Reporting Day Kicks Off 2009 Training Camp
8/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
The hallways that have been quiet for the past two months inside the Williams Football Operations Center quickly changed this morning, as nearly 90 football players returned to Liberty Mountain for the beginning of training camp.
Throughout the day, players returned to Lynchburg from various parts of the country and around the world for training camp registration. Following paperwork and some remaining physicals for certain players, the team had its first meeting, as the Liberty athletics compliance office addressed the student-athletes, going over the University's and NCAA's policies and procedures.
Following a break for dinner, the entire team and support staff filled the main team meeting room in the Williams Football Operations Center for the annual kickoff team meeting at 7 p.m. During the opening portion of the session, the squad heard from each support group associated with the program: football operations, spiritual development, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, equipment and athletics communications.
Following the head of each support group speaking to the player gathering, three-time Big South Coach of the Year Danny Rocco stepped behind the podium and officially addressed his 2009 squad for the first time.
Rocco quickly brought a charge to the room filled with one of his younger squads, enthusiastically preparing them for the upcoming season. He presented them with the team's theme for the year "Sharpen the Sword," which was taken from Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so on man sharpens another."
Telling the team he was confident they would be prepared to win come the beginning of September, Rocco reminded his newcomers what the team had accomplished over the past three seasons. He also told the newcomers that "where you are at is not important, but rather it is where you are going to be."
He also reminded his entire squad of the program's goals: Character development, Whole Person development and Winning with Character and Team Unity. Finally, Rocco spoke about Dr. Jerry Falwell's vision for a winning football program and how he believes Liberty is ready to be a "program of national prominence."
The first day of practice will begin early for the squad tomorrow morning, as the players will be officially issued their equipment for the year, beginning at 7 a.m. Team meetings are slated to start at 9 a.m., in preparation for the squad's opening practice tomorrow afternoon.
The Flames will be "on the line" for practice starting at 2:15 p.m., beginning their first workout of the year. The first of Liberty's four practices without pads is slated to run three hours on the turf at Williams Stadium.
As always, practices are open to the public, at no charge. Below is the Flames' complete training camp schedule. However, please be aware that the schedule is subject to change, especially considering the potential changing weather in the Central Virginia area.
Practice Dates and Times:
No. 1 – Aug. 6 – 2:15 p.m. (No Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 2 – Aug. 7 – 6:45 p.m. (No Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 3 – Aug. 8 – 2:20 p.m. (Shells/Williams Stadium)
No. 4 – Aug. 9 – 2:20 p.m. (Shells/Williams Stadium)
No. 5 – Aug. 10 – 2:20 p.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 6 – Aug. 11 – 8:50 a.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 7 – Aug. 11 – 2:50 p.m. (Shells/FOC Practice Field)
No. 8 – Aug. 12 – 2:20 p.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 9 – Aug. 13 – 8:50 a.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 10 – Aug. 13 – 2:50 p.m. (Shells/FOC Practice Field)
No. 11 – Aug. 14 – 2:20 p.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 12 – Aug. 15 – 9:20 a.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
Aug. 16 – Players Day Off
No. 13 – Aug. 17 – 2:20 p.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 14 – Aug. 18 – 8:50 a.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 15 – Aug. 18 – 2:50 p.m. (Shells/FOC Practice Field)
No. 16 – Aug. 19 – 2:20 p.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 17 – Aug. 20 – 6:45 p.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 18 – Aug. 21 – 2:20 p.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 19 – Aug. 22 – 9:20 a.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
Aug. 23 – Fan/Picture Day – 2:30 p.m. (Williams Stadium)
Once again, LibertyFlames.com will be your official site to catch the latest news on the Flames as they prepare for the upcoming 2009 season. The web site's Countdown to Kickoff coverage will come to you live from inside the Williams Stadium press box, Thursday afternoon, with a live blog during the Flames' first practice of year.
Be sure to return to LibertyFlames.com tomorrow afternoon to catch all the action as the 2009 Liberty Flames hit the turf for the first time this August.
Throughout the day, players returned to Lynchburg from various parts of the country and around the world for training camp registration. Following paperwork and some remaining physicals for certain players, the team had its first meeting, as the Liberty athletics compliance office addressed the student-athletes, going over the University's and NCAA's policies and procedures.
Following a break for dinner, the entire team and support staff filled the main team meeting room in the Williams Football Operations Center for the annual kickoff team meeting at 7 p.m. During the opening portion of the session, the squad heard from each support group associated with the program: football operations, spiritual development, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, equipment and athletics communications.
Following the head of each support group speaking to the player gathering, three-time Big South Coach of the Year Danny Rocco stepped behind the podium and officially addressed his 2009 squad for the first time.
Rocco quickly brought a charge to the room filled with one of his younger squads, enthusiastically preparing them for the upcoming season. He presented them with the team's theme for the year "Sharpen the Sword," which was taken from Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so on man sharpens another."
Telling the team he was confident they would be prepared to win come the beginning of September, Rocco reminded his newcomers what the team had accomplished over the past three seasons. He also told the newcomers that "where you are at is not important, but rather it is where you are going to be."
He also reminded his entire squad of the program's goals: Character development, Whole Person development and Winning with Character and Team Unity. Finally, Rocco spoke about Dr. Jerry Falwell's vision for a winning football program and how he believes Liberty is ready to be a "program of national prominence."
The first day of practice will begin early for the squad tomorrow morning, as the players will be officially issued their equipment for the year, beginning at 7 a.m. Team meetings are slated to start at 9 a.m., in preparation for the squad's opening practice tomorrow afternoon.
The Flames will be "on the line" for practice starting at 2:15 p.m., beginning their first workout of the year. The first of Liberty's four practices without pads is slated to run three hours on the turf at Williams Stadium.
As always, practices are open to the public, at no charge. Below is the Flames' complete training camp schedule. However, please be aware that the schedule is subject to change, especially considering the potential changing weather in the Central Virginia area.
Practice Dates and Times:
No. 1 – Aug. 6 – 2:15 p.m. (No Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 2 – Aug. 7 – 6:45 p.m. (No Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 3 – Aug. 8 – 2:20 p.m. (Shells/Williams Stadium)
No. 4 – Aug. 9 – 2:20 p.m. (Shells/Williams Stadium)
No. 5 – Aug. 10 – 2:20 p.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 6 – Aug. 11 – 8:50 a.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 7 – Aug. 11 – 2:50 p.m. (Shells/FOC Practice Field)
No. 8 – Aug. 12 – 2:20 p.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 9 – Aug. 13 – 8:50 a.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 10 – Aug. 13 – 2:50 p.m. (Shells/FOC Practice Field)
No. 11 – Aug. 14 – 2:20 p.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 12 – Aug. 15 – 9:20 a.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
Aug. 16 – Players Day Off
No. 13 – Aug. 17 – 2:20 p.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 14 – Aug. 18 – 8:50 a.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 15 – Aug. 18 – 2:50 p.m. (Shells/FOC Practice Field)
No. 16 – Aug. 19 – 2:20 p.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 17 – Aug. 20 – 6:45 p.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 18 – Aug. 21 – 2:20 p.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
No. 19 – Aug. 22 – 9:20 a.m. (Full Pads/Williams Stadium)
Aug. 23 – Fan/Picture Day – 2:30 p.m. (Williams Stadium)
Once again, LibertyFlames.com will be your official site to catch the latest news on the Flames as they prepare for the upcoming 2009 season. The web site's Countdown to Kickoff coverage will come to you live from inside the Williams Stadium press box, Thursday afternoon, with a live blog during the Flames' first practice of year.
Be sure to return to LibertyFlames.com tomorrow afternoon to catch all the action as the 2009 Liberty Flames hit the turf for the first time this August.
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