Spring Practices are underway for everyone. That means ridiculously early previews are starting to be released. One such site, NationalChamps.net has its early 2006 preview available — but you have to pay ($8.95 for the college football junkies that are truly desperate). In there they list their pre-season All-American team and include Darrelle Revis on the 1st team and H.B. Blades on 3d team.
Additional time waster, NationalChamps.net also hosts the very interesting Helmet Project, where they are compiling graphics of all past helmets worn by football teams. The groupings are divided by conferences in college football including the Big East.
Sam Clancy recently moved back to Pittsburgh to finally complete his college education. He is also interested in helping the football team.
Sam Clancy, a former basketball standout at Pitt and an NFL defensive end, watched Thursday’s practice from the sideline. There are no vacancies on coach Dave Wannstedt’s staff, and NCAA rules prohibit him from doing any hands-on unpaid coaching. But Clancy hopes to be a positive presence around the players.
“I’d like to help out any way I can,” Clancy said. “I’m looking forward to being around the young kids. This is where you mold them for the next level. This will be a challenge for me, because I’ve only been around professional athletes.” Clancy coached for six years in the NFL for Oakland and New Orleans and five seasons for the Barcelona Dragons in NFL Europe.
Earlier this week I noted a couple Clint Session stories. Here’s another.
Session will open this season as the Panthers’ starting strong-side linebacker.
“He’s got to stay healthy,” coach Dave Wannstedt said. “He knows his position. He knows his responsibility. So, I expect good results.”
Last season, Pitt’s defense was soft against opposing running backs. The Panthers gave up only 185.2 rushing yards per game — the only team that didn’t crack 100 yards against them was Ohio.
“It definitely gets me a little fired up,” Session said. “Being a linebacker, the main thing we want to do is stop the run.
“It’s embarrassing when a guy runs on you, even if it’s 2 or 3 yards. When you can’t stop the run, the other team’s pretty much got you in its hands, and it can do whatever it wants with you.”
The article repeats the earlier stuff: coming back from injury, losing weight, working in Florida to get faster, and the 3d person quote.
Ending with a human interest story. A Carlisle teen with Spina Bifida got an autographed football from Coach Dave Wannstedt. The kid has been in and out of Children’s Hospital for surgeries, meeting players and becoming a fan.
