Our up and coming backs need to watch video of Hilliard and take notes. He was a beast Saturday night.
So were Fournette and Magee. Just awesome. All 3 of them ran hard and finished plays by punishing defenders. And it took its toll. By the time we put a fresh, hungry Hilliard in the game.... they were already softened up. Worked like a charm.
I gotta give Fournette props as well I've never seen someone's face mask ripped off and keep churning.
Ronald Martin Among Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalists Published: October 27, 2014, 11:07 AM (CT) by Jake Terry (@LSUJake), Associate SID BATON ROUGE – LSU safety Ronald Martin is one of 15 players across the country to be selected as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame announced Monday. The Thorpe Award is presented annually to the top defensive back in college football. A senior from White Castle, Martin leads LSU with seven pass breakups and is tied for the team lead with two forced fumbles. Martin is also tied for the team lead with two interceptions, both of which have come in the fourth quarter of comeback wins for the Tigers. Martin picked off Tanner McEvoy on Wisconsin’s ensuing possession after LSU took a 28-24 lead with six minutes remaining in the game. Martin’s latest interception preserved the Tigers’ 10-7 upset victory against No. 3 Ole Miss when he intercepted Bo Wallace at the LSU 2-yard line with two seconds remaining in the game. A senior leader who has started all nine games for LSU’s resurgent defense, Martin ranks fourth on the squad with 48 tackles. The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association will announce three finalists for the award on Nov. 24, and the winner will be announced at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 11 airing on ESPN. Martin could become the third LSU player to win the award as Patrick Peterson and Morris Claiborne captured the award in 2010 and 2011, respectively. No. 16 LSU (7-2, 3-2 SEC) will return to action on Nov. 8 when the Tigers play host to No. 3 Alabama in Tiger Stadium. 2014 Thorpe Award Semifinalists Sam Carter, TCU, Sr. Jeremy Cash, Duke, Jr. Landon Collins, Alabama, Jr. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon, Sr. Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech, So. Senquez Golson, Ole Miss, Sr. Josh Hawkins, East Carolina, Jr. Gerod Holliman, Louisville, Jr. Ronald Martin, LSU, Sr. Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss, Sr. Jordan Richards, Stanford, Sr. Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma, So. Triston Wade, UTSA, Sr. Trae Waynes, Michigan State, Jr. PJ Williams, Florida State, Jr.
Amen. I thought it was impressive when JC Copeland broke a defender's facemask on a block but when you watch the play, LF's head doesn't seem to whip around when his facemask is pulled off his helmet. Dude's gotta have some serious neck muscles. And the facemask didn't bring him down; he tripped over the guy who yanked on his facemask. Otherwise, he was still running. http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2014/10/25/7071599/ole-miss-leonard-fournette-facemask
I had never seen a facemask ripped off a players helmet like that. I wonder if its by design of new safety standards. If the facemask hadn't come off when it was grabbed Fournette could have suffered a neck injury. All these new safety rules are going to put a lot of whiplash attorneys out of business.
Interestingly enough, there was apparently a patent granted over 20 years ago for a breakaway facemask but it's lapsed because of non-payment of fees. http://www.google.com/patents/US4947490 As far as I know, facemasks are still attached to the helmet with screws and I can't imagine the force necessary to break those screws free. Just like Logan Stokes is a now secret weapon according to CLM in his post-game presser.
