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Yesterday marked the official start of camp for @Towson_FB with the players reporting, but today is the day they will hit the practice field for the first time in 2012. Everyone knows about the historic run the Tigers made last year, winning the CAA and advancing to the FCS playoffs for the first time in school history, but this is a new year. I have had a chance to talk to a few players and coaches, and they make it clear last year was last year and this is the start of a new season. A clean slate, if you will.
@CoachAmbrose and the rest of the coaching staff have to be foaming at the mouth at the amount of talent returning from last year's squad. There are 31 upperclassman (14 seniors, 15 juniors and two graduate students) who will be suiting up in the Black and Gold and leading the rest of the Tigers both on and off the field.
Over the next couple of days I will be previewing the different position groups that make up the Tigers. Today we will start with the most overlooked position group on most football teams, but without a doubt the most important. Of course, I am talking about the water and towel boys. Just kidding...the offensive line.
One of the key losses for the Tigers this upcoming season is graduated RT Henry Glackin who leaves big shoes for this year's group to fill. They will definitely be up to the task. The Tigers' offensive line was a huge reason why the team led the CAA in yards per game and points per contest, averaging 229.9 yards and 35 points.
This season center Doug Shaw will lead the O-line. Shaw was incredibly valuable to last year's team, and that was never more evident than in the playoff game against Lehigh. He was unable to go, and the Tigers struggled to run the ball the way they did the rest of the season.
Along with Shaw, the Tigers return one of their more vocal leaders from last season, junior Eric Pike. Pike has started an incredible 23 consecutive games for the Tigers, which shows the strength and durability that he brings. Pike was also named to the third team All-CAA last season.
Including Shaw and Pike, the Tigers' roster features 13 offensive lineman that will all be competing in camp to earn playing time and the right to start. It is my opinion this offensive line will not miss a beat from last year and hit the ground running in 2012 (see what I did there?).
London Olympics 2012
But enough football talk for one day. Let's talk a little about the 2012 USA Men's Basketball Team. Even though they are pretty much set on cruise control for the group stages, it is still a thing of beauty to watch the best in the world play together. If you said after the 2004 Games (when the USA took home bronze...yeah we try to forget about that one) that their problem in 2012 would be they pass the ball too much, I would have called you crazy. But Coach K has this team focused on the task at hand, and they are playing unselfish basketball. I am personally looking forward to when they slam the pedal to floor, and we see Kobe, Lebron and Durant take over the game and show why Kobe thinks that this year's team could beat the "Dream Team".
Remember to follow me on twitter @ZachMaskavich. And check back tomorrow for another edition of the Morning Roar.
