2021 Spring Season

[FUBeAR]

As I was saying in the summer, aside from travel expenses, which shouldn’t be all that much, the money is already spent. Playing games could generate at least a trickle of revenue (or more if we want) so I don’t even get the financial argument. Of course I said this in August when I said other stupid stuff like that the pandemic would prolly get worse after football season.

Delta is cost of testing to play 8 GAMES in a Spring Season vs. cost of Testing just to have Spring Practice +/- net loss/net profit of hosting 4 home games +/- net loss/net profit of 4 away games.

I guess the key is how much testing they choose to do for a season vs. practice. Not sure I understand why it would be different but I’m sure it is. I also wonder what sort of testing costs they’ve been able to negotiate. Seems like cost per test would be pretty low by now.

That’s the difference. If it’s just practice, I think they can develop/use their own protocols for testing, but if they play, they are subject to SoCon/NCAA protocols...which could be substantially more involved & expensive.

[FurmAlum]

The NFL and FBS have shown that football can be played safely with a limited number pf fans, so I am in favor of playing.

The big hang up to me is the cost of multiple testing for 50-60 players, but surely they have thought about that before announcing a spring season.

[FUPlayer74]

Good start . All players on campus. Initial testing with players and staff with no positives.
Our guys are going to work hard to make this work.

[FUBeAR]

The NFL and FBS have shown that football can be played safely with a limited number pf fans, so I am in favor of playing.

The big hang up to me is the cost of multiple testing for 50-60 players, but surely they have thought about that before announcing a spring season.

strike that...double it.

[FUpaladin08]

The NFL and FBS have shown that football can be played safely with a limited number pf fans, so I am in favor of playing.

The big hang up to me is the cost of multiple testing for 50-60 players, but surely they have thought about that before announcing a spring season.

And the big difference is the money available from NFL>FBS>FCS. The big boys can afford to test throughout the week, FCS schools don’t have that luxury. There’s a lot of players and staff on one football team.

[apaladin]

I doubt very seriously that FCS will test as much as the NFL and others which seem to overdo it. A couple of times a week including within 24 hours before the game is plenty. Something like Tuesday and Friday.

[fupaladin01]

Montana, Montana State, and Portland State are dropping from the Spring season. Citadel is allegedly waffling based on a P&C article and word if mouth. This is not looking good...

[The Jackal]

Montana, Montana State, and Portland State are dropping from the Spring season. Citadel is allegedly waffling based on a P&C article and word if mouth. This is not looking good...

You may see teams drop out of the Big Sky. The conference covers a huge geographic area with a lot of travel. Not to mention, a number of their schools play outdoor stadiums in what I can only imagine will be brutal weather in February.

[The Jackal]

Looks like there are some tweaks to the roster.

Devin Wynn has apparently now changed to #0. I suppose he may be the first one of those in Furman history.

Also, our running backs have bulked up.
Wynn to 216
Anderson to 203
Abrams 226
Roberto 246

Defensive line also looks like it'll eat some space
Coleman 310
Lawrence 270
Lewis 291
Hope 233
Sochovka 289
Stokes 288

A number of these guys have gained 15 pounds. I guess that's what happens when you spend a year in the weight room.

Two names absent that I happened to notice scrolling through are Corey Watkins and Taylor Hodge.

[AstroDin]

^^^ I would include freshman NG Seth Johnson 6-1 297. Hearing that Johnson is looking good and will be a contributor on the DL this season.

One more thing to think about this Freshman class will have two practice seasons leading up to this spring season.
My guess is will see some of this highly lauded freshman get extensive PT in 2021.

[The Jackal]

^^^ I would include freshman NG Seth Johnson 6-1 297. Hearing that Johnson is looking good and will be a contributor on the DL this season.

One more thing to think about this Freshman class will have two practice seasons leading up to this spring season.
My guess is will see some of this highly lauded freshman get extensive PT in 2021.

Johnson was another name that jumped off the page, though I am usually reluctant to include guys in my "hey look at this guy" list until they've played a bit. There are a bunch of guys on college rosters that look huge on paper but aren't worth a toot between the lines.

I had overlooked this as well, but London Lewis is now listed at NG.

I do not think I am exaggerating when saying that this is as big as I can remember us being along the from seven. It also appears that we are two deep, and often three deep, at every position up front.

[Paul C]

I heard one of the coaches saw that Stokes played last year w a torn rotator cuff or something like that, but is healthy now.

[The Jackal]

I heard one of the coaches saw that Stokes played last year w a torn rotator cuff or something like that, but is healthy now.

This is just my uninformed guess. While someone will be technically named "the starter," Vaughn has indicated a tendency to rotate a lot of guys in and out on defense. So, no particular order here:

NG: Coleman, Lewis, Stokes
DT: Lawrence, Sochovka, Lewis
DE: Seabrook, Lawrence
BAN: Hope, McKoy, Agbenou
SPUR: Wilkins, Wells, Owen
MLB: Gilby
WLB: Miller

*It appears that Agbenou has moved back to Bandit - he was ILB, then Bandit, the DE, and now Bandit. I presume that means there's another guy the coaching staff likes for the DE rotation.

*I see a lot of flexibility here. Furman is a base 3-4 defense, but frequently shifts out of that depending on the game situation. Lewis, for instance, is listed as a NG. He could likely flex out a bit as a DT and pair with a NG to give Furman an even man look.

* Hope has bulked up. This fits the coaches previously stated goals to make him more of a "three down" linebacker instead of a pass rush specialist. Again, that appears to give Furman some flexibility to change their front, continue to threaten the passer, but hold up against a run.

* Looking at the movement around the defense, I am inclined to think that the coaching staff has a few players they really like at ILB. Gilby and Miller seem like the likely 1-2 punch to start, but I expect there are some freshmen they anticipate seeing a lot of playing time.

In sum, I see a lot of combinations here. I think that makes life hard on opposing OCs, who have to deal with a talented defense that will be able to throw a lot of different looks and subpackages at you.

[AstroDin]

Go ahead and pencil in > Jack Barton into the rotation at DE.
Barton is now listed at 6-4 264

Also heard good things about Jeremiah Jackson at DE
Jackson is now listed at 6-0 252

The size Furman now has across the defensive line is impressive.

[AstroDin]

Jackal's post prompted me to look at the MLB depth.

Bryce McCormick 6-2 214 RSFR —
McCormick was injured and in a boot (surgery) as 2020 preseason practice begin, I'm pretty sure Bryce did play some against Point. McCormick was highly recruited out of CPA and appears to fit the mold of a Fruman MLB.

Nick Kuzemka 6-2 212 RSFR —
I think Kuzemka was a PWO - in the practices I watched he caught my attention. Nick appeared in three games and had six tackles. Nick appears to have a good shot at developing into a nice role player at MLB.

Dan Scianna 5-10 198 RSFR —
Scianna played against Point.

Evan DiMaggio 6-3 230 FR —
I have to temper my expectations of Evan as a true freshman playing MLB. That said DiMaggio has the pedigree (Buford HS) and size and skill set to be another Furman great.

Ty Youngblood 6-0 216 FR —
When Furman started recruiting Youngblood the thing that stood out to me was his toughness. Youngblood was a great two-way player in high school (fullback and linebacker).