2019 Football Non-Game Thread

[VULB#62]

FYI, Coach Fox just released to football alums the first of 5 summer communication to the team. He's setting some tough objectives for the players. He's pretty straight forward about dedication to goals and driving home a 3600 concept. Interesting: 3600 = the seconds in a football game and the number of inches in a football field.  This guy is into finite detail it seems  and I hope this carries over to game planning. I think he is gonna win over some minds in the VU locker room

[VUOR63]

I got the e-mail correspondence from Coach Fox which included the Summer conditioning test.  I'm gonna train for about a month and a half and see if I can do it.

[VULB#62]

I got the e-mail correspondence from Coach Fox which included the Summer conditioning test.  I'm gonna train for about a month and a half and see if I can do it.

I would if I could 🤪

[VULB#62]

For those of you who were wondering how the new turf will look, I have two observations:  the colors are vibrant and the Valpo logo at midfield is big and impressive. The end zones will be  devoid of graphics. The reason:  Brown Field is a multipurpose playing surface that is also home to two soccer teams who each play more games on the surface than football. Graphics in the 18 yard box is a confusing factor, so graphics have been eliminated.

Now then .......  if the Porter property were to finally accommodate the proposed 30 year plan soccer stadium, Brown would be a football only field with a track around it and could easily handle some additional end zone graphics (and there would only be football lines).

[Valpo89]

I have driven on LaPorte Avenue each of the past two mornings at just after 7:30 a.m. Both days, I've seen a group of football players working out with an assistant coach - 10-15 players who appeared to be skill-position type of kids. They are running right on the old hospital property.

[NWIGuy]

Some links to Twitter with solid Brown Field pics...
https://twitter.com/valpoathletics/status/1140663976881217536
https://twitter.com/ValpoAD/status/1141462105046077441

[VULB#62]

Valpo is not getting much love by the FCS press.

http://www.college-sports-journal.com/2019-ncaa-division-i-college-footbal-team-previews-valparaiso-crusaders/

2019 NCAA Division I College Football Team Previews: Valparaiso Crusaders
June 15, 2019

9th – PFL
116th – FCS
246th – D-I

Valparaiso Crusaders
Location: Valparaiso, IN
Coach: Landon Fox (0-0 1st Year at Valpo)
Stadium: Brown Stadium (Capacity: 5,000)

2018 In A Sentence: The Crusaders regressed to a 2-9 overall mark (2-6 PFL) after posting a 6-5 mark in 2017 and also lost its head coach Dave Cecchini in the offseason, who left to be the head man at Bucknell of the Patriot League.

Biggest Shoes to Fill: LB Drew Snouffer racked up 106 tackles last year, his third straight season of 100 tackles or more. He became just the second Valpo player in the last 25 years to enjoy three straight seasons with 100 tackles or more.  He also led the PFL with 11.8 tackles per game, a mark that ranked sixth nationally in Division I FCS.

Key Player: Valpo may have regressed in the win column but it was not for a lack of talent on special teams. RS/WR Bailey Gessinger  was recognized as an all-PFL second team for the third straight season.  Gessinger enters his senior season with four career kickoff returns for touchdowns, one shy of tying a PFL record. Two of those returns came last season, allowing Gessinger to equal his own program watermark for kickoff return TDs in a single season with two.  He also added another score receiving and 215 yards catching the ball.

Fearless Prediction: Former Coach Cecchini left rather late in the offseason–moving in late February and the Crusaders looked within a PFL rival in Dayton's 11-year defensive coordinator Landon Fox.  Under Fox's wing, Dayton boasted the second-best scoring defense in the PFL in 2018.  The Crusaders will need this kind of improvement (Valpo gave up 35.6 points/game last year) to better its two-win total but will have to do it with half of its starters (5 offense, 6 defense) lost from last year's team.  Expect a similar season as last year with 2-3 victories.

[VULB#62]

New release on recent program/facility improvements to support the new staff and show commitment to going forward.

http://valpoathletics.com/football/news/2019-20/19158/clear-commitment-momentum-building-as-official-start-of-landon-fox-era-draws-nearer/

This will be a very interesting beginning to a new era. There are just so many unknowns. 

[valpofb16]

New Commit: Ben Niesner transfer from Portland State, Punter 5-11 180 JR

Roster up to 104

[JD24]

New Commit: Ben Niesner transfer from Portland State, Punter 5-11 180 JR Roster up to 104

He was PSU's punter last season. Is he eligible?

[bbtds]

New Commit: Ben Niesner transfer from Portland State, Punter 5-11 180 JR Roster up to 104

He was PSU's punter last season. Is he eligible?

He's the back end of the Golder deal. Lottich was only kidding when he asked the Vikings if they could throw in a punter.

[usc4valpo]

They really could use a new press box and get into the new millennium.

[valpofb16]

JD24 in short yes Niesner will be eligible and punting in our first game, Purty will be too

Explanation: when transferring from scholarship to non scholarship FCS you are immediately eligible, however if transferring from D2 (scholly) to FCS non scholarship you have to sit out one season. Same with D3.

This does not really make any relative sense but it is what it is

[valpotx]

I forget his name, but we had a Punter do the same thing while I was in school, going from Colorado State to Valpo.  He used to show off his bowl ring that CSU won while he was there.

[valpofb16]

New Commit: Zane Sprague OL/Center 6'2 330, Watkins Memorial High School, Pataskala OHIO.

National Rank: 4072


Roster up to 105

[VULB#62]

Good to see the staff still shaking the bushes to find players this late in the cycle.

With every passing week, I, for one, am getting curiouser and curiouser about what this team will look like going into EKU. I have zero preconceived notions. But can't wait to get my ticket to the President's Pavillion in the new two story Brown Field press box ....... uh, wait. Never mind. 

[usc4valpo]

Do they still have the dude turning the crank to provide adequate electricity for the press box?

[JD24]

Good to see the staff still shaking the bushes to find players this late in the cycle. 

At the very least it will build depth in case there is a rash of "the new staff doesn't want to play me so I am out of here" reaction which seems, anecdotally at least, to happen whenever a new staff comes in. 

[bbtds]

Do they still have the dude turning the crank to provide adequate electricity for the press box?

I think they are still hooking up the Tesla to the cord that hangs outside the Brown Field press box. But that sometimes only lasts till 5 minutes are left in the 4th quarter and they guess at what is happening on the field because they run out of power.

[VU2014]

The new punter has an absolute leg on him


https://twitter.com/BNiesner/status/1145872437403238400

[IndyValpo]

New Commit: Zane Sprague OL/Center 6'2 330, Watkins Memorial High School, Pataskala OHIO.

National Rank: 4072


Roster up to 105

Now that is a huge addition. We needed more bodies on the OL. I think this gets us to 16, we had 23 last year.

Is anyone else amazed that rankings go all the way to 4700 and I am assuming beyond.

[vu72]

New Commit: Zane Sprague OL/Center 6'2 330, Watkins Memorial High School, Pataskala OHIO.

National Rank: 4072


Roster up to 105

Now that is a huge addition. We needed more bodies on the OL. I think this gets us to 16, we had 23 last year.

Is anyone else amazed that rankings go all the way to 4700 and I am assuming beyond.

This kid looks pretty impressive in the videos.  Just pancakes a bunch of guys.

https://www.ncsasports.org/football-recruiting/ohio/pataskala/watkins-memorial-high-school/zane-sprague

[JD24]

The new punter has an absolute leg on him

A yard better last year than Ng and Ulbrich over the past two years (38+ vs 37+)

[valpofb16]

#26 Maceo,#77 Roberts, #97 Olojo have left team

Maceo was a rsfr. HS QB, played three games at RB last SSN. moved to db in spring

Roberts was a rotation player in '15. Started opener in '16 then inj ofy. starter in '17, lost spot to Taliaferro rotation player in '18. Late decision to forgo fifth year.

Olojo two year rotation player at DT, 15 GP

[IndyValpo]

#26 Maceo,#77 Roberts, #97 Olojo have left team

Maceo was a rsfr. HS QB, played three games at RB last SSN. moved to db in spring

Roberts was a rotation player in '15. Started opener in '16 then inj ofy. starter in '17, lost spot to Taliaferro rotation player in '18. Late decision to forgo fifth year.

Olojo two year rotation player at DT, 15 GP

Roberts leaving really hurts