the season, it also marks the end to many football careers. The Seniors, all 10 of them, will suit up for the last time. They have all been instrumental in the success this season, and all Panther fans are grateful and appreciative of your efforts. So Panthers, let's go out today and win this one for the Seniors, and finish strong!

Averett @ Ferrum Game Preview

2011-11-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

And so it is here....the end of the 2011 season. What seemed to take so long to begin, waiting through the the hot summer, looking forward to the fall and the beginning of camp, has now reached the culmination of what has been a very competitive and enjoyable season.
Ferrum, win or lose Saturday, has begun a very important process... the process of returning the football program to being recognized as a consistent contender. The playoffs are not an option this year, but I see that this as a reward in the not too distant future.
Before we start turning all of our attention to the hard court, there is one last game to play on the gridiron. This week, Averett comes to Ferrum to try to end their season with a note of respectability. The Cougars (3-6,2-4) and the Panthers are both coming off of losses last week. Averett fell to the Hornets of Shenandoah, 45-17. The Seniors will be in their football pads and uniforms for the last time, with the possible exception of some players being selected to participate in the DIII All Star game in Salem. What started with youth recreation league football for many, and continued through high school, will be over when the final whistle blows on Saturday. The pads come off for the last time.
Some interesting comparisons. Ferrum has scored 111 more points than Averett this season, have almost 900 more rushing yards, and overall have outpaced the Cougars offensively by more than 700 yards.
This being said, it would appear that Averett's rushing offense is their strength. They are ranked third in the conference, and will look to exploit a Ferrum defensive unit that, until last week, had been ranked as high as 24th in the nation against the rush. After the CNU game, Ferrum's rush defense slipped to 42nd in the nation.
I look for this to be a hard fought game, with Ferrum really out playing Averett in all aspects of the game. Look for Mayo and company to make a Senior Day statement: "Not in our house, not like 2009, and not on Senior Day"
So it has been a good year. There will be time for reflection in future articles, but for now, let's finish proud, playing Ferrum football, and go out a winner. Win the Day!

My Prediction:
Ferrum 41
Averett 10

For the rest of the USA South:

METHODIST @ Greensboro
SHENANDOAH @ North Carolina Wesleyan
MARYVILLE @ CNU (Upset Special)

Finish Strong

2011-11-08T03:16:00.000-08:00

While the loss this past Saturday still stings, Ferrum has to find a way to refocus it's attention to the next and final opponent of the season, Averett. The Cougars, who will come into this game (3-6,2-4) have their three wins against Guilford, Methodist, and Greensboro. They too will be looking to finish their season on a high note, but Ferrum must prevail in this game. This game has much importance for the Panthers. Ferrum, with a win, coupled with a CNU loss to Maryville, would gain a share of the conference title. Co- Champion is better than no champion! Although this would not be enough to get Ferrum into the playoffs, It would be a great place to see the team finish in their new coach's first season.
OK, I know... a CNU loss to Maryville?....Didn't we beat Maryville pretty bad? True. We defeated Maryville 27-3, and after that game, Maryville was 0-4. Since then however, Maryville has gone 4-1, and is playing really good football. They lost to Shenandoah 28-21, and I believe they could be a strong test for the Captains.
Ferrum must win their game. If they were to lose to Averett, it would really play havoc with the final standings. A win by Ferrum assures them of second place in the conference, and makes it possible to be Co-Champions. A loss to Averett, and a win by Maryville, and Shenandoah leaves all three teams with two losses in the conference, and deadlocked for second place. This is not where Ferrum wants to finish. They are too good for that.

Just win Panthers. Send the Seniors out as winners, and the rest will take care of itself.

A Closer Look at the CNU Loss

2011-11-05T19:42:00.000-07:00

Statistically, there are a few things that really caught my attention as I studied the numbers from today's game.

CNU had 12 more first downs than Ferrum, and had a decided advantage in time of possession. They had 20 more running plays than the Panthers, and out gained the Panthers in that department 241-208. They had three rushing touchdowns. In passing the ball, the Captains were 16 of 24 with 1 interception. They gained 223 yards passing and threw 4 touchdowns.
Ferrum had 4 rushing touchdowns on 33 rushing attempts. Through the air, Ferrum was 8 of 23 with 3 interceptions. Ferrum did not have a passing touchdown.

It seemed to be a fairly basic game plan for CNU. They ran fairly basic plays on the ground and through the air, and relied on the size and strength of their offensive line to open holes, and give the quarterback time to find an open receiver.

Ferrum put up 30 points, and this is nothing to sneeze at, but in the end, it was the CNU offense that seemed to be too much for the Panther defense, both on the ground and through the air.

It's disappointing I am sure that the playoffs are not in the cards, but things are on the way up, and Ferrum is moving in the right direction. Take care of business Saturday against Averett, and let's end this season on a high note.

CNU Rolls Past Panthers

2011-11-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

A synopsis of this game is size. Ferrum, in my opinion was really outsized on both sides of the line of scrimmage. There seemed to be no defensive answer for the CNU offense, and Ferrum struggled all day offensively. In the end, Ferrum fell again to a very talented Captains team, 48-30.
For me, this was frustrating to watch, but if you take the season as a whole, and remember, there is one game left to play, Ferrum is really doing fine. It, as I have said before, is a process to build a solid competing team. Ferrum has really looked good in most of their games this season, and while this was a loss, There is still a lot to be gained from this game.
I will post a longer report when I have a chance to review the stats. Tough luck Panthers- Stay focused and take care of business Saturday. Beat the Cougars!

Championship GAMEDAY

2011-11-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

The time has come. Ferrum and CNU for all the marbles. Ferrum will look to end a seven game losing streak against the Captains, and in the process end a six year absence from the playoffs.
For Ferrum to win, they have to play extremely disciplined football, and they have to capitalize on turnovers. Mostly, I think Ferrum will have to pass the ball a little more than they like to. Not because any desperate situations, but rather because CNU is very skilled at stopping the triple option.
I think if Ferrum can open the passing game early, then, if successful, they will be in a position to utilize the run.
Very Excited!

Go Panthers!

The Stage is Set

2011-11-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

For Ferrum, this has been a really good season. If someone had told me that the Panthers would have a chance at the playoffs in David Harper's first year, I would have thought it overly optimistic. I would have considered it a possibility, but realistically, I would have thought that second place in the conference would be "top shelf."

Now we sit as fans waiting for what I felt would have been very unlikely. A win tomorrow will put Ferrum in the NCAA field of 32 teams to decide a national champion. That leaves about 207 teams dreaming of finishing their season strong, and building towards next year. But for those other 32, they will have made it to the next level. They will be in the big show for D3 football.
Ferrum is looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2005. In those six seasons since, this is as strong a Panther team as I can remember. Ferrum is solid in all aspects of the game, and this is something that has not been the case in quite some time.
The offense is much improved over last year, and the defense has really done a huge turnaround. Special teams also are very solid. Ferrum is fielding a championship caliber team for the USA South.
I look for Ferrum to continue their winning streak tomorrow. I expect the Panthers to be playoff bound.

Go Panthers!

3rd String QB Edwards to start for CNU

2011-11-03T18:27:00.000-07:00

After losing their second string quarterback to a broken leg last Saturday, The Christopher Newport Captains will start Junior Aaron Edwards at Ferrum.
The link below gives more detail about the backup's backup.

http://www.dailypress.com/sports/colleges/dp-spt-cnuedwards-1103-20111102,0,813942.story

Webcast available for CNU @ Ferrum game

2011-11-03T18:12:00.000-07:00

I spoke today with the Ferrum College Sports Information Director Gary Holden, and inquired as to the availability of a web cast for Saturday's game. Holden indicated that the game will be broadcast in audio only over the Internet. The game will be broadcast by ESPN radio, and streamed through the Ferrum College athletics website. To listen to the game, utilize the link below, and click the "listen" tab on the right of the "Ferrum Football vs. CNU" box. The web cast is scheduled to begin at 12:50 p.m.

http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/ferrum.portal#

Ferrum to Host Heisman Trophy Winner at Saturday's Game

2011-11-03T18:03:00.000-07:00

George Rogers, the 1980 Heisman Trophy Winner from University of South Carolina, will be in attendance at Saturday's game vs. CNU.
For a small fee, fans can have their picture taken with Rogers and his Heisman Trophy. The funds go to the Ferrum football program. For more information, click the link below:

http://www.ferrumpanthers.com/news/2011/11/3/FB_1103110844.aspx

CNU @ FerrumGame Preview

2011-11-02T18:12:00.000-07:00

Prior to beginning the game preview, I think I will do a little highlight review of the past year or so.

>August 14th 2010- Coach Dave Davis announces his intention to retire from coaching

>October 2nd 2010- Ferrum breaks ground on the 5.5 million dollar Hank Norton Athletic Center

>October 14th 2010- Ferrum posts announcement for new Head Football Coach

>November 13th 2010- Ferrum ends season with loss to Maryville- Davis Era ends

>December 9th 2010- David Harper named new Head Football Coach

>January 24th 2011- College advertises for new assistant coach (offensive coordinator)

>January 31st 2011- Blog article> Ferrum to play Hampden-Sydney College

>February 10th 2011- Ferrum releases 2011 football schedule

>March 14th 2011- Sources confirm the hiring of Ralph Isernia as the new Offensive Coordinator

>June 3rd 2011- LaGrange, and Piedmont College to join the USA South- Maryville to become full time member

>July 16th 2011- USA South Media Day. Coaches look for CNU to win conference title.

>August 24th 2011- Chris Warren returns to the Panther sidelines

>September 24th 2011- Panthers notch Harper his first win 37-6 over Bridgewater

>October 29th 2011- Panthers get sixth consecutive win. Defeat Shenandoah on the road. Await CNU for conference title.

What an amazing time in the history of Ferrum football. Ferrum right now has something that 6 other teams in the conference do not have.... A chance. A chance to secure one more win this Saturday, and to advance to the NCAA playoffs! It has been a good year for Ferrum no matter the outcome of Saturdays game, but the outcome is what everyone is focused on. A win Saturday would put Ferrum in the playoffs for the first time since 2005. It would give Ferrum at least a share of, and possibly the outright conference title. It would also cap off a perfectly excellent season for the team, and Coach Harper. A win would also give the Seniors something that they have never seen...a win over CNU.

A win, as badly as it is wanted, will not come easy. Christopher Newport is a strong and physical team. They have size on both sides of the line of scrimmage, and their offensive backfield is filled with talent. Evan Moog,
Markeese Stovall, and Marcus Morrast have all be very valuable to the Captains ground attack.
The passing game for CNU has a big question mark as it is not known if Garner can play after being injured against Greensboro. If he cannot go, look for Junior Aaron Edwards to step up. In his fill in roll at Greensboro, he was 6 of 7 for 39 yards.

CNU, while primarily a running team, will throw the ball. Look for the routes to be mostly of the short underneath variety, but they will go deep without warning (Remember the first play of the second half in 2010?) Lastly it is important to note that the Captains have the No.1 ranked field goal kicker in the nation. Stephen Denuel is 14 of 16 on the season.

Ferrum will counter with a defense that has been spectacular this season. They are ranked 24th in the nation against the run, and overall the Panther defense is ranked 32nd in the nation. The secondary is having a strong year also. as their pass efficiency defense is ranked first in the conference, and 24th in the nation.

On offense, Ferrum is very solid. Led by Marcus Mayo, Ferrum's rushing offense is ranked 17th in the nation, and overall, the offense has a rank of 56th in the nation.
Dontavious Gilbert, and a whole host of running backs will look to keep the Captains defense on its heels.

Keys to a Panther Championship

Relax. You are playing at home, in front of avid supporters. Have fun!

Stop Stovall. He is the key to the Captains offense.

Pressure the quarterback. They will try to exploit the pass defense. DB's and Safeties...Be ready.

CNU is very well coached at stopping the option. They were very effective against Salisbury. Be ready to pass.

Kentel Noel is a very dangerous punt returner....We got one of those too.

Keep penalties down to a bare minimum. Play disciplined football.

Work hard in the red zone, and even though this team does not turn the ball over often, be ready for some Saturday. Convert any and all turnovers.

Lastly, the defense must be ready for quick strikes, and trick plays....at least one.

Ferrum can win this game, and I have seen predictions that give Ferrum a win by 20, and one that gives CNU a win by 25.

For me, I think it is Ferrum's turn. I really think that they have come too far, and are really executing too well, for this to turn out any way but a win.

I look for Ferrum to be the USA South representative in the playoffs.

My Prediction:

Ferrum 31

CNU 24

As for the rest of the conference.....

NCW @ Methodist

SHENANDOAH @ Averett

Greensboro @ MARYVILLE

CLICK THE LINK BELOW FOR THE GAME DAY NOTES:

http://www.ferrumpanthers.com/documents/2011/11/2/FB-Gameday-CNU-11.pdf?id=402

Some Statistics to Ponder

2011-11-02T02:35:00.000-07:00

The following links will give you the chance to compare Ferrum and CNU statistically.

FERRUM COLLEGE

http://web1.ncaa.org/football/exec/rankingSummary?org=225&year=2011&week=9

CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY

http://web1.ncaa.org/football/exec/rankingSummary?org=139&year=2011&week=9

I would like to post the two charts side by side, to make it easier to compare the two, but the limitations of the blog, will not allow it.
Things to note-
In the team stats for the conference, Ferrum is in 1st place in 8 categories. Of those 8, CNU ranks either 2nd or 3rd behind Ferrum.
By contrast, Ferrum ranks 3rd behind the 2 categories that the Captains finished in first place.
The strength of each team is their rushing offense, and their rushing defense. Both teams seem to be weaker defending the pass. Ferrum is ranked lower in passing offense CNU 3rd, Ferrum 7th. Neither team puts the ball up all that much.

These teams are very evenly matched. Look for this to be a great game to watch.

Go Panthers!

Championship Game Blackout!!!!

2011-11-01T19:43:00.000-07:00

No this has nothing to do with TV coverage, rather what you should wear to the game. The College has declared a Blackout! They want all Ferrum fans to wear Black to the Game!

Click link for full story-

http://www.ferrumpanthers.com/news/2011/11/1/FB_1101112001.aspx

A Little History of Ferrum vs. CNU

2011-10-31T03:02:00.000-07:00

Next Saturday, The Christopher Newport Captains will be at Adams Field to face Ferrum. This game will decide the conference championship, and will send the winner to the NCAA playoffs. Ferrum has not made a trip to the playoffs since 2005. That year, Ferrum put together a great season. They had gone 9-0, with one regular season game left to play. Ferrum had already clinched the conference crown, and while the final regular season game would not jeopardize their conference title, a win would likely make Ferrum a host of their first round playoff game, and give them an undefeated season. Standing in the way of this accomplishment was Christopher Newport. The Captains, who were very accustomed to conference championships, could only sit back and play the roll of the spoiler. This game was an important one for Ferrum, and a victory over the Captains would provide the Panthers with just their second win over CNU since it started football in 2001.
Although the stage was set for Ferrum to be awarded the championship trophy and the automatic bid, their first round playoff game would be played in Delaware. That is because CNU pasted a 44-7 shellacking on the Panthers. Ferrum would face Wesley (DE) in the first round, and things did not go that smooth for Ferrum then either. The Wolverines beat Ferrum 59-14.
In the 5 years since that playoff year, Ferrum has fallen to the Captains in every meeting. In that time, CNU has outscored Ferrum 157-85. The closest game in that time span was a 13-10 loss in Newport News.
You have to go back to 2003 when CNU visited Adams field for the first time to see the only victory Ferrum has collected over the Captains.....Then the #11 ranked Captains. Ferrum never trailed in this game, and came away with a 19-17 win. This lone win was played on November 15 2003, and almost eight years later Ferrum will be looking to achieve its second win over CNU.
While there are many who will contend that CNU has an unfair advantage because it is a State supported school while all other USA South institutions are private, (You will get no argument from me on this point), personally, I do not think that the public / private issue will figure into Saturday's outcome. This year, I think Ferrum and CNU are more evenly matched than certainly in the last five years, and possibly longer.
This year, Ferrum is a strong team that has a focus and a visible will to win. Ferrum is very fast, and has a stable of running backs and receivers that most schools would envy. Marcus Mayo is the spark plug to the Ferrum engine. His abilities, while well documented, leave most defenses exasperated, and Ferrum fans with sore palms from clapping, and a touch of laryngitis from screaming. I believe that Ferrum can and will defeat CNU. They have more weapons than Batman's utility belt, and certainly are becoming quite proficient at using them.
So what does CNU bring to the table?

The Captains will bring a strong running game, and a very good quarterback.
RB's Evan Moog, Markeese Stovall, and Marcus Morrast provide plenty of explosive power in the backfield.
The quarterback situation is a little less clear for CNU. Earlier in the season, starting quarterback Christian Woelfel-Monsivasis was lost to injury, and was replaced by Lyndon Garner. This injury sidelined Woelfel-Monsivasis likely for the remainder of the season. Garner had come in and been very effective for CNU, but he too was injured Saturday in the Captains win over Greensboro. He did not return to the game, and was replaced by Aaron Edwards who completed 6 of 7 passes for 39 yards.
It is not clear who will be under center for the Captains, but you can bet he will be capable.
CNU will also bring an offensive line that averages 286 pounds across.
Defense for the Captains will also be strong, but they seem to have struggled this year stopping the pass. Games against Stevenson, Salisbury, Shenandoah, and to a certain extent Methodist( 2 TD's with less than a min. remaining, but against back ups) has left question marks about the secondary.
Make no mistake, they will be a well prepared defense on Saturday.
Special teams is headlined by placekicker Stephen Denuel, and return specialist Kentel Noel. Noel is always a threat to take one all the way, and led the conference in this category in 2010.
Look for this to be a barn burner, and look for all the stops to be pulled out by both teams to secure the win.

See you Saturday!

Go Panthers!

Panthers Dispatch Hornets 41-28 Await CNU for the Title

2011-10-30T15:43:00.000-07:00

For a game that seemed to take forever to get started, it seemed like it took equally as long to end. The game with the Shenandoah Hornets was postponed due to an unusual October snowstorm that hit the Shenandoah Valley and much of the Northeast U.S. The Saturday night contest was rescheduled for Sunday at 1p.m., and then rescheduled again for Sunday at 3p.m.
After all of the delays, the Ferrum offense came out of the locker room ready to play. They wasted little time getting on the board as at the 10:22 mark of the first half, Steven Harris took a hand off 35 yards for a touchdown, and with the Puschell extra point, Ferrum lead 7-0.
At the 3:42 mark of the first quarter, Harris again found the end zone, this time from one yard out, and with the extra point Ferrum took a 14-0 lead into the second quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Shenandoah got on the board as quarterback Daniel Wright scored on a short run to make the score 14-7 Ferrum.
At 7:17 left in the first half, quarterback Marcus Mayo faked out everyone in Shentel Stadium, and kept the ball on an option play. 70 yards later he was in the end zone, and Ferrum lead 21-7.
With 4:50 left in the half, Mayo again took the ball to the house, and Ferrum lead at the half 28-7.
The second half started out good for the Panthers as they picked up right where they left off. Mayo this time took to the air, and found Dontavious Gilbert on a pass that he took 70 yards down the sideline. Ferrum lead 35-7.
Mayo would account for the final Ferrum points as he scored from 6 yards out. 2 penalties on the extra point left Puschell with about a 40 yard extra point. The kick was short, and Ferrum lead 41-7.
Shenandoah did not show any quit, and with the help of several Ferrum errors scored 21 points to make the final score 41-28. For me, it was a little too close, and took too long for the game to end. All in all however, Ferrum played a solid game.
The defense was strong all day, and kept the big play threat of Daniel Wright and Rico Wallace under 100 passing yards. Wright ended the day with 232 passing yards, but of those Wallace only had 68.
Ferrum will need to enjoy this bus ride back, because it gets down to the nitty gritty this week. Saturday, CNU comes to town and the winner will win the USA South conference and a birth in the NCAA playoffs. Somewhere Ferrum has not been since 2005.
There will be more on this game as the week progresses.

Go Panthers!

Update

2011-10-30T09:31:00.000-07:00

All information I can find indicates that the kickoff has indeed been moved to 3 pm.
Go Panthers!

Game Time Changed

2011-10-30T09:26:00.000-07:00

While it is difficult to confirm, It appears thet kickoff has been pushed back to 3 p.m.for today's game. This is likely due to field conditions from the recent snowfall. I will post more information as I get it.

GAMEDAY Take Two

2011-10-30T05:52:00.000-07:00

Not a lot to add to yesterday's article. The main question that comes to mind is how will the delay affect the team? My guess is that this will not cause a great deal of difference in the way the Panthers approach Shenandoah, but may affect the practice routine leading up to Christopher Newport.
If Sunday is utilized at all after a Saturday game, it probably is for meetings, and I would imagine that it does not involve a huge amount of time. So with the game being on Sunday, Ferrum will likely utilize the bus ride to have their meetings. Beyond that, I think the Christopher Newport preparation will be unaffected.
The main thing is to take care of business in Winchester. That is the only thing that matters. If there is total focus on the Shenandoah game, the rest will take care of itself.

GAME POSTPONED!!!

2011-10-29T07:37:00.000-07:00

The Ferrum @ Shenandoah game had been postponed until tomorrow at 1 p.m. This is due to the heavy snowfall that has moved into the northern Shenandoah Valley. See link below:
http://www.suhornets.com/sports/fball/2011-12/releases/201110296dnxaz

GAMEDAY

2011-10-29T04:06:00.000-07:00

Tonight's game against the Shenandoah Hornets is a very big game for Ferrum. The past two games, Methodist and Greensboro, and the next two games represent the bottom and the top of the conference respectively. Tonight Ferrum plays for several things. A win tonight will guarantee the Panthers a winning season. A win tonight will eliminate Shenandoah from the conference title race, and a win tonight will set up an all or nothing game nest Saturday against Christopher Newport.
The Panthers tonight must contend with the best passing offense in the conference. Shenandoah quarterback, Daniel Wright is ranked 25th in the nation in passing efficiency, and leads an offense that overall is ranked 41st in the nation. His favorite receiver is Rico Wallace, Wallace is ranked 25th in the nation for receptions per game, and 4th in the nation for receiving yards per game.
Last year, Wright set a new SU record for passing yards against Ferrum as he became the first Hornets quarterback to have more than 300 yards passing in a game. Wallace also set a record in that game as he caught nine passes for 224 yards. The interesting thing to note was that Ferrum still won the game.56-20.
From last year to this year, both teams have improved greatly.
Marcus Mayo is a true triple threat. Passing, running and on punt returns, Mayo has scored 13 touchdowns this season. 6 passing, 6 running, and 1 on a punt return against North Carolina Wesleyan. Mayo has completed 50% of his passes (62 of 124) and is averaging 4.9 yards per carry when he runs with the ball.
Derrick West, Tyler Brubaker, and Makaya Jackson are still Mayo's favorite targets, and between the three of them they have accounted for 713 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.
Ferrum and Shenandoah can both put points on the board, and statistically they are very similar defensively.
The Panther defense against the run is ranked 29th in the nation (D3), and their defense against the pass is ranked 78th nationally....this is a huge improvement. This time last year the pass defense was ranked 208th nationally. On defense the Hornets are very good at stopping the run. They are ranked 60th in the nation. Their pass defense is no slouch either as they are ranked 32nd in the nation.

The rushing offense of the Panthers is ranked 16th in the nation, and the passing offense is ranked 184th...but we really focus on the run via the option.Overall Ferrum's offense is ranked 56th in the nation.
For the Hornets, they do not run the ball particularly well. Their rushing offense is ranked 132nd, but their passing offense is the 42nd best in the country.

So it boils down to two teams that are good on both sides of the ball. This should be a really good game, Look for this game to possibly go into overtime, and look for a special teams play to figure huge in the outcome.
Go Panthers!

No need for a 1967 repeat.....but a Panther victory is necessary

2011-10-28T19:31:00.000-07:00

In 1965, Ferrum won its first of four National Junior College Athletic Association National Championships. In 1966, they were National Runner up, losing to Kilgore Texas 28-7. This loss ended a 19 game unbeaten streak for the Panthers, likely leaving a very sour taste in the mouths of the entire team. It would stand to reason that the team that Ferrum opened the season against in 1967, would be the object of much pent up frustration.
The team that drew the short straw was the Shenandoah Hornets. While I have no statistics from this game, and I do not even know where it was played, I do know that Shenandoah was the victim of a much better team that was still brooding over the way the season ended, and the victim of a team that decided that it needed to make a statement from the start. Ferrum exterminated the Hornets 80-6. The 80 point mark has been reached twice by the Panthers, but the highest point total ever was against Baltimore Community College whom the Panthers defeated 83-3.

I do not look for that type of a blowout by any means. These two teams are far different from those fielded by their respective Colleges in 1967. Ferrum is a strong team, but likely very different than the 67 Panthers. I think it is also a safe bet to think that Shenandoah has improved greatly since then. That 1967 season would be the final year of football at Shenandoah until it was re introduced in 2000. Overall, Ferrum and Shenandoah have played 14 times, and Ferrum leads the series 12-2. The Hornets won in 2003, and 2004.
This year, Ferrum is in nearly a must win situation. They can eliminate Shenandoah from contention of the USA South title, and return home on Nov. 5th for a showdown for all the marbles against Christopher Newport University. A loss will likely result in utilizing the USA South tiebreaker system to determine who goes to the playoffs.. I will explain that in another article.... if necessary.
The weather forecast for Saturday, is cold and snow. I really think this will help Ferrum as they will tend to keep it on the ground, and Shenandoah will pass often.
This game will not be a 1967 style blowout, rather it may be low scoring due to the weather, but 1 point or 80, Ferrum needs to win.....Go Panthers!

WEATHER FORECAST!

2011-10-28T02:35:00.000-07:00

The forecast from the Weather Channel for Wincherster Virginia for Saturday is as follows:

Cloudy with rain and snow in the morning, becoming all snow in the afternoon. Cold. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 90%. 5 to 8 inches of snow expected.

Game Prieview Ferrum @ ShenandoahNow It Gets Serious

2011-10-25T17:42:00.000-07:00

Up to this point in the season, Ferrum has shown that they are a very good and capable team. Overcoming the losses to Emory and Henry, and Hampden-Sydney, Ferrum started its current 5 game winning streak with a thrashing of Bridgewater. I am not sure what exactly happened in week 4, but something happened, and so far, the Panthers have not looked back.
Not all games however present with the same degree of difficulty. Ferrum (5-2,4-0) is about to face its most severe tests since the Hampden-Sydney game. On the docket this week are the Shenandoah Hornets. Shenandoah (4-3,3-1) has been very solid all season. In looking over their statistics, they thrive on the pass. Their quarterback/receiver combination of Daniel Wright and Rico Wallace give the Hornets the 25th most efficient passing offense in the country. This will be a major focus of the Panthers defense, but they need to be aware of their running game also. The running game is not the focus of the Hornet offense, but Brad Martz seems to be their primary running back.He was just named USA South Offensive Player of the Week, for the week of October 17th.

Shenandoah's passing game breaks down like this:

The Hornets have completed 128 of 210 passes for 1757 yards and 18 touchdown passes. The Hornets have thrown 9 interceptions. All of the touchdowns were thrown by Daniel Wright. He has also rushed for 4 touchdowns.
Rico Wallace has caught 49 passes for 974 yards and 11 touchdowns. Wallace is averaging just under 20 yards per reception.
Shenandoah ranks first in the conference in passing offense, and 42nd in the nation.
When Wright decides to target another receiver, look for it to be Qydaar Murphy. Murphy is ranked second in the team statistics, and is a very nice compliment to Wallace.

They have a strong passing game, but the running game has been far less effective. Ranked 4th in the conference and 192nd in the nation, the Hornets are averaging 142 yards per game running the ball. This comes out to 3.5 yards per carry. In total, the Hornets have run the ball 283 of their 493 offensive plays.

While there have been several like opponents, the only team that Ferrum defeated and Shenandoah lost to was Bridgewater. It appears at first glance that Bridgewater utilized a strong ground game, along with a pick six of Wright. The Eagles defeated the Hornets 28-23.
Shenandoah also lost to Randolph Macon, and Christopher Newport. Their largest margin of defeat was just 7 points, and that was the same margin for both the Randolph Macon, and CNU games.

Keys to a Ferrum Win:

Get pressure on the quarterback- This needs to be constant and disruptive.
Be prepared for many many passes on the part of the SU offense.
Control the clock...control time of possession. If we have the ball, they cannot score.
Force turnovers.
Special teams be ready. A Mayo PR for a TD would be nice. Puschell, keep up the good work. Be ready to come in and win the game.
Lastly....need I say this? No turnovers, and no penalties....You cannot give this team any advantage. Play disciplined football.

Huge game, and the last road game for Ferrum. The Panthers need this win very very much. To do it, they need fan support. Ferrum needs a huge turnout in the stands. This could be a barn burner.

Go Panthers!

My Prediction:

Ferrum 27
Shenandoah 21

As for the rest of the conference:

Methodist @ AVERETT

MARYVILLE @ North Carolina Wesleyan

CNU @ Greensboro

Conference Perfect Panthers Pound Pride 66-23

2011-10-22T17:11:00.000-07:00

Ferrum took their record to 5-2 Saturday with a decisive 66-23 thumping of the Greensboro College Pride. Greensboro (0-7, 0-4) had a fairly competitive first half as they trailed 28- 16 at the intermission. This seemingly close halftime score was greatly assisted by three Ferrum turnovers that lead to 13 of their 16 points.
In the second half, Ferrum received the kickoff, and six plays later, Marcus Mayo scored from five yards out. After the Scott Puschell extra point, The Panthers had a 35-16 lead.
On the first play of the next Greensboro possession, QB Ryan Thorndset's pass was intercepted by Delano Hall, giving Ferrum possession. The Panthers were not able to convert this, but there were not many other ocassions that they did not score.

Ferrum dominated, and this was not a surprise....The real tests begin Saturday vs. Shenandoah. The Panthers need your support for these next two games. More info to come on these games.

Greensboro @ Ferrum Game Preview

2011-10-20T02:54:00.000-07:00

This Saturday's game has Ferrum at home again hosting the Greensboro Pride. Greensboro (0-6, 0-3) comes to town in the middle of a season that has been a struggle to say the least. Greensboro ranks at or near the bottom in most all of the statistical categories as compared to other conference teams. As they are at the bottom of the conference standings, that would seem logical. The Pride however, while having a forgettable season, is a team that seems to always be well prepared for the Panthers. Over the last few seasons, Ferrum and Greensboro have had a some very intense games. Last year, Ferrum lead GC 21-0, but had to hang on for a 28-20 win. In 2008, Ferrum won the game, 46-21, but Greensboro had no quit in them, and scored in the second, third, and final quarters. While Ferrum leads the all time series 13-2, it was in 2009 that Greensboro came to W.B. Adams field, and defeated the Panthers Ferrum lead that game 17-0, but Greensboro came back to score four touchdowns...all through the air, and take a 27-17 lead. It turned out that Ferrum would score one more touchdown, but it was not enough, as Ferrum fell 27-24.
That season, Greensboro finished 6-4, and lost to Christopher Newport 14-7.
While that Pride win over Ferrum was just two seasons ago, a lot has changed for both teams. Since that loss, Marcus Mayo is back in the Ferrum lineup, and there has been much growth and maturity on the Ferrum side of the ball. Ferrum is a faster team than in recent years, and under first year head coach David Harper, the Panthers seem to be totally focused.
While I, like everyone else is expecting Ferrum to post another one in the "W" column, I am also somewhat apprehensive about this game. The Pride is a team that can put up a tough fight. They went toe to toe with North Carolina Wesleyan before losing later in the game, 31-19. NCW trailed much of that game.
Ferrum needs to play the strong, and consistent way that they have been playing in recent weeks. They need to play mistake free football, and keep their mind on this game and this game only. Do not look any further than Saturday's game against Greensboro. Get this win, and then you can think about Shenandoah.....but not before the win over GC.

My Prediction:

Ferrum 44
Greensboro 20

As for the rest of the USA South:

SHENANDOAH @ Methodist
Averett @ MARYVILLE
North Carolina Wesleyan @ CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY

More Comments about the win over Methodist

2011-10-15T22:57:00.000-07:00

In looking at the stats, I decided to point out, through highlighting where some of the Ferrum strengths really gave the Panthers a huge advantage in Saturdays game. Enjoy!

Statistics:

Methodist @ Ferrum

10-15-2011

Team Totals	MU	FC
FIRST DOWNS	14	17
Rushing	6	11
Passing	7	3
Penalty	1	3
NET YARDS RUSHING	54	330
Rushing Attempts	29	49
Average Per Rush	1.9	6.7
Rushing Touchdowns	2	4
Yards Gained Rushing	94	357
Yards Lost Rushing	40	27
NET YARDS PASSING	157	90
Completions-Attempts-Int	15-32-2	6-16-2
Average Per Attempt	4.9	5.6
Average Per Completion	10.5	15.0
Passing Touchdowns	0	1
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS	211	420
Total offense plays	61	65
Average Gain Per Play	3.5	6.5
Fumbles: Number-Lost	2-1	2-1
Penalties: Number-Yards	7-90	6-53
PUNTS-YARDS	9-326	5-178
Average Yards Per Punt	36.2	35.6
Net Yards Per Punt	31.8	27.4
Inside 20	1	1
50+ Yards	0	1
Touchbacks	0	1
Fair catch	2	1
KICKOFFS-YARDS	4-183	7-356
Average Yards Per Kickoff	45.8	50.9
Net Yards Per Kickoff	34.2	31.0
Touchbacks	0	0
Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD	3-21-0	4-40-0
Average Per Return	7.0	10.0
Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD	7-139-0	4-46-0
Average Per Return	19.9	11.5
Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD	2-2-0	2-32-0
Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD	0-0-0	0-0-0
Miscellaneous Yards	0	0
Possession Time	26:24	33:36
1st Quarter	5:31	9:29
2nd Quarter	8:04	6:56
3rd Quarter	7:42	7:18
4th Quarter	5:07	9:53
Third-Down Conversions	1 of 13	6 of 14
Fourth-Down Conversions	2 of 3	0 of 0
Red-Zone Scores-Chances	3-3	4-4
Sacks By: Number-Yards	0-0	3--2
PAT Kicks	2-2	4-5
Field Goals	1-1	1-1

Methodist Latest Victim of the Black and Gold-Panthers roll 37-17

2011-10-15T18:07:00.000-07:00

On a beautiful day in Franklin County, area residents, students. parents and alumni were treated to an impressive showing by the Ferrum Panthers. Ferrum used a multi pronged offensive attack, and a very stubborn defense to carry their record to 4-2 overall, and 3-0 in the conference. Marcus Mayo was 6 of 16 passing with two interceptions and one touchdown. The ground attack was led by Mayo also, as he ran 14 times for 98 yards and a touchdown. Dontavious Gilbert scored two touchdowns, one on the ground, and one on the receiving end of a Mayo pass.
Ferrum, as a team, gained 330 rushing yards, and the defense limited the Monarchs to 54 yards on the ground. While Methodist, (1-5, 0-3) found the going difficult over land, their quarterback, Max Reber, found some success through the air. Reber was 15 of 32 with 2 interceptions. Although Reber collected 157 passing yards, the Monarchs failed to score through the air.
The Panther defense again looked really impressive. Marcco McNeal led the defensive effort with 8 tackles. He was assisted by Tarrell Owens and Tae Motley who had one interception each.
Overall this was a game that Ferrum won fairly easily. A solid game on both sides of the ball, and a real confidence builder, this game allowed some back ups to get on the field. This gives them much needed experience, and rests some of the regular starters.
Great job Ferrum. You are still tied for first place in the conference. Get some rest and enjoy the win.

Go Panthers!

Gameday Spotlight Delano Hall

2011-10-15T04:20:00.000-07:00

#1 Delano Hall

Position: Defensive Back
Height: 5-11
Weight: 162
Class: Senior
Hometown: Landover, Md.
High School: Suitland

GAMEDAY Time to Make a Statement

2011-10-15T04:08:00.000-07:00

To this point in the season, Ferrum has had a good run. While it started a little rocky against Emory and Henry and Hampden-Sydney, things seem to have come together nicely. I could not be happier to see Ferrum at 3-2 with a 2-0 conference record. To this point, Ferrum has done fine. The next five games offer the best and the not so goods of the conference. Today, Ferrum takes on Methodist, and while their record does not show them as being that strong, the Monarchs do have the ability to put up points.They have a talented quarterback, and a very capable group of receivers.
Today is a day for the Panthers to make a statement. To really get the attention of the other schools in the conference, and possibly a good portion of the D3 world. This is a game that is not just important to win, but it needs to be decisive. It needs to be a shutout.. In the last three games, the defense has given up 19 points. This is really good, and something that Ferrum should be proud of. Interestingly enough, in 1965, the National Champion Panthers (Junior College) gave up just 19 points in three games also. The difference was that they won all of their other seven games as shut outs. That right, they gave up 19 points the entire year!!!!
While I know times are different now, and Ferrum is not playing Junior College ball, this '65 National Championship team set the standard for all of the Ferrum teams to follow. They averaged 26 points a game, and gave up an average of 1.9 points per game. Amazing!!!
Today, the win is the most important thing. Ferrum needs to continue the momentum it has recently found, but it will speak volumes to the rest of the conference if all of the points are on the Ferrum side of the board.......Go Panthers

Methodist @ Ferrum Game Preview

2011-10-14T02:37:00.000-07:00

In looking at this Saturday's game, a few things surprised me when pouring over the statistics. One, so far this season, Methodist (1-4, 0-2) has scored more points on the season than Ferrum. The Monarchs also have more passing yards than Ferrum. Methodist has thrown 8 passing touchdowns, and Ferrum has thrown but 4.
Some of this can be explained by the fact that Ferrum is still basically an option offense. That means fewer passes. The fact is that Methodist has a strong quarterback in Travis Murphy, and a corp of receivers that he will share his passes with. Murphy has thrown for 849 yards, and is completing almost 50% of his passes.(63 of 128 with 1 interception)
On the other side of the ball, the Monarchs have struggled. Defensively, Methodist has had a difficult time defending the run and the pass. To date they have given up 1137 passing yards (227 per game), and 724 yards on the ground for an average of almost 145 per game.
In short, Methodist has beaten Guilford (1-4), lost to Emory and Henry by 7 points, Lost to Maryville by 2 points, and scored 14 in the last 51 seconds to earn a somewhat respectable 26-14 loss to Christopher Newport.
This is not a team to take lightly, but Ferrum should be up to the challenge. The Panthers (3-2,2-0) can look for a constant passing attack from Methodist, and though they will be tested on the ground, I feel that Ferrum will be up to the test.
Look for a game that could be high scoring, and exciting to watch. In the end, the battle of the two first year head coaches should be won by Coach Harper.

My Prediction:

Ferrum 40
Methodist 21

As for the rest of the conference:

CNU @ Averett

NCW @ Greensboro

Maryville @ SHENANDOAH

Beware the Spoiler

2011-10-12T02:56:00.000-07:00

Although we have only played two conference games, there are two schools that are 0-2, and already virtually out of the running for the conference crown. While all teams are mathematically still alive, it would be very difficult for a team with an 0-2 record to prevail as conference champions.
Ferrum hosts Methodist this Saturday, and while the Monarchs are sitting at 0-2 in the conference, this does not mean that they are not a capable team. It was in their first conference game that while down 26-0 with less than a minute to play in the game, they were able to score 2 touchdowns against Christopher Newport to gain a more respectable final of 26-14. This past Saturday, the Monarchs came up just short in a 26-24 loss to the Scots of Maryville.
There is nothing that Methodist would like more than to get their first conference win against the Panthers.They will come in with an everything to gain and nothing to lose attitude, and believe me, they will pull out all the stops to make it happen.
Statistically, The Monarchs seem to protect their quarterback well, and have a better than average passing game. This will be what they rely on Saturday.
Their defense is giving up 30.2 points per game, and their offense is scoring 22.4 points per game. They lost by 7 to Emory and Henry, and they put up 40 points against Guilford.
While this should be a win for the Panthers,this will not be an automatic win for Ferrum, and it will be imperative to maintain a level of high intensity throughout the game. Do not let down, do not get cocky, and do not take your eye off of the goal.
Let's go Panthers..... to 3-0 in the conference.

Ferrum-Wesley 1979

2011-10-11T16:43:00.000-07:00

I have located this video on You Tube of a 1979 game between Ferrum and Wesley. Black and White and somewhat far away to tell who is who. Quarterback may have been Jeff Topping. If anyone can offer identifications on this, please comment. (no sound...about 10 mins long.)

Ferrum Reduces Ticket Prices for Saturday's Home Game

2011-10-11T02:28:00.000-07:00

This Saturday's game against Methodist University has been designated as Franklin County Appreciation Day. The college is grateful for the support of the local residents and businesses over the years, and has reduced ticket prices as a way to show that appreciation Tickets, normally five dollars, will be just two dollars on Saturday.
Ferrum is 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the conference. They are having a great season under first year head coach David Harper, so come out and support the Panthers! See link below for more information.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ferrumpanthers.com%2Fnews%2F2011%2F10%2F7%2FFB_1007114946.aspx%3Fpath%3Dfootball&h=BAQDCBLZY

Vote for Coach Harper

2011-10-10T16:30:00.000-07:00

Liberty Mutual is again taking votes for Coach of the Year in all NCAA Divisions. In DIII, Ferrum's coach David Harper is ranked 38th in the voting. You can vote once per division per day. Tell your friends....Vote for Coach David Harper.

http://www.coachoftheyear.com/default.aspx#fbid=TfZ7mqyG8l0

Week 6 Statistics

2011-10-10T16:08:00.000-07:00

A listing of team and individual statistics after this past Saturday's games. Click link below:

http://web1.ncaa.org/football/exec/rankingSummary?org=225&year=2011&week=6

Revisiting a post

2011-10-09T13:57:00.000-07:00

In June of this year, I posted an article called A Long and Winding Road. In that article, I made the following statement:

If they can come out of the first five games with a winning record, and two of those wins are in conference, then it will have been a successful first half of the season.

Well the first half of the season is over, and Ferrum is 2-0 in the conference, and overall has a winning record....I would take that over last years 1-4 start. Great Job Ferrum- Keep it going!

More Comments about the NC Wesleyan winWhat a difference a year makes

2011-10-09T09:15:00.000-07:00

If you were at the North Carolina Wesleyan game in 2010, you may remember that the game was preceded by the ground breaking of the Hank Norton Center. As it turned out that was the best highlight of the day. While Ferrum had its chances to win that game, my memory recalls many sacks of Mayo, and many fumbles late in the game. Here are just a few stats comparing the game at Ferrum in 2010 to yesterdays win in Rocky Mount NC.

In 2010, Ferrum had 11 first downs, yesterday they had 20.
In 2010, Ferrum had 50 yards rushing, yesterday they had 246.
In 2010 Ferrum gave up 8 sacks for a loss of 56 yards, yesterday Mayo was sacked 2 times for a loss of 17 yards
In 2010, Ferrum fumbled 6 times, losing 4. Yesterday, 1 fumble but they retained possession.
In 2010, NCW had 437 offensive yards, yesterday they had 218.
In 2010, Ferrum punted 8 times averaging 36.5 yards, yesterday Ferrum punted three times for a 43 yd. avg.
In 2010, Ferrum returned 3 punts for 31 return yards. Yesterday Ferrum returned 3 punts for 83 yards and a touchdown.
In 2010, Ferrum's Time of Possession was 30:28, yesterday it was 36:48

These are just some of the numbers that really jump off the page. To me this was a game that, other than the punt return, was void of big plays. It was a grind it out type game, and I think Ferrum really, in the end, wore down the Bishops. The team continues to improve, and I look for this trend to continue. If they can maintain their focus, and continue to execute the game plan that the coaches put together, who knows what is possible.

Go Panthers!

Panthers share Conference leadDefeat Bishops 21-10

2011-10-09T04:02:00.000-07:00

On a perfect day for football, Ferrum defeated the Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan, 21-10. This win was one that most people did not see coming. Ferrum was predicted (in the coaches poll) to finish third in the conference behind The Bishops and Christopher Newport. Atomic football (http://www.knology.net/) had this game as a 27-22 loss for the Panthers with better than a 66% chance of NCW winning. Even the announcers of the CNU-Shenandoah game called it a "surprise in Rocky Mount " I however, did predict the Panther win. In my pre season predictions, I had Ferrum finishing at 8-2 in second place in the conference, ahead of NCW. Ironically, if they do indeed finish 8-2, they will win the conference.

Mayo on the Move Against the Bishops

It did not start all that well for Ferrum as North Carolina Wesleyan took the opening kickoff and drove down the field (with the help of a questionable pass interference call) scoring with just over three minuets gone off the clock. The drive was impressive, and for me, I was somewhat concerned that it happened so quickly, especially as the defense had performed so well recently.

Ferrum's first offensive possession lasted just six plays, and the Panthers were forced to punt. On their next possession, Ferrum still looked a little shaky on defense as NCW gained three first downs, but eventually punted, ending the drive. Ferrum's second drive of the day seemed to show more promise, but did not yield points. They ended up turning the ball over on downs, and once again it was up to the defense to contain the Bishops attack.This possession saw the first quarter end, and did not yield anymore points for the Bishops. As the second quarter began, and this possession continued, Ferrum's defense again came up big, forcing a punting situation. Kevin Quicker's punt was a long but low flying effort. It was what would be termed as "returnable", and 78 yards later, Marcus Mayo showed everyone why. Mayo, with a couple of moves, left the punt coverage team in the dust and took the ball to the end zone. With a Scott Puschell extra point, the game was tied at 7. The half would end with the score tied.
Ferrum received the ball to open the third quarter, and seemed to have the offense clicking. They moved the ball from their own 33, to the Bishops 21, when the drive stalled. A Scott Puschell field goal would put the Panthers on top 10-7, but the play ended up as a fake, and the holder Tim Reynolds threw a pass to the right corner of the end zone that fell to the ground incomplete.
The next possession for the Bishops seemed to have renewed vigor, and it was as if the momentum has somewhat shifted. The Bishops drove down field, and with 5:50 left in the third quarter, Quicker hit a 29 yard field goal to put the Bishops up 10-7.
Ferrum would answer emphatically as their offense drove down the field in 8 plays. Dontavious Gilbert capped the drive with an 11 yard touchdown run, and put the Panthers up for good, 14-10. The quarter would end, with Ferrum holding the ball and the lead. The drive that ended the third quarter, continued in the fourth for the Panthers, and this would be where on a 21 yard touchdown pass to Makaya Jackson, the Panthers would basically claim victory. All that was left was a Scott Puschell extra point, and for the defense to shut down the Bishops....and they did.

As I looked back over the stats, and recalled yesterdays game, I was quite surprised at the total offensive yards for Ferrum. It was a slow, yet methodical attack that piled up 331 offensive yards. 246 were on the ground, with 85 yards coming through the air. A very consistent effort on both sides of the ball. This ends the first half of the season, and along with that, most of the travel for the Panthers. They do have a very important game in Winchester against Shenandoah, but every other game is at W.B. Adams field.

Two streaks end.........

It has not been since 2005 that Ferrum had defeated North Carolina Wesleyan. That year, the Panthers, also in Rocky Mount, defeated the Bishops 63-28. Yesterday ended a five year losing streak to the Bishops.

On a personal note a streak of another kind ended also. I knew it had been a long time since I had seen Ferrum win in person, but in going back and looking at previous schedules, I did not realize just how long it had been. Living in Williamsburg, it is pretty easy to get to the game when Ferrum visits Christopher Newport. Other games have not been so easy to get to. In 2005, I traveled to Ferrum to see the 9-0 Panthers take on the Captains, only to see them lose, 44-7. The next week, I saw them fall in Wesley Delaware in the first round of the Division III playoffs. In 2006, I again saw them fall to the Captains. In 2007, I did not see a game in person, but in 2008, I was again at Pomoco stadium at CNU and saw the Panthers fall,13-10.
In 2009, I traveled to Ferrum to again watch the Panthers play the Captains. This was a much better game, but again it was a loss. Last year, I saw three Ferrum games. Emory and Henry, North Carolina Wesleyan, and CNU....all losses. and for this year, I had been to the Hampden-Sydney game. Yesterday I wondered if I maybe should stay home and listen to the game on the internet. (I seem to experience more wins that way)\ I am glad I went. I saw a team. Yeah I know, I really saw two teams, but in Ferrum I saw a group of young men that have really been forged into a team. Very vocal, very supportive of each other, and very focused. Out there to play hard, with not only the skills necessary to win, but a strong visible sportsmanship on the field. Yes I saw a very cohesive unit, but more importantly, I saw Ferrum win.....It was the first time since 2001 when I saw them beat Shenandoah 35-7.

Tyler Brubaker skys for reception at North Carolina Wesleyan

So now Ferrum is tied for first place with the Captains of Christopher Newport. I watched most of their game with Shenandoah on the internet. Both teams are capable, and both teams can put up points. Ferrum still has both of these teams on the schedule. While these games will be important, they are a few weeks away. Ferrum is in a great position. They are in as good a place in the conference standings as they can be, and are playing their next two games at home.....Methodist and Greensboro are the next two opponents for Ferrum, and I will be at the Greensboro game. How about 2 in a row?

Go Panthers!

Gameday Spotlight Jack McDowell

2011-10-08T02:04:00.000-07:00

#70 Jack McDowell
Position: Offensive Lineman
Height: 6-1
Weight: 280
Class: Senior
Hometown: Shady Side, Md.
High School: Bishop McNamara

HONORS
2009-10 USA South Academic All-Conference Team
USA South All-Conference 1st team, 2010

Fear the Beard!

GAMEDAY Blackhats look to go to 2-0 in the conference.

2011-10-08T01:51:00.000-07:00

Well this weekend will be critical for whoever wins the conference championship. Avoiding the first loss is doubly important when half of the top ranked teams will definitely have a loss by days end. Whoever losses today will be in a much more difficult position. In order for them to still contend, the team that beats them has to lose two games.

Ferrum cannot worry about what other teams do. It is easy to speculate, and to try to figure what the best scenarios are for your team. None of that matters. The only thing that matters for Ferrum is defeating the North Carolina Wesleyan Bishops. This is the only outcome they can control. They must play focused football. Every play whether offense, defense, or special teams, has to be played to the whistle. This will be a challenging game, but I believe that Ferrum must continue to do what has gotten them their last two wins....Play solid defense, mix it up offensively, and play with as few mistakes as possible. I look for Ferrum to be at 2-0 in the conference by days end.

I am headed out to Rocky Mount NC soon.

Go Panthers!

Ferrum @ North Carolina Wesleyan Game Preview

2011-10-05T16:06:00.000-07:00

This will be a weekend of firsts for four teams. Since all of last weeks winners play each other, and all of last weeks losers play each other, half of the teams will realize their first conference win, and their first conference loss. Between Ferrum, North Carolina Wesleyan, Shenandoah, and Christopher Newport, two will lose their first conference game, and between Methodist, Averett, Maryville, and Greensboro, two will win their first conference game.
Recent history would suggest that Ferrum is having a run of bad luck where North Carolina Wesleyan is concerned. Ferrum has not defeated the Bishops since 2005, and this is the only win in the eight times they have met. Ferrum is probably in as good a position to win as they have been in the last several years, and North Carolina Wesleyan, is possibly somewhat weaker than they have been. For Ferrum, a win Saturday will leave them tied for first in the conference. A loss for Ferrum would make their road to a conference title, bumpy to say the least. Anyone with one loss will require help from another team to keep their chances alive. Any team with two losses will be virtually out of the running, and while not mathematically eliminated, will have almost impossible odds to win the conference.
So what can we expect from the Panthers? Well Ferrum has been playing very strong on both sides of the ball, and while the Bishops have built a solid program, and were picked to finish second in the USA South, they are currently 1-3. They have played some pretty tough competition including Ohio Northern who was ranked 14th in the nation at the time. Look for NCW to emphasize their passing game. This would play their strength to Ferrum's weakness....although so far this season, Ferrum's pass defense has gone from a low of 215th nationally ranked, to its current ranking of 150th. It has also improved from 8th in the conference to 5th. So as for what to look for on defense, look for the Panthers secondary to be tested all day. The Bishops have the overall 75th best passing offense in the country, and are second in the conference to Shenandoah.
On the offense, Ferrum will likely find success running the ball, and should also find success passing. If Ferrum can play a flag free, consistent game, they should come away with a win.

Keys to the game:

Stop the passing game
Create turnovers, and turn them into points
Get to their quarterback.
Control the time of possession
Protect the ball- No turnovers
Protect the pocket- Protect Mayo
Be ready to make something(s) happen on special teams.
Strive for 75% success rate in the red zone.
This is an important game, but relax and have fun....You guys can win this.
Be ready for OT...This could come down to a FG

My prediction:

Ferrum 20
NCW 17

Go Panthers!

The Rest of this weekends games. Bold = winner

Shenandoah @ Christopher Newport University
Methodist @ Maryville
Averett @Greensboro

Picking a clean sweep by the visiting teams!

More Highlights of Ferrum vs Bridgewater

2011-10-03T18:59:00.000-07:00

More Comments about the win over Maryville

2011-10-02T04:57:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, Ferrum evened its record to 2-2. It was a year ago today that Ferrum hosted North Carolina Wesleyan, and broke ground on the Hank Norton Athletic Center. After a disappointing loss to the Bishops, Ferrum found themselves at 0-4, and looking at a difficult road to contend for the USA South title.
Fast forward one year, and look at where the Panthers are now. After a loss to a very good Emory and Henry team, Ferrum traveled to then #23 Hampden-Sydney, and lost 38-14. It was that game, in my opinion, that really turned things around for Ferrum. I saw a lot of promise in their losing effort that day. They seemed to grow from that game, and I think they realized that they could get off the canvas after being knocked down. The next week, Ferrum defeated a talented Bridgewater team 37-6. This margin of victory caught me and likely many Bridgewater fans off guard, but the defensive effort was especially a surprise.

Yesterday, Ferrum, again on the road, took their momentum to Maryville, and came away with a 27-3 win over an 0-4 Maryville team. Ferrum dominated this game right out of the gate, and while Maryville from time to time had bright spots, Ferrum played solid on both sides of the ball for sixty minuets.
Some of the statistics read like this:

Ferrum had 12 more first downs (20-8)
Ferrum had 327 yards rushing, and Maryville had 21
Ferrum had 122 yards through the air, and Maryville had 80.
Ferrum was 3 of 4 in the red zone (75%. Anything over 70% is where a team wants to be)
Big shout out to Dontavious Gilbert as he had 145 all purpose yards and scored one touchdown.

Defensively, Ferrum seems to have really stepped it up. In the last two games, Ferrum has not allowed a touchdown. They have been totally dominant on the front line, and the Ferrum rush defense, going into yesterday was ranked 2nd in the conference (behind Methodist), and 113th in the nation. After yesterday, I look for them to move up both in the conference and nationally.

To date, I am very impressed with the play of Freshman Josh Oliver. Oliver has 17 tackles, 1 interception, and 2 pass breakups. Tackles however are led by Senior Tremaine Whitney with 27, and Senior Delano Hall, also with 27.
The pass defense,which has typically been thought of as Ferrum's Achilles heel, has really come into its own, and is proving to be a very solid unit. It moved up 14 places nationally after the Bridgewater game, but is ranked 8th in the conference. Last year after four games, Ferrum had intercepted the opposition 3 times. This year the Panthers have 5. Ferrum has 1493 total yards of offense. this is over 360 more yards than at the same time last year.
This team, is like a car. I think of the Offensive line as the transmission, engine and frame of the car. The quarterback is the on board computer, sending signals to the other components, and the backs and receivers are the wheels, getting the car where it needs to be. Not to leave the coaches out, they to me are the mechanics, tinkering with car, trying to get it to perform at its best. While it is fun to make analogies between the offense and the car, it strikes me as difficult to make like analogies for the defense. Well it may not be so tough after all.... If the offense is a car, the defense must be a toll booth. You may try to drive through a toll booth, but you are gonna pay.

Great game Panthers...Keep it up!

Panthers Rip Maryville, 27-3 Record even at 2-2

2011-10-01T13:46:00.000-07:00

The Ferrum Panthers got down to business in their conference opener, defeating the Maryville Scots 27-3 at Honaker Field in Maryville. Although I am still waiting on official statistics, the numbers will be overwhelmingly in the Panthers favor. Mayo had over 100 yards passing, and just under 100 rushing. He had one touchdown run of over 40 yards, and kept the Scots defense on their heels most of the game. Steven Harris ran for over 100 yards as well.

While the offense really shined, the defense sparkled. I am very impressed with the improvements I see defensively. Ferum has, in four weeks, sold me on the defense. I am a believer, and really think things will only get better. The Maryville offense was stymied most of the day, and Ferrum was very close to pitching a shutout. As a side note, Ferrum has not allowed a touchdown in 8 quarters!

I will have more comments as the stats become available.

Go Panthers! (Last year at this time Ferrum was 0-4. Keep it going.)

Gameday Spotlight Tyler Brubaker

2011-10-01T06:10:00.000-07:00

#10 Tyler Brubaker

Position: Quarterback/WR
Height: 5-10
Weight: 180
Class: Junior
Hometown: Rocky Mount, VA
High School: Franklin County

Gameday Spotlight Chris Freycinet

2011-10-01T05:52:00.000-07:00

#44 Chris Freycinet

Position: Defensive End

Height: 5-11

Weight: 236

Class: Junior

Hometown: Stamford, CT

High School: Westhill

GAMEDAY Panthers Open Conference Play

2011-10-01T05:12:00.000-07:00

Its already week 5? Well the season really seems to be flying by. Today Ferrum (1-2), travels to Maryville TN. to challenge Maryville College (0-3). The Scots are coming into this game after three difficult contests. From this, I look for Mryville to be fired up in front of their home crowd. They will look at Ferrum as a game they can and should win. It's possible, and I think Ferrum has to stay focused, but should win. Maryville seems to be weakest against the run. (Hard to believe as last year they virtually shut the Panthers running game down...only 31 yards on the ground).
Today, look for Ferrum to try to dominate on the ground. If they are successful, it may be a long day for the Scots. If however Ferrum has a difficult time on the ground, look for this to be a closer game. If it's close, it could come down to special teams.....Oh by the way, the weather forecast calls for 10-20 mph winds.

Ferrum vs. Bridgewater highlights, 9/24/11.VOB

2011-09-28T19:39:00.000-07:00

Foundations of a first impression: D3football.com

2011-09-28T19:13:00.000-07:00

A feature article by D3football.com's Ryan Tipps. Click link below:

Foundations of a first impression: D3football.com

Ferrum @ Maryville Game Preview

2011-09-28T08:29:00.000-07:00

Coming off of a historic win for the Panther program, Ferrum this week will board the bus to Maryville, TN. to take on the Scots. It should take very little to get any and all returning Panthers fired up for this game. Maryville was the last game of the season last year, and for a team that started 0-4 in 2010, winning this game would have allowed the Panthers to finish 5-5, and would, more importantly secured a career ending victory for Coach Dave Davis in his final game.
This game turned out to be far tougher than I had anticipated. Ferrum was held to 21 rushing yards on 31 attempts. Mayo was sacked 6 times, and the offense only entered the red zone once all day. Lastly, Ferrum lost two fumbles, and lost the time of possession battle by over 11 minuets.. And this was at home.

For Saturday, Ferrum has to travel to one of the most hostile environments in the conference, to play a team that while winless, will be plenty ready to pick up where they left off last year. Thus far, Maryville has lost to Huntingdon College (3-1...whose only loss came in Double OT) The score was 35-7. They also fell to FCS team Tennessee Tech 56-7. Their most recent loss was to LaGrange College (2-2) as they fell to the Panthers 13-10. LaGrange most recently defeated North Carolina Wesleyan 24-17.
The point in all of this is that Maryville has played some very tough competition, and will bring that experience back home to take on Ferrum.

In looking over some of their statistics, Maryville is averaging over 37 passes a game, and is averaging 179 passing yards per game. There is no doubt they will come out throwing the ball. as adept as they are at throwing, statistics suggest that they are also pretty good at stopping the pass. Ranked second in pass defense in the conference, they are giving up an average of 192 yards per game, but this average has dropped each week. They are also losing about 258 yards on the ground to their opponents. Lastly, they have averaged just over one sack per game.

Maryville has thrown 4 interceptions, and fumbled four times. They have maintained possession on all four fumbles.

So what can Ferrum fans expect for Saturday? If Ferrum comes out with a confident and focused attitude, they should be riding the bus back home celebrating. They cannot however go into this game overconfident. They are facing a team that is hungry for its first win, and remembers what happened at Ferrum last year. They will be looking to take advantage of what some consider a vulnerable pass defense, and will make it tough for Ferrum through the air. Ferrum can win this game, but this team will be different than Bridgewater. I look for Ferrum to be 2-2 after Saturday, but not without a fight.

Keys to a Ferrum win:

Ferrum must be able to establish a running game against the Scots.
They must find weaknesses in the Scotts pass defense, and put up good numbers through the air.
This game will not be won if there are many mistakes. Turnovers and penalties must be kept minimal.
Ferrum must be strong in the red zone.
Since Maryville will look to pass often, Ferrum must get to their quarterback.
Lastly, Ferrum must win the time of possession battle.

This may be a game that could go down to the wire, or it may be a game that Ferrum will dominate. It is hard to say. All I know is that Ferrum needs to look at Maryville as a team that is far better than their 0-3 record.

My Prediction:

Ferrum 30
Maryville 24

My predictions for the rest of the USA South... Winners in BOLD

Christopher Newport at METHODIST (I just have a feeling about this game)

NCW at Averett

Greensboro at SHENANDOAH

Finally, last week, I was very busy, and did not get a lot of information posted during the week leading up to the Bridgewater game. I failed to post my predictions, and the Spolight article. Sorry about that. Things should be back on track this week.

USA South is anyone's race to win

2011-09-26T05:02:00.000-07:00

For the first time in several years, the USA South could have a horse race to the championship. Traditionally, one sees Christopher Newport and North Carolina Wesleyan as the front runners. This year started out the same. The coaches poll from the USA South Media Day had CNU finishing first, and NCW second. The rest of the poll shaped up like this:

3rd Ferrum
4th Shenandoah
5th Averett
6th Maryville
7th Methodist
8th Greensboro

Well after four weeks of play, and as all teams have finished their non conference schedule, 5 of the 8 teams are 1-2, and the other three are 0-3

Averett, Christopher Newport, Ferrum, Methodist, and Shenandoah each have one win, while Greensboro, Maryville, and North Carolina Wesleyan are winless. To this point, much of this has to do with the strength of the schedule, but regardless, it seems like this conference race has more than two horses in it.

First place pick Christopher Newport has, to me, struggled to get their wheels under them. After an opening 12-7 win against Waynesburg, the Captains lost to first year program Stevenson, and then lost to #24 Salisbury, in a game that they led by 10 in the fourth quarter. The Captains open conference play on the road against Methodist.

North Carolina Wesleyan, who is 0-3, has played a fairly difficult schedule, Opening against Ohio Northern, playing a tough Hampden Sydney team, and closing out their non conference schedule against LaGrange College (who will be a member of the USA South next season). Those first two games were against top 30 opponents.The Bishops will open conference play in Danville Va., against Averett.

Ferrum (1-2) started out with a loss against a stronger than expected Emory and Henry team, and followed that with a decent showing but a loss against # 23 Hampden-Sydney. This past week the Panthers secured Coach David Harper's first win by beating the Eagles of Bridgewater 37-6. Ferrum will open conference play on the road against Maryville.

Shenandoah is, to me, one of the teams to watch out for in the USA South. With this as their last year in the conference, they are looking to make a statement, and I think things are setting up to where they will have a big influence on the conference championship. The Hornets opened play against Stevenson and won 49-21. ( Stevenson is the same team that beat CNU the next week) After this win, Shenandoah fell to Bridgewater 28-23, and then they lost to Randolph Macon, 36-29.
After three weeks Shenandoah led 8 of 17 categories in conference team statistical rankings. Among those are Total Offense, and Total Defense. Shenandoah opens conference play at home against Greensboro.

Averett ended their non conference schedule with a win over Guilford. That followed losses to Hampden-Sydney, and Randolph Macon. The Cougars are a difficult team to read. They may be better than they have shown thus far, but their statistical rankings have them in the middle of the pack.

Maryville has yet to find the "W" column to this point in the season, but have played some really good competition. The Scots opened against Huntingdon, losing 35-7. Then on a 5 day turnaround, they played FCS opponent Tennessee Tech, losing 56-7. They followed that up with 13-10 loss to LaGrange, to close their non conference schedule. LaGrange beat NCW 24-17, and Huntingdon defeated Hampden-Sydney.) Something tells me that this team may be flying under the radar just a bit, and is probably capable of several conference wins.

Methodist is another team that, to this point has had some impressive games. At 1-2, they opened with a 43-7 loss to Randolph Macon, and then defeated Guilford 40-22. They closed their non conference schedule against Emory and Henry, losing 34-24. (The same E&H team that beat Ferrum 41-12.) They have made some adjustments since week one as evidenced by the points they are now scoring. Look for this team to surprise some people. Possibly starting this weekend..

Greensboro has struggled in most all phases of their game. After an 0-3 start, Greensboro needs a confidence booster to get them ready for conference play. That may have come in the form of an open week, as they did not play last week. The road does not get any easier as they open conference play on the road at Shenandoah. I look for this to be a tough season for the Pride.

So after this is all said and done, I think you will see some upsets this year. Although I will stick with my predictions, it is still anyone's race to win.

More Comments about the win over Bridgewater

2011-09-25T05:11:00.000-07:00

Kudos to # 10 Tyler Brubaker who threw one pass for a touchdown, and caught a pass for a touchdown. In his career, Brubaker is 2 for 3 passing, with both of his completions going for touchdowns.

Marcco McNeal came up huge for the Panthers as he had 10 tackles and one interception

Melvin Trotter had 10 tackles for Ferrum, including one for a loss.

Statistical leaders after three games:

Rushing: Marcus Mayo 50 carries for 263 yards and 2 touchdowns

Passing: Marcus Mayo 35 of 64 537 yards and two touchdowns. Mayo has 4 int's.

Receiving: Derrick West has 8 catches for 209 yards. Makaya Jackson also has 8 catches for 124 yards and 1 touchdown.

Punt Returns: Marcus Mayo 4 for 36 yards

Kickoff Returns: Dominique Lesine 5 returns for 124 yards

Interceptions: Marcco McNeal has 2 picks for 27 yards

Things are progressing nicely for Ferrum. Yesterday's win was a strong indicator of the potential that this team has. I see them as peaking at the right time, going into conference play. Congratulations on a big win....Now on to Maryville.

Just what the Doctor Ordered! Ferrum 37 Bridgewater 6

2011-09-24T20:41:00.000-07:00

On a day where Ferrum would celebrate homecoming, and Hall of Fame inductions, the crowd was also treated to some old school Ferrum football... tough defense, and opportunistic offense, in a game where the Panthers dominated the Bridgewater Eagles.
The defense gave what I would call a bend but don't break performance as it held the Eagles to but 6 points. Ferrum employed a balanced offensive attack with 147 yards passing, and 223 yards rushing. Quarterback Marcus Mayo ran for 128 yards and one touchdown, and passed for 122 yards and one touchdown.
This was the kind of performance that the Panthers needed as they faced a team in Bridgewater (2-1) that was undefeated and looking to establish its presence in the ODAC.

While the offense put up impressive numbers, it was the defense that seemed to be hitting on all cylinders. Only yielding two field goals, the Panthers defense held the Bridgewater offense to a total of 341 yards on 72 plays for an average of 4.2 yards per play. Conversly, the Eagles allowed Ferrum to accumulate 370 yards on 54 plays for a 6.9 yards per play average.

Ten Eagles drives resulted in the following against a stingy Panthers defense.

2 FG's made
1 FG missed
1 punt
3 turnovers on downs
2 interceptions
1 fumble.

This was one of the best all around performances I can remember in quite a while, and although the stats seem to favor the Eagles in many respects, Ferrum had the pieces fall into place, and this game is an absolute example of the stats not always reflecting the true outcome. This was an excellent effort by Ferrum, and is a good indicator of things to come.

Go Panthers!

Slideshow of Progress on the Hank Norton Center

2011-09-24T03:21:00.000-07:00

Follow this link to see the slideshow of the progress on the Hank Norton Center

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ferrumcollege/sets/72157627560897053/

Bridgewater @ Ferrum An Important Game for the Panthers

2011-09-23T02:20:00.000-07:00

After two games, I am happy with a lot of what I have seen, and somewhat perplexed at other elements of the Panthers season. First, I really thought the Panthers would fare better against Emory and Henry, but the Wasps were, to say the least, better prepared, and out played Ferrum, winning 41-12.
In their second game, Ferrum made what I consider to be huge strides in their development. Playing the #23 ranked Hampden-Sydney Tigers, Ferrum showed the ability to move the ball, and their defense against the rush was overall impressive. I was also impressed at Marcus Mayo's ability to scramble, stop, and throw deep when it looked like he would run. While this too was a loss, there were a lot of positives.

This week will bring the Panthers home after two road games. The Bridgewater Eagles come to Ferrum with a 2-0 record, and the leading rusher in the ODAC in Darrin McKenzie. McKenzie is averaging 124.5 yards per game. This will be a winnable game, but not without another huge effort. Bridgewater is 2-0, and is playing really good football. They are averaging 24 points per game, and are only giving up 20.0 points per game. As for the Panthers, they are averaging 13 ppg, and are giving up just under 40 ppg.

Ferrum will face an Eagles passing game led by quarterback Carlos Gonzales. Over two games, Gonzales has thrown 40 passes, completing 16 for 210 yards and one touchdown. Some quarterbacking duties have been shared with Jacob Hutchinson. Hutchinson is 3 of 10 for 30 yards and one interception. Look for the Eagles to air it out more often in this game, but to primarily rely on McKenzie for their offense.

For Ferrum, I think this will be a game that will play more to the Panthers strong suit...stopping the run. I do not think the secondary will be aggressively attacked, but they will be tested. This is a winnable game, but Ferrum has to focus. Penalties have to again be kept to a minimum, as do turnovers.

Keys to a Panther Win:

Shut down the running game of McKinzie
Control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
Run the Option more. This will set up the pass.

This game has the potential to be a huge confidence builder going into the conference schedule. A win will make those first two games hurt a lot less. Play smart Panthers. You can win this game.

My prediction:

Ferrum 28
Bridgewater 17

More comments about the game at Hampden-Sydney

2011-09-18T05:54:00.000-07:00

First, a shout out to #75 Josh Oliver. Josh, a Freshman, had 7 tackles in the game, and 2.5 of those resulted in a loss of yardage. Josh also had an interception, and a pass break up. Great game!!!

Ferrum made significant progress yesterday in their development as a team. They had many positives from this game, but I am most encouraged by the D line and linebackers.

Far better on penalties over the E&H game.

Another solid performance by Marcus Mayo. Wether passing or executing the option, Mayo seems very strong.

Marcco McNeil had a strong performance yesterday. 4 tackles, 1 pass interception, and a breakup. Excellent!!

Ferrum had a good day. They were not expected to win, but I think they came away a better team, a stronger team, and a closer team. Its gonna get better.

Blackhats Fall 38-14 Not A Total Loss At All

2011-09-17T17:38:00.000-07:00

As the final seconds ticked off of the scoreboard clock at Hampden-Sydney, I am sure some people left with disappointment, and confusion. For me, I left realizing that Ferrum had played well, and had probably done better against the #23 team in the country than either of it's first two opponents. First Ferrum did far better than I had predicted, and second, held one of the best offenses in the country 15.5 points under it's scoring average. Ferrum cut it's penalties from 13 for 134 yards, to 5 for 37 yards
Ferrum was less successful against the run than against Emory and Henry, but they only gave up 157 yards on 36 rushes. (4.4 yards per carry)
Against who is undoubtedly one of the best quarterbacks in Division III, the Panthers gave up 375 yards passing, but did collect two interceptions. Lastly, Ferrum won the time of possession battle by just over 5 mins.

This was not a game that I or many others for that matter gave Ferrum a reasonable chance of winning, but for me the reward in this game would be in showing improvement and taking the lessons of today forward.

The Panther offense seemed to have success at times moving the ball, but at other times found it difficult. From my vantage point, the option attack seemed to be working well, and the passing attack gelled in the second half especially. This game will provide more lessons in the film room, when the players can sit and watch what they did, and hopefully gain a better understanding of their role.

I am glad I was there, and while I wish they had won, I can gain satisfaction knowing that this game means important things for the Panthers football future. Great effort today! Keep your heads up!

Go Panthers!

GAMEDAY

2011-09-17T04:04:00.000-07:00

So I have made my prediction, and although I may have ruffled some feathers, the prediction does not make me any less of a fan. Ferrum football is moving forward, and the foundation is continously being laid for the program to be a top contender. Today is another building block in the foundation. Could Ferrum win today? ABSOLUTELY! Overall, I do not think they played all that bad against Emory and Henry. It, to me, was too many mistakes, not so much an imbalance of talent. I look for Ferrum to get better every week.

Today's game will be about taking advantage of every opportunity that they get. It will be about everyone stepping up and doing their part. Total focus and execution. They need to go out there, unintimidated, determined, and knowing that they can play with a top 25 team.

Go Panthers!

Gameday Spotlight Dominique Lesine

2011-09-17T04:02:00.000-07:00

#33 Dominique Lesine

Position: Running Back

Height: 5-9

Weight: 171

Class: Sophomore

Hometown: Rocky Point, N.C.

High School: Heide Trask

Dominique burst onto the scene last season. On a team that had a large stable of running backs, Dominique came out of nowhere, as a Freshman to contribute. His first year stats were solid. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry last season, and 23 yards per reception. Lesine returned 12 kickoffs, averaging over 25 yards per return. Look for this young man to only get better.

Ferrum @ (23) Hampden-Sydney Game Preview

2011-09-14T23:12:00.000-07:00

After a bye week, it is a definite that the coaches at Ferrum have worked on many things since the loss to Emory and Henry. In that game, Ferrum collected 134 yards in penalties I am sure that was a focus. In that game, Ferrum gave up three rushing touchdowns, and I am sure that was a focus, and in that game Ferrum turned the ball over 4 times. These, to me, were the main difference makers in the week one loss.
Lastly, I am sure it has been important for the coaches to re- focus the team to the task at hand....
(# 23) Hampden -Sydney College.

Not since the 2005 playoff game have the Panthers played an opponent ranked in the top 25. That year they played the (# 25) Wesley Wolverines, and came up on the short end of a 59-14 score. The goal of this game Saturday is to win of course, but in the long run, it is to help the program improve. Playing tougher competition is a positive move. Other schools that have done this in the conference are Christopher Newport who, every year will schedule at least one and sometime two strong opponents. This week, the Captains host the #24 team, Salisbury.
North Carolina Wesleyan opened their season against #14 Ohio Northern, and in the past, Averett has scheduled some very strong non conference competition.

What to expect Saturday? Well this will be a challenge for the Panthers to say the least. The Tigers are boasting the fifth ranked passing offense in the country, and overall the #1 scoring offense in the country. They are averaging 59.5 points in their first two games, and their quarterback, Travis Lane, is ranked 4th in the nation in passing efficiency. To say that the passing game is solid is an understatement, and this will test Ferrum all day.

Keys to a Panther win:

For Ferrum, first they must play mistake free football. This is not the type of team that will need any help, so penalties must be minimal.
The Tigers will throw the ball often, and Ferrum must pressure and sack the quarterback as often as possible.
Secondary must be ready for a constant barrage of passes.
Ferrum will need to win the giveaway/takeaway stat, and must convert any and all turnovers into points.
Lastly, Ferrum must put points on the board in the red zone.

In the end, this will be a very challenging game. Ferrum will have its hands full, and as much as I want to predict a Panther upset, I doubt it is in the cards this week. It is an important game for Ferrum regardless of the result. Scheduling a team of this caliber is the right thing to do. This is another step to building competitive program.

My Prediction:

H-SC 56
Ferrum 14

For the rest of week 3:

Winners are Bold and all CAPS

Averett @ GUILFORD
Maryville @ LAGRANGE
SALISBURY @ Christopher Newport
Greensboro @ NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE
SHENANDOAH @ Randolph Macon

Some Real Surprises in the USA South

2011-09-11T06:56:00.000-07:00

On a day where I could do no better than 3-3 on my picks, there were quite a few surprises. Here is a quick review of the results:

HSC 56 NCW 17 The Tigers are VERY STRONG. Likely to be ranked in this weeks top 25 poll, they, for the second week in a row scored over 50 points, and attained a two week total of 750 passing yards. They have only given up 20 total points, and seem to be hitting their stride with their next game against Ferrum.

Methodist 40 Guilford 22 This one was a surprise for me. I was really thinking that Guilford was starting to pick up the pieces, when Methodist comes up with what I thought was an unexpected win. It appears that both team utilized the pass fairly effectively, but Methodist was more balanced as they gained 161 yards on the ground. The Monarchs defense collected three interceptions on the day.

Bridgewater 28 Shenandoah 23 A close game that I really thought the Hornets would prevail in. Shenandoah threw for 293 yards, but gave up 250 on the ground. Overall this was an evenly played game. Only one interception in the game, but that was returned 32 yards for a Bridgewater touchdown.

Randolph Macon 15 Averett 7 The Yellow Jackets collected 290 yards on the ground, and defensively grabbed 2 interceptions to go along with 4 sacks in defeating the Cougars. Averett had 176 passing yards, and converted their only score via the pass. I really thought this would have been a larger blowout by the Yellow Jackets after the way they handled Methodist in week one.

Emory and Henry 38 Greensboro 0 Total dominance by the Wasps as they ran into a team that is struggling on both sides of the ball. Emory and Henry quarterback Kyle Boden continued to put up impressive numbers as he was 33 of 45 for 370 yards and 4 touchdowns. He threw one interception.
Greensboro had 103 passing yards, and 68 yards on the ground.

Stevenson 46 Christopher Newport 43 (2 OT) I thought this may be a close game, but the outcome was really a surprise.. Stevenson, a first year program in football, would have had to have been the underdog for this game. Instead they won their first ever home game against CNU who is picked to win the USA South. It would be harder to find a more evenly played game as both teams rolled up 472 yards of offense. CNU had to settle for a field goal on their second possession in OT, and the Mustangs scored a touchdown on their next possession to seal the win.

My predictions:
3-3 for week 2
9-5 for the season
Last year at this point I was 12-2

College Football Coach of the Year Presented by Liberty Mutual

2011-09-10T07:39:00.000-07:00

Be sure and vote for Coach Harper!

College Football | Coach of the Year | Presented by Liberty Mutual

Panthers Idle- Predictions for week two

2011-09-09T19:40:00.000-07:00

Ferrum has this week off. It is always difficult to say whether this is too early in the season for an "open" date, but I think this year it will prove very advantageous as the Panthers get ready to meet Hampden Sydney for the first ever game between the schools. While I will post more information about that game soon, here are my picks for the rest of the conference. (Winners are BOLD and ALL CAPS)

HAMPDEN - SYDNEY @ North Carolina Wesleyan (Tigers too strong for NCW)

GUILFORD @ Methodist (Quakers will go to 2-0)

RANDOLPH MACON @ Averett ( Cougars can expect more of the same as last week)

Greensboro @ EMORY & HENRY (No Pride upset this year, Wasps are better than anticipated)

Bridgewater @ SHENANDOAH (Hornets will pass this test. They are the USA South sleeper)

CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT @ Stevenson (Captains will win, but will it be a blow out? Maybe not.)

Patience People

2011-09-05T07:59:00.000-07:00

This is a process. This process takes time, and I would think there will be bumps, many bumps along the way. Ferrum College football is going to endure growing pains, but there are things out there that as fans, we should be very excited about. For me I am very excited about the following:

The Norton Center. This is a facility that has been needed for years, and will be first rate. This 5.5 million dollar facility is likely the largest single campus expansion in the last 40 years, and may be the in the history of the college. This facility will be a showcase to the glory days of the past where football is concerned, and will serve as a building block for the future success of the program.

Hiring of Coach David Harper- Coach Harper is a proven winner, He should be allowed an adjustment period to implement his system, and the players will have a lot to learn and adjust to also.

Hiring of Ralph Isernia- Coach Isernia has a great track record at schools that he has worked at before. This was Coach Harper's first hire, and I think he scored big with this move.

The return of Chris Warren- This is bound to be a positive for the Panthers. Holder of many of Ferrum's rushing records, Chris has been brought in to work with the Panther running backs. He is volunteering his time to the program.

Recruiting- This has already improved as Ferrum had 160 in fall camp.

Overall, what this says to me is a complete commitment to the program by the administration. Ferrum is moving in the right direction, and while the loss to Emory and Henry is disappointing, the program is going to be successful. Maybe not in their next game, or maybe not in their next after that, but it is a process. It is a building process that takes time. I did not expect the loss to Emory and Henry, but it is one game. It is important for Ferrum to take all of the lessons they can from that game and make adjustments to improve. The program is moving forward, but it is a process. Be patient.

A Closer Look at the Emory & Henry Game Numbers Can Be Deceptive.

2011-09-04T07:01:00.000-07:00

There are several things that I found intriguing about the statistics from Saturdays game. First was that Ferrum won the time of possession battle.Ferrum had the ball for five mins. longer than the Wasps. While Emory and Henry had 10 more first downs than the Panthers, Ferrum out rushed the Wasps 133 yards to 94 yards. As for passing, E&H led this yardage category 227 yards to 183 yards. Overall offensive yards went to the Wasps, but only by 321-316...5 yards difference.

Both teams fumbled twice, Ferrum lost both, Emory lost one.
Ferrum had 134 yards in penalties, Emory had 40.
Ferrum averaged 42.7 yards per their three kickoffs. Emory averaged 66 yards, and had 2 touchbacks.
Ferrum did not record a sack...Neither did Emory and Henry.

More information on the two passing games:
FC E&H

NET YARDS PASSING	183	227
Completions-Attempts-Int	16-26-2	21-31-0
Average Per Attempt	7.0	7.3
Average Per Completion	11.4	10.8
Passing Touchdowns	1	2

Emory threw five more passes and completed five more passes. The average yard gained per pass was virtually even with a slight edge going to Ferrum.

Ferrum did not record an interception, while E&H recorded two.

Lastly, Ferrum entered the red zone of Emory and Henry 3 times, scoring once. The Wasps visited Ferrum's Red Zone 6 times, scoring five times.

So take what you will from these numbers. A lot of these numbers are encouraging, and some will leave you scratching your head. But it is a starting point to gauge where the Panthers can improve. This game is over, and all that can be done is to build toward improving.

As for my week 1 picks, I was 6-2

I missed the Ferrum game, and the Greensboro vs Guilford game.

Shenandoah and Christopher Newport were the only two teams that won.... CNU won 12-7, and the Hornets prevailed 49-21. Shenandoah is a team to be dealt with. They are going to surprise some people.

E&H 41Ferrum 12

2011-09-03T17:22:00.000-07:00

Not much to say after this one. Ferrum, while they had some bright spots, overall discovered the importance of scoring in the red zone, discovered the damage penalties can do, and discovered that the process to build a winner is a long road. One game is not indicative of an entire season. This team has talent, and is going through growing pains. This will take a while to get through.
You can expect things to go bad when you have 115 yards in penalties in the first half. To have the ball twice inside the two yard line, and to only come away with three points is another problem.
Mayo had a decent day, but he cannot do it all...although he almost can. I have to admit I was surprised. I really thought Ferrum would win this game. Possibly they took the Wasps too lightly. I do not have access to all of the statistics, but the Wasps had more passing yards, but Ferrum had more rushing yards. Another difference was starting field position, especially after kickoffs. This was huge as the Wasps were usually working with a short field.

At any rate, Ferrum can take some positives, but there are a lot more question marks than answers. It does not get any easier. Ferrum travels to Hampden Sydney on Sept. 17th. The Tigers defeated Averett today 63-9. So I think they need to review, refocus, and relax...its only one game, and its a non conference game.

Go Panthers!

GAMEDAY!

2011-09-02T21:35:00.000-07:00

The wait is over....Finally the Panthers get to tee it up to start off the 2011 season. Here is what I see as keys to a Panther victory:

Late information leads me to believe that Dustin Beck will not be the starting quarterback for the Wasps. Kyle Boden will likely get the start. Boden is known as an accurate passer, and this reinforces the fact that the Wasps will put the ball in the air. If this is the case, Key #1 has to be to pressure the QB at all costs. Last season, Ferrum sacked the E&H QB once for a loss of 14 yards. With Jennings in the lineup, there were very few chances for sacks. With him gone, look for sacks to be available.

Key #2 is controlling the ball/time of possession. Only the team with the ball can score.

Key #3 is to look for them to try to set up the run off of the pass. This will likely take the form of a draw play.

Key #4 Create turnovers. This is very important, and I believe that the defense has to have 2 interceptions, and one fumble recovery.

Most of these keys revolve around the defense. I think that it will be very important for the defense to execute well the entire game. Neither the offense or the defense can let up. Keep the pressure on. Play hard to the final whistle.

Game Day Spotlight- Coach Dave Harper

2011-09-02T05:55:00.000-07:00

Writing the next chapter...

Coach David Harper is about to take the field for the first time...as a head coach that is. Harper is right at home between the chalked lines of a football field. From 1986 to 1989, Harper was a mainstay in the defensive backfield as a linebacker. His resume' for the Panthers is quite impressive:

Harper holds records for::

Total Tackles

Game: 25, David Harper vs. E&H, 1987
Season: 161, David Harper, 1986
Career: 421, David Harper, 1985-88

Solo Tackles

Season: 61, David Harper, 1986

Career: 175, Kelvin Fuller, 1999-2002
155, David Harper, 1985-88

Harper was a co-captain and linebacker for the Ferrum College football team from 1986-89. He was named an All-American by Kodak in 1987 and 1988, Pizza Hut/CoSIDA in 1988, Football News in 1988 and Associated Press in 1988. Harper was a member of the 1987 Ferrum College team, which made the first NCAA playoff appearance in school history. Harper was the first Ferrum Athlete to have his jersey, #56, retired. He was named Defensive Player of the Year by the Roanoke Times in 1988.

As offensive coordinator for the last 12 seasons, Harper enjoyed a great deal of success overseeing the offense. Ferrum’s rushing offense finished 12th or higher in the nation in 10 of his 12 seasons as offensive coordinator. Ferrum's 2005 offense established school records for rushing yards in a season (4,332) points in a season (439) and single-game yards (686).
Harper also served as defensive coordinator from 1993 to 1998. During this tenure, Ferrum boasted some of the best defensive statistics in the nation.

So Saturday begins the next chapter. As the Panthers travel to Emory and Henry, they should be mindful that this chapter begins not only for Coach Harper, but for all of Ferrum football. It is a chance to take that first step to re establish the dominance that Ferrum football was once so widely known for. So board the bus Panthers and begin the process of writing the next chapter....Stay focused, and bring home a win over the Wasps!

Week 1 Conference Preview

2011-09-01T20:50:00.000-07:00

And so it begins....For me, I cannot wait to start Saturday off with College Gameday, and then listen to the Ferrum @ Emory and Henry broadcast. I expect to end the day watching William and Mary @ UVA.. Its gonna be a fun year.

Here is how I think the entire conference will fare on Saturday: (Projected winner in BOLD CAPS)

FERRUM @ Emory and Henry

Waynesburg @ CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT

Guilford @ GREENSBORO

Methodist @ RANDOLPH MACON

Averett @ HAMPDEN SYDNEY

HUNTINGTON @ Maryville

North Carolina Wesleyan @ (14) OHIO NORTHERN

Stevenson @ SHENANDOAH

The predicted outcomes above have a couple of games that are nearly toss ups. Greensboro and Guilford could go either way, and I would look for the Waynesburg @ CNU game to be a hard fought contest.

Go Panthers!

Game Preview Ferrum @ Emory and Henry

2011-08-31T20:35:00.000-07:00

Ferrum looks to start a new trend...

The last time the Panthers won their first game of the season, was 2005 when they hosted Guilford, and defeated the Quakers 41-7. That year, Ferrum started 9-0, and secured a spot in the NCAA playoffs. Since then, Ferrum has not won a season opener. The following year, they opened against Guilford, and lost 49-35. Beginning in 2007, Ferrum has opened against Emory and Henry, and every year the Wasps seem to have Ferrum's number. Overall however, Ferrum is 31-22-3 in season openers since 1955.

Saturday, Coach David Harper will get a chance to do something that only one head coach has done in the history of Ferrum football...win the first game he coaches. In a recent poll question, Who is the only Ferrum football coach to win their very first game, those who responded seemed to give the nod to Dave Davis. Unfortunately Coach Davis failed to get the win as in 1994, Ferrum lost to Rowan 17-10. Others seemed to think that Hank Norton would have won his first game, but even though he finished his first season undefeated, he did not win his first game. That game against the Elon College JV team, ended in a 6-6 tie. Amazingly, Coach Norton would have to wait til his third game to get his first win, because in week 2, Ferrum tied again against the VMI freshman team, again by the score of 6-6.
Sam Webb, The Panthers first head football coach, lost his first game against the Naval Receiving Station, 14-6, and Carson Barnes, Ferrum's second coach, lost his first game against the Emory and Henry Freshman team, 20-0.
Lewis Lane, the Ferrum coach in 1959, is the only coach to win his first ever game. Coach Lane's team opened with a shutout win over Hargrave Military Academy by the score of 45-0. This win, also marked the most points ever scored by a Ferrum team to that point. This victory would also be the last that year as they ended the season 1-6-1.

Fast forward to 2011. David Harper can join the company of Coach Lane with a win over the Wasps. I look for this to be a good game for the Panthers. I believe that they are primed, and ready to start the season. Look for much of the same option style offense. Ferrum has good backfield speed, and a solid receiving corps. Marcus Mayo will begin his Senior season and I think his experience that he has gained will take him far this year. He is a talent, and is a multi dimensional threat to put points on the board.

For Ferrum to win, they have to keep pressure on the Emory and Henry quarterback Dustin Beck. Last year, Beck was 14 of 21 with one interception. He threw for 146 yards and no touchdowns. The real damage was done by #7 running back Caleb Jennings. Jennings ran for 213 yards on 28 carries and scored three touchdowns. The good news is that Jennings has graduated. Look for Beck to go more to the air, and try to take advantage of what is believed to be a susceptible Panthers secondary. The Wasps will have the ball in the air a good part of the time that their offense is on the field. So to combat this, Ferrum has to stay after Beck.
Also Ferrum, in my opinion, needs to keep the pressure on in the second half. Too many times the first half lead disappeared, or the Panthers were outscored in the second half. This happened against NCW, Methodist, Greensboro, and CNU. Do not let up. Continue to put points on the board. Do not slow down on offense. Make a statement. Make people notice you.

In the final analysis, I think Ferrum will prove to be the better team. This is an important game, in that it sends a signal to the rest of the USA South. A win will start a new trend in Ferrum football, and will give the Coach Harper something that has not been seen since 1959....A first career win!

My prediction:

Ferrum 27
Emory and Henry 10

D3football.com rankings have Panthers finishing 3rd in the USA South at 6-4

2011-08-24T20:15:00.000-07:00

The long awaited D3football.com preseason publication "Kickoff 2011" has been posted. This online only publication has several feature articles, and breaks down each of the 239 D III teams in the nation. It further ranks all of the teams from 1-239, and ranks all of the 27 DIII conferences.

Ferrum, according to this publication, will finish 3rd in the USA South with an overall record of 6-4, and a projected 4-3 conference record. Interesting in that these figures indicate that Ferrum will win 2 of its 3 non conference games...I agree. The article does not break down every game, but I would think it is safe to assume, based on their conference rankings, they are projecting that Ferrum will lose to CNU, and NCW. So who will the fourth loss come from? I would expect that they are looking for a Shenandoah win in Winchester.
These are not bad predictions, but I am really looking for Ferrum to be overall far better than they have been in the last few seasons.
Offensive experience is strong, but the publication correctly points out inconsistencies on the offensive line. Defensively, they also point out the inexperience that will permeate the D-line. With the loss of three of the four D linemen from 2010, Ferrum will have some holes to fill. For me, I believe this front unit will have a strong corp.
Linebackers are really the major unknown for me. I cannot predict who will get the starting nod at linebacker, but if the 2010 roster is any indication, I think they will have depth at that position.
Lastly the secondary. While they are returning all of their starters from last year, the numbers from last year are not that impressive. Pass Defense ranked 201st in the nation, and 8th in the conference. This may be an issue, but I think these numbers will improve with the experience factor and with some overall scheme changes on defense.
Ferrum's average margin of defeat was 6.3 points. Their average margin of victory was 17.75 points. One of their losses was in overtime. (E&H), and one of their wins was in triple overtime. (Methodist) What this tells me is they were a lot closer to being 5-5 or 6-4 than they were to being 3-7 or 2-8.
For the upcoming season, I think you will see a marked difference, and I think you will see it right from the start. Look for Ferrum to be the most improved team in the conference, and look for them to grab the attention of every other conference team starting on Sept. 3rd.

Go Panthers!

Rankings- It's Not Rocket Science, but it's pretty close to it

2011-08-20T03:54:00.000-07:00

There are several ranking systems out there today that project where teams will finish. The first ranking that I look for each year is the coaches poll in the USA South. I always find it interesting to see who they think will win it all, and then see how it really comes out. By the way, how did they do last season?

2010 coaches poll:

1. North Carolina Wesleyan 45 points- 5 first place votes

2. Averett 41 points- 2 first place votes

3. Christopher Newport 40 points 1 first place vote

4. Ferrum 28 points

T5. Greensboro 21 points
Maryville 21 points

7. Shenandoah 20 points

8. Methodist 8 points

Here is how they ended up-

SCHOOL	CONFERENCE	OVERALL
N.C. Wesleyan	6-1	7-3
Chris. Newport (Conf. Champion)	6-1	6-5
Ferrum	4-3	4-6
Shenandoah	4-3	4-6
Averett	3-4	5-5
Maryville (Tenn.)	3-4	4-6
Greensboro	1-6	2-8
Methodist	1-6	2-8

So last season, the coaches were a little off. Christopher Newport came up with the wins when they needed them, and won the conference. Wesleyan came in second as they lost to CNU. Averett tailed off in the later stages of the season, and Ferrum posted wins late after digging themselves a big hole.

As I have already reported on this years coaches poll, I will now focus on three other ranking systems that rate all of the the D3 teams.

Massey Ratings Systems- First, I will not pretend to understand all of the methodology used by any of these prognosticators. Massey is a system that has been around for a while, and can rate just about every sports team imaginable. Even High School teams.

This year for D3 football, it ranks 240 teams....(They include the Apprentice School which is not included in all rankings)

Ferrum is ranked 164th in the nation of 240 teams. The entire USA South team rankings from Massey are below:

North Carolina Wesleyan- 79th
Christopher Newport- 113th
Ferrum- 164th
Averett- 167th
Maryville- 180th
Shenandoah- 187th
Methodist-210th
Greensboro- 224th

To understand how Massey arrives at its rankings, you can read about their processes and methodology at

http://masseyratings.com/theory/massey.htm

The next set of ratings comes from Atomic Football-

This system of predicting where someone will finish is complex, and is difficult to interpret and understand. The following is a link to their system from their website...good luck figuring their methods of rating teams:

http://www.knology.net/jashburn/football/af-algorithm.html

Within this page on their website is a section called "The Paper" Their is a clickable link that gives you 33 pages of the most complex mumbo jumbo you have ever seen. (click it...I dare you) I am guessing they are fairly accurate, but how they come up with their predictions is amazing, or boring, depending on how you look at it.

Atomic Football has Ferrum projected to be 5-5. The full projections of the USA South teams , as I understand them, are below:

Averett 6-4
CNU 6-4
Ferrum 5-5
Greensboro 2-8
Maryville 4-6
Methodist 2-8
NCW 7-3
Shenandoah 3-7

The last rankings system is put out by D3football.com. This should come out on or around the 23rd of August. I am expecting that this rating will give the edge to CNU or NCW. They will likely have Ferrum 4th, but possibly third. We will have to wait and see. Along with the team rankings, D3football.com will also rank all of the d3 conferences. Look for the USA South to be in the bottom third, but may be slightly higher than last year.

As for their methods for determining their rankings, I am guessing that they are looking more at what the teams lost from the previous years rosters, and gut feeling rather than scientific formulas.

It should be an interesting year...As for my predictions, I will stand by them, but they are fairly different from those already out. I think NCW will be a strong team, but will not be there in the end. CNU will have a strong team as always, but beatable. Shenandoah is a team that can and may surprise people. As for Ferrum, I have a good feeling, but they must win the big ones, and avoid being upset. I do not predict Ferrum to win it all, but I give them a far better chance that those other guys.

Go Panthers!

Blogtweets

2011-08-17T15:17:00.000-07:00

If you tweet...

You can follow me and the Ferrum College Football Report on Twitter.

twitter.com/Ferrum82.

While this Twitter account is used to promote the blog, it does not replicate the blog. It will however help you keep up with Ferrum football.
Go Panthers!

Marcus Mayo- A review of his 2010 season

2011-08-05T20:20:00.000-07:00

In looking back at last season, Ferrum started off the season with an 0-4 record, losing to Emory and Henry, Southern Virginia, Bridgewater, and North Carolina Wesleyan. After that, the Panthers were able to bring their record back to 3-4 with wins over Methodist, Greensboro and Shenandoah. A loss to CNU, and a win over Averett left Ferrum with a 4-5 record with their final game at home against Maryville. Ferrum fell to the Scots 23-21, and finished the season 4-6.

Unquestionably, Ferrum's quarterback, Marcus Mayo was the offensive force that led the Panthers last season. Here is a look back at some of his 2010 numbers:

Passing- 80 of 148 for 1378 yards, and 14 touchdowns. Mayo never threw more than one interception in a game, and only had two games where he did not throw a touchdown pass.

Rushing- Mayo ran the ball 151 times, for 422 yards. He averaged 2.8 yards per carry, and scored 5 touchdowns. Mayo's longest run from scrimmage was 40 yards against Shenandoah. His longest touchdown run was 14 yards against Christopher Newport.

Punt Returns- Mayo returned 25 punts for 455 yards and 3 touchdowns. He averaged 18.2 yards per return.

His best passing performance was in a losing effort against Maryville when he went 8 of 13 for 222 yards and two touchdowns. His longest touchdown pass was a 59 yard completion to Justin Donnelly against North Carolina Wesleyan.

Marcus's overall best game of 2010 was against Methodist. This triple overtime thriller saw him run for two touchdowns, pass for two touchdowns, and return two punts for touchdowns.

An interesting fact was that on three different occasions, the Panther quarterback was held to negative rushing yards. These games were against Bridgewater, North Carolina Wesleyan, and Maryville...all losses. In the other three losses, Mayo ran for 131 yards against Emory and Henry, 73 yards against Christopher Newport, and only 29 yards against Southern Virginia University.

While the final won / loss record was a mere 4-6, Mayo had a great year. He set school records in pass attempts in a season (148), Pass completions in a season (80), and yards passing in a season (1378) He is also ranked second in touchdown passes in a season (14)

Mayo was named the Offensive Player of the Year in the USA South. Stay tuned for an even more exciting 2011.

(Photo courtesy of Tammi Armstrong)

Pre- Season Top 25 announced by D3football.com

2011-08-05T17:05:00.000-07:00

If the quality of Ferrum's schedule has ever been in doubt, these doubts may have been erased with the release of the D3football.com preseason top 25. Three of Ferrum's opponents have received votes to be listed in the top 25, but lie just outside of that group. There are 239 Division 3 teams, and these votes theoretically extend the top 25 to the top 48.
Ferrum will play Hampden -Sydney in week three. This poll has the Tigers ranked 27th. In week 4, Ferrum hosts Bridgewater, who is currently ranked 34th., and in week 10, Ferrum hosts Christopher Newport, who are currently ranked 40th.

The entire poll is below:

D3football.com 2011 preseason Top 25

Entering the 2011 season:

Rank	School (1st votes)	Rec	Pts	2010 final
1	UW-Whitewater (19)	15-0	619	1
2	Mount Union (6)	14-1	606	2
3	Wesley	12-1	561	4
4	North Central (Ill.)	12-1	526	3
5	St. Thomas	12-1	491	7
6	Mary Hardin-Baylor	12-1	481	5
7	Bethel	12-2	480	6
8	Wheaton (Ill.)	10-2	382	11
9	Linfield	9-2	347	9
10	Coe	9-2	321	14
11	Thomas More	11-1	277	15
12	Montclair State	10-2	270	19
13	Cortland State	10-2	267	18
14	Ohio Northern	10-2	259	8
15	Wartburg	10-1	238	12
16	Hardin-Simmons	8-2	230	24
17	Cal Lutheran	8-2	199	21
18	Alfred	10-3	195	13
19	Wabash	8-2	175	--
20	Wittenberg	10-1	165	17
21	Trine	11-1	129	10
22	Rowan	9-1	108	23
23	UW-Stevens Point	7-3	89	--
24	Franklin	9-2	86	22
25	St. John's	7-3	78	--

Others receiving votes: Delaware Valley 76, Hampden-Sydney 73, Central 64, Pacific Lutheran 62, Salisbury 55, Baldwin-Wallace 45, Springfield 29, Redlands 24, Bridgewater (Va.) 22, Johns Hopkins 16, Willamette 15, Louisiana College 13, Monmouth 10, St. John Fisher 9, Christopher Newport 9, Washington and Jefferson 6, DePauw 5, McMurry 3, Washington and Lee 3, Lebanon Valley 2, UW-Oshkosh 2, Millsaps 1, UW-Stout 1, Williams 1.

Media Day Poll Has Panthers 3rd

2011-08-02T18:34:00.000-07:00

Ferrum will finish third according to the poll of the USA South coaches taken at the 2011 Media Day at Christopher Newport University. The CNU Captains are picked to win the conference. The coaches mirrored my predictions posted one day earlier, with the exception of our disagreeing on the Panthers and NC Wesleyan placement. The coaches poll, has NCW 2nd with Ferrum 3rd, and I have those two picks inverted.

Coach David Harper, making his first appearance as head coach at Media Day, gave a good synopsis of what the Panthers experience levels at the different positions this season. He indicated some changes that may be made to address their lack of speed in the linebacker position, and noted the lack of returnees along the defensive line. While Special Teams are a concern of coach Harper, he also lauded the ability of Marcus Mayo who is returning for his Senior season. When asked if Ferrum will again be operating out of the Wishbone, coach Harper quickly replied, "we will be an option team.".

Stay tuned, it should be a fun year. Look for Shenandoah to play a key roll int the conference title outcome.

2011 USA South Predictions

2011-07-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

As we are closing in on the start of the 2011 season, I wanted to post my predictions for the upcoming year. While last season I predicted Ferrum to finish in sixth place with a 4-6 record, I have a more positive outlook for 2011. The coaches of the USA South conference will hold their Media Day tomorrow at Christopher Newport, and will release their preseason poll. I am posting mine one day earlier.

Ferrum College Football Report
USA South
Predicted Order of Finish
2011

8th Place- Greensboro College Pride

While I do believe this team will improve, I do not see a huge difference this season. Among the positives for the Pride is the fact that they were not hurt badly by graduation. They will again be solid in the secondary, and this will spell trouble for many of the passing teams. PR and WR, Antwan Thorpe will be back this season. Thorpe was the 9th leading punt returner in the nation. I expect this team to show a marked improvement, but their special teams play may again be the bright spot. Their offensive and defensive struggles msy continue.

Record 1-9 (0-7 USA South)

7th Place- Methodist University Monarchs

The Monarchs had a tough 2010. After starting the season 2-2, Methodist started a six game losing streak, and never really contended. Much like Greensboro, look for Methodist to be strong against the pass, and to put up good numbers on special teams. With a new head coach Dave Everson, Methodist is a little tough to read. They were not hurt all that much from graduation, so this 7th place finish may be conservative, and may be selling them short. While there is room for improvement in many areas, I do not expect them to contend for the championship just yet.

Record- 2-8 (1-6 USA South)


6th Place- Maryville College Scots

After closing their season with a win over Ferrum, Maryville will be looking to recapture that momentum this season. Graduation hit the Scots fairly hard as they lost 11 Seniors from last years roster. Notably they suffered several losses in the defensive backfield. Although they posted a strong effort in 2010, look for this year to be more of a rebuilding season.

Record- 3-7 ( 2-5 USA South)

  5th Place- Averett University Cougars

After a fast start in 2010, Averett suffered too many injuries, and lost their final three games. Since that time they have lost 13 Seniors to graduation. This includes RB Jeremy Dixon, and QB Cody Ladutko. Linebacker Mario Hufman, along with several offensive and defensive linemen. While there are many returning who saw significant playing time, I look for Averett to have an uphill climb.

Record- 5-5 (4-6 USA South)

4th Place- Shenandoah University Hornets

This will mark the Hornets final campaign as a member of the USA South. Next season will see them transition to the ODAC . As they embark on their final season in the conference, I look for them to have a successful run, but may hit a rough patch during their final three games. They have a majority slated to return, and the improvement they showed last season may well continue. Look for this team to pull a possible big upset. They well be in the mix for the championship, but I think it is more likely they finish outside the top three.

Record- 5-5 (3-4 USA South)

3rd Place- North Carolina Wesleyan College Bishops

There will be some sizable holes to fill in the Bishops roster for the upcoming season. While they lost only 12 to graduation, these 12 were made up of many high caliber players. While this team is deep, I do not look for them to be as dominate as they have been. They can win it all, but I see them coming up short.....just short.

Record 6-4 (5-2 USA South)

2nd Place- Ferrum College Panthers

This year look for the Panthers to be a threat to take the conference title. Offensively, Ferrum will be returning almost everyone from last year. Marcus Mayo will return for his Senior campaign, and his abilities will keep the defenses on their heels. Ferrum will be solid in the offensive backfield, as well as at receiver. The offensive line will have good experience returning, and I look for the rushing offensive unit to be one of the best in the country. It is the other side of the ball that concerns me as Ferrum has lost a lot of size and experience from last years defensive line. The linebacker position also has some question marks. The defensive secondary will need to show consistent performance and be able to limit the opponents passing game. If the defense can gel, and the team as a whole can avoid injuries, it may come down to the wire with the CNU @ Ferrum game determining the conference champion. I rank the Panthers 2nd, but know full well this team can win it all. They have a strong core of talent on the offense. Special Teams will decide at least one game this season, but their ability to perform on defense, will make the difference.

Record- 8-2 (6-1 USA South)

1st Place- Christopher Newport University Captains

The Captains have suffered most of their losses on the offensive and defensive lines of scrimmage. They do have people who can step in that gained valuable playing experience last year. Look for CNU to excel again at special teams , specifically punt returns with Kentel Noel returning for his sophomore season. I expect that CNU will have a very successful campaign early, but will likely fall to Salisbury (MD) in the non conference portion of the schedule.
Look for the conference champion to be decided late, and possibly the final week of the season. The Captains will have another title in their sights, but there will be some teams capable of bumping them out of the race. While they are my prediction to win it all, I do not feel in any way that this is a foregone conclusion.

Record- 9-1 (7-0 USA South)

Preseason Preview of the Ferrum Panthers

2011-07-28T17:25:00.000-07:00

The athletics department of Ferrum College has released a very comprehensive preseason outlook of their football program. This release goes over much of the storied history of the program, and provides a look at what the upcoming season holds. Potential starters are highlighted in the piece, as well as this years coaching staff. This can be viewed at the following link:

http://www.ferrumpanthers.com/documents/2011/7/28/Ferrum-FB-outlook-11.pdf

Tough Schedule Will Test Panthers Throughout the Season

2011-07-27T19:10:00.000-07:00

In any competitive activity, one way to improve is to play better opponents. The better the competition, the better you as a team, or individual, depending on the sport, become. Ferrum has a schedule this year that I believe to be one of their toughest in recent years.
While it is true that Ferrum is only playing one team that they did not play last year...Hampden- Sydney, Overall they are facing some very improved teams.

Ferrum starts things off at Emory and Henry. While I expect the Wasps to again be a capable team, I think the loss of their running back Caleb Jennings to graduation will leave them far less effective offensively. They do return last years starting QB, but lose a lot of talent on their offensive line, along with three players listed as Defensive linemen.. This may prove to be somewhat of a rebuilding year for the Wasps.

Ferrum will travel to Hampden-Sydney for the first time meeting between the two schools. In the past two seasons, Hampden-Sydney has reached the NCAA playoffs both years, and has only lost one regular season game. They are 1-2 in the playoffs over this same time period.
Look for the Tigers to be led by Pre-Season All America quarterback (Honorable Mention by Consensus Draft Services) Travis Lane. Last year, Lane was 272 of 420 passing with 16 interceptions for 3338 yards and 28 touchdowns. Lane also had three rushing touchdowns.
Joining Lane with All America accolades is David Prizzia (K) who was named to the first team of the D3football.com preseason team.
HSC will be very strong, and should crack the top 25 at some point in the season.
Ferrum will have to bring their A+ game for this one.

Bridgewater is another team that will give Ferrum all they want. The Eagles are not ranked in the preseason polls, but too are also capable of cracking the top 25 during the season. Bridgewater however lost 21 Seniors from the 2010 squad to graduation. This included QB Hagan Driskell. Both the offensive and defensive lines have most of their personnel returning, and according to Bridgewater Coach Michael Clark, they will have one of the best fullbacks in the country. Look for the Eagles to be plenty potent, and a contender for the ODAC title.

Within the conference Ferrum will have plenty of competition in the fight for the NCAA AQ bid. As usual, Christopher Newport will be looking to return to the playoffs, and while they have suffered losses on both sides of the line of scrimmage, they will again be regarded as on of those teams that could be playing in week 12. Look for the Captains to dominate the early part of their schedule, but will have trouble with Salisbury.
They will be regarded as one of the main teams to beat in the USA South.

North Carolina Wesleyan will have a lot of holes to fill left by graduation, but the Bishops are known for their depth. I would expect this team to again be in contention, but they open the season against Ohio Northern. The Polar Bears lost one regular season game last season.... to Mount Union. They won their first round playoff game, and lost in the second round to end the season 10-2. I would imagine this will be a David vs. Goliath type contest. Week two has Hampden Sydney College on their slate. Again this will be a tough game for NCW. Look for the Bishops to have the kinks worked out when conference play begins.

Shenandoah is going to be another team that will be in the mix for the championship. With very few lost to graduation, look for SU to be the sleeper of the conference. They can and may pull an upset or two. I expect the Hornets to cause problems for all of their opponents, and to be in the fight for the championship.

While these teams will provide plenty of competition, no team in this conference is a pushover. Ferrum must guard against the upset. They cannot take anyone on their schedule too lightly.

USA South Media Day

2011-07-16T18:26:00.000-07:00

It has been announced that the USA South conference Media Day will be August 1st at Christopher Newport University. The link below will take you to the online story. As is the case every year, the coaches will vote for the order of finish in their preseason poll. I will release my predictions for the upcoming season on July 31st.

2011 USASAC Media Day

What will it take to win the conference?

2011-07-15T04:48:00.000-07:00

In looking toward this season, Ferrum is in a very strong position to contend for the conference title. I see some very big positives for the upcoming season. For starters, I think the offense will be very good. I would rate the running backs and the quarterbacks as Very Strong. Mayo will return as the starting quarterback for his Senior season. Receivers will also be high quality, and with Mayo's ability to deliver the ball, this will add to the offensive threat. On the offensive line, Ferrum will have a lot of returning experience. I expect this unit to be even better than they were last year.

Defensively, I look for improvement in the secondary, with all of last years starters returning. At linebacker, I expect there to be a mix of newer faces along with players with needed experience.. Look for the line to have several new faces. The lack of experience may be a cause for concern, but I expect this unit to gel with no problem.

What it will take for Ferrum to win the conference is quality consistent performances, and while no game is a guaranteed win or loss, it goes without saying that the road to a conference championship for the Panthers will be laden with obstacles. Christopher Newport and North Carolina Wesleyan for starters. I see these as the two main foes that Ferrum will have to defeat to win the conference. It can be done, and I have a feeling that Ferrum is in a position to really surprise some people this year. Look for Ferrum to be in the fight for the conference championship right to the last game. Who knows, Ferrum may well be playing in week 12.

It will be an interesting season, and I would say that this will be the most exciting season since 2005. As fans your support to this team will be invaluable. Go to a game, and show your support. This will be an fun year.

Mayo Named to CDS preseason All American team.

2011-07-06T12:11:00.000-07:00

The Consensus Draft Services have posted their pre season All American selections, and Ferrum's Marcus Mayo is listed as the first team punt returner. The complete DIII listing is below:

Congratulations Marcus!

2011 CDS Division III Preseason All-American Teams

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

QB Jake Mullin, 6'2", 225, McMurry
WR Josh McKee, 6'1", 185, Wittenberg
WR James McCarthy, 5'9", 195, Framingham State
RB Levell Coppage, 5'7", 180, Wisconsin-Whitewater
RB Jeremy Murray, 5'7", 190, Mount Union
TE Taylor Allen, 6'3", 245, Endicott
OT Corey Balcerzak, 6'7", 275, St. John Fisher
OG Billy Castro, 6'3", 320, Cortland State
C Ed Rodger, 6'3", 260, Johns Hopkins
OG Brent McNeil, 6'3", 330, Cal Lutheran
OT Ben Hume, 6'4", 293, Centre
K Tyler Funk, Carthage
KR Darnell Williams, Louisiana College

DEFENSE

DE Chris Mayes, 6'3", 253, Wesley
DT Steve Williams, 6'2", 300, Rowan (Jr.)
DT Paul Gilstrop, 5'10", 275, Wesley
DE Shane Wong, 6'0", 226, Central (IA)
LB Mike Asiedu, 6'2", 221, Wesley
LB Kyle McGivney, 6'0", 226, Luther
LB C.J. Seitzinger, 5'10", 210, John Carroll
LB Tyler Bailey, 6'0", 220, Cornell
CB Jared Millikan, 5'10", 160 Anderson (IN)
S Will Morris, 6'2", 182, McMurry
S Brecken Kennedy, 6'0", 180, Manchester
CB Sean Hunt, 6'0", 174, Waynesburg
P Robby Salmon, Wartburg
PR Marcus Mayo, Ferrum

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

QB Hewitt Tomlin, 6'1", 190, Johns Hopkins
WR Jordan Wilkins, 6'0", 195, Hartwick
WR Darnell Williams, 6'1", 195, Louisiana College
RB Ben Guiles, 5'11'', 189, Lebanon Valley
RB Clinton Orr, 5'10", 180, Albion (Jr.)
TE-WR Nick Lynch, 6'3", 222, Mount Ida
OT James Buettner, 6'6", 285, Wesley
OG Koby Parker, 6'3, 290, Hardin Simmons
OL Paul Dunn, 6'3", 275, Heidelberg
OG John Lavelle, 6'2", 278, Delaware Valley
OT Weston Kitley, 6'4", 289, Wabash (Jr.)
K Travis Braun, Kalamazoo (Jr.)
KR Dominic Jones, Otterbein

DEFENSE

DE Kevin Eagan, 6'3", 265, Endicott
DT Dan Terhune, 6'0", 260, Wooster
DT Justin Crosier, 6'0", 261, Bluffton
DE Willie Hayes, 5'11", 225, North Central (IL)
LB Nate Jantzen, 6'0", 210, Louisiana College (Jr.)
LB Andy Dalton, 6'0", 210, Hanover (Jr.)
LB Joel Chadbourne, 5'9", 220, Maine Maritime (Jr.)
LB Keith Barnes, 5'11", 240, SUNY Maritime
DB Dominic Jones, 5'9", 190, Otterbein
DB Brian Hipchen, 5'11", 180, Carthage
DB Josh McLeod, 6'0", 197, North Central (IL)
DB Carter Norfleet, 5'11", 170, Occidental (Jr.)
P Andrew Dejong, Allegheny
PR Geoff Myles, Mary Hardin-Baylor (Jr.)

HONORABLE MENTION

QB Luke Collis, 6'2", 215, Occidental

QB Shane Brozowski, 5'11", 185, Castleton (Jr.)

QB Travis Lane, 5'11", 165, Hampden-Sydney

WR Sam Wernick, 5'10", 185, Johns Hopkins

WR Brock Thompson, 5'9", 175, Illinois College

WR R.J. Long, 6'1", 190, McMurry

WR Derek Carrier, 6'3", 224, Beloit

WR Cody Pearcy, 5'10", 158, Huntingdon

RB Scottie Williams, 5'6", 165, Elmhurst (Jr.)

RB Luke Heinsohn, 5'11", 205, Washington & Lee (Jr.)

RB Shane Bowser, 5'9", 200, Millsaps

RB Randall Smedley, 5'8", 200, Salisbury

RB Evan Bunker, 5'11", 200, Trinity (CT) (So.)

TE Michael Deutch, 6'3", 245, Franklin & Marshall (So.)

TE Greg Harrell, 6'4", 218, Austin

TE Joh Coomer, 6'3", 245, Centre

OL Lewis Brown, 6'2", 283, DePauw

OL Shane KJeisel, 6'0", 294, Albion (Jr.)

OL Brett Ekkens, 6'1", 265, Mount Union

OL Matt Mattox, 6'3", 315, Mount Union (Jr.)

OL Stuart Grogan, 6'4", 275, Albright

DE Darryl Moore, 6'1", 225, Waynesburg

DE Jay Volker, 6'1", 220, Thomas More

DE Aaron Nauer, 6'2", 220, Westminster (PA) (Jr.)

DE Tony Galamo, 6'2", 225, Alma

DE Tyler Hemry, 6'1", 233, Coe

DT Mike Raplee, 6'2", 240, Alfred (Jr.)

DT Blake Barnes, 6'2", 260, Maryville (TN)

DT Dominic Jeter, 6'2", 262, Bridgewater (VA)

DT Jake Longtin, 6'2", 252, U. of Chicago

DT Reed Hefta, 6'2", 250, Concordia-Moorhead

LB Gregory Burns, 5'11", 215, TCNJ, (Jr.)

LB Conrad Bovee, 5'11", 215, Alma

LB Ryan Kelly, 6'0", 215, King's (PA)(Jr.)

LB Oliver Dickerhoof, 6'0", 195, Hiram

LB Tate Moore-Jacobs, 5'9", 190, Wilkes, (So.)

DB Eric Fisher, 5'9", 180, Illinois College

DB Jamahl Williams, 5'7", 180, Kean

DB Zach Autenreib, 5'9", 185, Thomas More, (Jr.)

DB Roland O'Brien, 5'8", 186, Alfred

DB Ray Bierbach, 5'10", 180, Lycoming

DB Kobie Hamm, 5'11", 202, Rochester (NY) (Jr.)

DB Tony Faller, 6'2", 195, Lakeland

DB Jonathan Wise, 6'0", 195, Hardin-Simmons

K Jered Fohrman, Wisconsin-Stevens Point

K Scott Roche, Wheaton

KR Clinton Orr, Albion (Jr.)

KR Andrew Ouellette, Catholic (So.)

P Brik Wedekind, Monmouth (IL) (So.)

P Jeff Sauer, U. of Chicago (Jr.)

PR Kentel Noel, Christopher Newport (So.)

PR Dan Keegan, Montclair State

A look at the Panthers-Special Teams

2011-07-03T05:49:00.000-07:00

Special teams play an important role in any teams success, Ferrum could be strong in this area, but before I assess special teams, I want to review how Ferrum fared last season.

Punting- 1st in Conference / 4th in the Nation

Field Goals-7th in the conference

Punt Returns- 2nd in the Conference / 5th in the Nation

Kickoff Returns- 3rd in the Conference / 43rd in the Nation

At first glance, these numbers are impressive. Ferrum will have a new punter this season, and while I have no confirmation of who will take on the punting duties, I am expecting Wesley Franklin to fill this role.
Field Goals will likely improve over last year. Scott Puschell had less than stellar numbers as he battled injuries through much of the season. I look for better things to happen this season.

Look for more excitement from Marcus Mayo on punt returns, and Dominique Lesine and Steven Harris on kickoff returns.

Special Teams coverage was good last season, with opponents averaging 18.9 yards per kickoff return, and 10.6 yards on punt returns. These averages are solid, but making the field longer for your opponent is never a bad thing.

Overall, I think Ferrum will be strong in the special teams department. Look for their numbers to improve this season.

A look at the Panthers- Defense

2011-06-26T06:46:00.000-07:00

To accurately project the defensive starters is far more difficult. Many were lost to graduation, and there are several holes to fill. Below are who I think will either start or see significant playing time on defense.

Defensive Line

Shawn Winfrey

Melvin Wolfe

Chris Freycinet

Romeo Long

Linebackers

Tremaine Whitney

Tre Jones

Tevin Hanley

Melvin Trotter

Defensive Backs / Safeties

Tae Motley

Delano Hall

Kenny Tapscott

Marcco McNeal

Cedric Hargrove

Raymond Hines

A look at the Panthers- Offense

2011-06-24T18:02:00.000-07:00

Projection of players likely to start or see a significant amount of playing time.
(Click name for more information on each player)

Offensive Line-

Zach Bossio

Michael Walker- Did not play in 2010 due to injury.

Jack McDowell

Cam Bailey

Tyler Gilley

Michael Cherry

Ends/Receivers

Makaya Jackson- Did not play in 2010. Led all receivers in 2009 with 483 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.

Derrick West- Leading receiver in 2010. Led all receivers with 507 yards and 7 touchdowns

Tyler Brubaker- Backup quarterback. Utilized as a Wide Reciever

Kwamane Harris- Likely to replace Vince Munch at TE

Offensive Backfield

Steven Harris

Justin Donnelly- Possibly the full time fullback

Dominique Lesine

Roger Smith

Marcus Mayo

Photos of the Hank Norton Center Construction

2011-06-23T14:56:00.000-07:00

New pictures are up showing the progress being made on the Hank Norton Center. Click the link below, and go to photos taken on 6-21-11.

http://www.ferrumpanthers.com/photo_gallery.aspx?sport=General

FERRUMS 2010 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

2011-06-19T07:49:00.000-07:00