Post by 50yardfan on Jun 22, 2011 23:39:43 GMT -5
Albany heads back to Columbus on Saturday for the semis of the SIFL playoffs in a highly-anticipated rematch, but coming away with a win at the Columbus Civic Center — a raucous venue where the fans make it as tough on opponents as any arena in the league — is easier said than done.
www.albanyherald.com/sports/headlines/Enemy_territory_124329594.html
ALBANY — Hostile.
It’s a word that was floating around the Civic Center on Tuesday as the Panthers talked about playing at Columbus (12-1) on Saturday with an Eastern Conference championship on the line.
“It’s a lot of tension,” Panthers coach Lucious Davis said. “The atmosphere is great for football, don’t get me wrong. But being a coach and a player in it, it is very intense and nerve-wracking. It’s good to be in, but in a way it’s tough.”
It’s tough because the Panthers (11-2) are forced to deal not only with trash-talking Columbus Lions players, but with the loud — and sometimes abrasive — fans. It’s a crowd that has left a lasting impression in the minds of the Panthers. Especially center Terrance Smith, who recalls one fan in particular from Albany’s game at Columbus on May 14 who dressed like an official, complete with a striped referee shirt and a penalty flag.
“Last game, (the fan) had something to say to one of the players, and he said, ‘Why don’t you put your helmet back on, you are making my baby cry,’” Smith said with a laugh. “We may talk back, but we are more focused on the game. (We acknowledge them) to mess with them. I would say, ‘Yeah, I see you, man. Whatever, man. Sit down and go on about your business.’ ”
But it’s not always fun and games.
The verbal abuse from the crowd got so bad at one point during the Panthers’ last game at the Lions, Davis got into a verbal altercation with a fan — who was ejected, while Davis was not, nor was he fined — after the game was over. Davis declined to discuss the incident Tuesday.
At times, the boisterous crowd in the Columbus Civic Center has made it tough for Smith to hear quarterback Cecil Lester’s snap count.
“Sometimes the fans make it tough for us to hear what’s going on, on the field,” Smith said. “It can get tough to concentrate on your assignments, but you block it out.”
Blocking out the distractions may be easier said than done, especially when the stakes are raised by the on-the-field chatter between the players.
Panthers defensive back Levance Richmond hasn’t had to deal with the crowd too much because the Lions fans tend to quiet down when their team has the ball. But Richmond said the competitiveness on the field never lets up.
“The trash talk is different, because it’s two good teams, and both of us feel like we are better than each other. So of course there is going to be trash talk,” Richmond said Tuesday.
On top of all the distractions is the apprehension, and Davis said the expectations have never been higher for either team, each one win away from playing for the SIFL Championship.
In the two years of the rivalry, the teams have split six games and have both won on the road, with Columbus winning the most recent meeting, 58-39, at home. And each time the Panthers and Lions suit up against each other, it seems like something is always on the line.
“It’s just the expectations going into it where they want to win, and we want to win,” Davis said. “It’s never been where one team is awful, and the other team is good. It’s never been that way. It’s always been either our records are identical, we both are undefeated, one is going for the first loss, we are playing for the conference, we are playing for the division, or something.”
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DEADLY WITH THE FOOT:
Panthers placekicker Geoff Boyer remembers walking off the field after the opening kickoff of last week’s SIFL playoff game against Erie, making his way to the team’s sideline full of confidence after nailing an uno on the first play of the game.
“It felt good,” said Boyer, who had 13 points, including two unos in the 68-43 win against Erie. “The coaches and teammates have my back and believe in me. It felt good to start off the game like that.”
The kick gave the Panthers an early 1-0 lead and solidified the team’s confidence in its weapon on special teams. And that is exactly what Boyer has become of late — a weapon.
“The last two games, he has just been playing lights-out,” Davis said. “Going into the playoffs and a big game like this, you need to have weapons in all three phases of the game, and I think he gives us that weapon in special teams.”
Boyer replaced starter Wes Virgilio two weeks ago after the kicking game was anything but reliable throughout the year, hitting a low when Virgilio missed four extra points against Columbus on May 14.
So it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the team would have unwavering confidence in its kicking game, but Boyer has made that possible with repetitious practice that has bred all kinds of success.
“He has been getting more reps,” Davis said. “Before, Geoff only kicked one day of the week. Now he is in there at least two days of the week. He is kicking, kicking, kicking. He is getting more confident in his kicks and in himself. As a team, we all are getting more confident in him.”
As for those drop-kicks — the unconventional plays that give the Panthers an extra point on field goals and PATs, and some added momentum? Those are just a bonus. Boyer nailed several drop-kicks in the regular-season finale against the Alabama Hammers but didn’t break out the old-fashioned play for last week’s playoff game.
On Tuesday, he said the drop-kick could re-emerge at Columbus this weekend.
“It’s something that we could use if we need to,” Boyer said. “It’s not ruled out for Saturday. If we need it, we can do it. It’s all up to the coach. It’s still there. We still have it.”
--------------------------------------------------
INJURY UPDATE:
For the first time in nearly a month, the Panthers are completely healthy heading into a game.
Last week, defensive lineman Tito Hannah was out with an injury, but Davis said Tuesday that there isn’t a single injury he is worried about as Saturday’s SIFL semifinal playoff game at Columbus approaches.
“We have a couple nicks and bruises here and there, but it’s nothing big. I expect everyone to be there,” Davis said before adding: “(Of course) the last time we were all healthy, we went to Columbus and got our butts kicked.”
Looking Ahead
WHO: Albany Panthers (11-2) at Columbus Lions (12-1).
WHAT: SIFL playoffs, semifinals.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
WHERE: Columbus Civic Center.
RADIO: 98.1-FM.
LIVE UPDATES: Log onto: twitter.com/AlbHeraldSports.
IF WIN: Will play winner of Houston-Louisiana on July 2.
www.albanyherald.com/sports/headlines/Enemy_territory_124329594.html
ALBANY — Hostile.
It’s a word that was floating around the Civic Center on Tuesday as the Panthers talked about playing at Columbus (12-1) on Saturday with an Eastern Conference championship on the line.
“It’s a lot of tension,” Panthers coach Lucious Davis said. “The atmosphere is great for football, don’t get me wrong. But being a coach and a player in it, it is very intense and nerve-wracking. It’s good to be in, but in a way it’s tough.”
It’s tough because the Panthers (11-2) are forced to deal not only with trash-talking Columbus Lions players, but with the loud — and sometimes abrasive — fans. It’s a crowd that has left a lasting impression in the minds of the Panthers. Especially center Terrance Smith, who recalls one fan in particular from Albany’s game at Columbus on May 14 who dressed like an official, complete with a striped referee shirt and a penalty flag.
“Last game, (the fan) had something to say to one of the players, and he said, ‘Why don’t you put your helmet back on, you are making my baby cry,’” Smith said with a laugh. “We may talk back, but we are more focused on the game. (We acknowledge them) to mess with them. I would say, ‘Yeah, I see you, man. Whatever, man. Sit down and go on about your business.’ ”
But it’s not always fun and games.
The verbal abuse from the crowd got so bad at one point during the Panthers’ last game at the Lions, Davis got into a verbal altercation with a fan — who was ejected, while Davis was not, nor was he fined — after the game was over. Davis declined to discuss the incident Tuesday.
At times, the boisterous crowd in the Columbus Civic Center has made it tough for Smith to hear quarterback Cecil Lester’s snap count.
“Sometimes the fans make it tough for us to hear what’s going on, on the field,” Smith said. “It can get tough to concentrate on your assignments, but you block it out.”
Blocking out the distractions may be easier said than done, especially when the stakes are raised by the on-the-field chatter between the players.
Panthers defensive back Levance Richmond hasn’t had to deal with the crowd too much because the Lions fans tend to quiet down when their team has the ball. But Richmond said the competitiveness on the field never lets up.
“The trash talk is different, because it’s two good teams, and both of us feel like we are better than each other. So of course there is going to be trash talk,” Richmond said Tuesday.
On top of all the distractions is the apprehension, and Davis said the expectations have never been higher for either team, each one win away from playing for the SIFL Championship.
In the two years of the rivalry, the teams have split six games and have both won on the road, with Columbus winning the most recent meeting, 58-39, at home. And each time the Panthers and Lions suit up against each other, it seems like something is always on the line.
“It’s just the expectations going into it where they want to win, and we want to win,” Davis said. “It’s never been where one team is awful, and the other team is good. It’s never been that way. It’s always been either our records are identical, we both are undefeated, one is going for the first loss, we are playing for the conference, we are playing for the division, or something.”
---------------------------------------------
DEADLY WITH THE FOOT:
Panthers placekicker Geoff Boyer remembers walking off the field after the opening kickoff of last week’s SIFL playoff game against Erie, making his way to the team’s sideline full of confidence after nailing an uno on the first play of the game.
“It felt good,” said Boyer, who had 13 points, including two unos in the 68-43 win against Erie. “The coaches and teammates have my back and believe in me. It felt good to start off the game like that.”
The kick gave the Panthers an early 1-0 lead and solidified the team’s confidence in its weapon on special teams. And that is exactly what Boyer has become of late — a weapon.
“The last two games, he has just been playing lights-out,” Davis said. “Going into the playoffs and a big game like this, you need to have weapons in all three phases of the game, and I think he gives us that weapon in special teams.”
Boyer replaced starter Wes Virgilio two weeks ago after the kicking game was anything but reliable throughout the year, hitting a low when Virgilio missed four extra points against Columbus on May 14.
So it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the team would have unwavering confidence in its kicking game, but Boyer has made that possible with repetitious practice that has bred all kinds of success.
“He has been getting more reps,” Davis said. “Before, Geoff only kicked one day of the week. Now he is in there at least two days of the week. He is kicking, kicking, kicking. He is getting more confident in his kicks and in himself. As a team, we all are getting more confident in him.”
As for those drop-kicks — the unconventional plays that give the Panthers an extra point on field goals and PATs, and some added momentum? Those are just a bonus. Boyer nailed several drop-kicks in the regular-season finale against the Alabama Hammers but didn’t break out the old-fashioned play for last week’s playoff game.
On Tuesday, he said the drop-kick could re-emerge at Columbus this weekend.
“It’s something that we could use if we need to,” Boyer said. “It’s not ruled out for Saturday. If we need it, we can do it. It’s all up to the coach. It’s still there. We still have it.”
--------------------------------------------------
INJURY UPDATE:
For the first time in nearly a month, the Panthers are completely healthy heading into a game.
Last week, defensive lineman Tito Hannah was out with an injury, but Davis said Tuesday that there isn’t a single injury he is worried about as Saturday’s SIFL semifinal playoff game at Columbus approaches.
“We have a couple nicks and bruises here and there, but it’s nothing big. I expect everyone to be there,” Davis said before adding: “(Of course) the last time we were all healthy, we went to Columbus and got our butts kicked.”
Looking Ahead
WHO: Albany Panthers (11-2) at Columbus Lions (12-1).
WHAT: SIFL playoffs, semifinals.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
WHERE: Columbus Civic Center.
RADIO: 98.1-FM.
LIVE UPDATES: Log onto: twitter.com/AlbHeraldSports.
IF WIN: Will play winner of Houston-Louisiana on July 2.