Blue White Illustrated

11 14 22 at Duquesne (CONSOL Energy Center)................. 7 p.m. PRINCETON AT REC HALL........................................TBA MOUNT ST. MARY'S............................................... TBA * Big Ten schedule had not been announced as of Aug. 14. WOMEN'S BASKETBALL* NOVEMBER SAINT FRANCIS (Pa.).............................................. TBA 8 FORDHAM..............................................................TBA 10 17 CONNECTICUT........................................................TBA 20 BUCKNELL.............................................................TBA 29-30 Junkanoo Jam at Grand Bahama Island 29 vs. Oregon State........................................1 p.m. 30 Florida/Illinois State...................................... TBA DECEMBER 4 NOTRE DAME.........................................................TBA at Georgetown....................................................... TBA 8 11 at South Dakota State............................................TBA 15 TEXAS A&M........................................................... TBA 22 ALCORN STATE.......................................................TBA 29 HARTFORD.............................................................TBA * Big Ten schedule had not been announced as of Aug. 14. ROTATION CONTINUED FROM 39 "They're very high-character guys and tough guys," he said. "They communicate well, and there are some characters up there." O'Brien also discussed the backup options along the line. He said Mangiro is the "swing man," since he's the second-string center and could also see time this season at either guard position. He added that redshirt sophomore Anthony Alosi will likely see playing time and that fifth-year senior Eric Shrive could play either tackle or guard. Also, he gave an unprovoked shout out to incoming freshman Andrew Nelson of Hershey, Pa., who performed especially well in the first three days of camp. "I would say that right now we feel decent about the offensive line depth," O'Brien said. "We feel like we've got eight guys there who can play." Even though the Lions have 20 fewer scholarship players than their Division I rivals, they feel comfortable with their options along the offensive line. That realization has given them a confidence boost heading into the opener against Syracuse. "We have a lot of experience, a lot of older guys who should be the leaders," Shrive said, "and this team will only go I as far as we take us." GILLIAM CONTINUED FROM 39 and as a tight end, that's what they look for in the NFL." Gilliam has gained more than 40 pounds during the past year without sacrificing any speed. But he hasn't gotten as much practice time as he would have liked at the new position. On the first day of spring drills, Gilliam pulled a calf muscle, and the minor injury forced him to miss the remaining 14 practices. Said McWhorter, "That's the thing that really irks me. That very first day he got hurt and he missed every rep of spring, so now [in preseason] it's literally starting from scratch. That really stymied his progression, but he's a gifted athlete. He's really smart, and he's trying hard. I really expect him to get better and better every day." Gilliam may not have been practicing, but he was studying. Although he was focused on getting healthy, he also was in the offensive line meeting rooms throughout the spring. He spent time with the linemen this summer as they worked out on their own, without the coaching staff's supervision. He knows there's no substitute for the daily grind of practice, but he said he's mentally ready to compete for the starting right tackle spot. "I took an incredible amount of mental reps," Gilliam said. "There's nothing like actually [practicing], but I've been playing college football for the past four years, so my learning curve is pretty fast." McWhorter said Gilliam's biggest adjustment will be in the trenches, preparing for the underappreciated, sometimes painful grind of life as an offensive lineman. "Playing on the offensive line and at tight end are two different things," said the 33-year coaching veteran. "This is hammer, hammer, hammer every snap. You have to get acclimated to that." As long as he can stay healthy and on the field, that's the part Gilliam I might be most excited about.

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