Thomas Smith, a senior defensive end, comes in for today’s puff piece. He’s a tough guy, he knows how to play through and with pain, a bit of a throwback, a plain tough football player, a leader by example… Oh, you know the storyline.

Despite more injuries, the stories today were quite upbeat. The move of Darrell Strong from QB to TE seems to be the reason. Despite all the early talk about his strong arm, he can have a more immediate impact as a TE. Linebacker H.B. Blades, played on the same high school team as Strong, and had lots of positive things to say.

Zeise’s notebook leads with Strong moving to TE. Now for the bad stuff. Freshman RB Brandon Mason tore ligaments in his thumb. He will be out an undetermined period. At this rate, all Kirkely has to do to win the starting tailback job is not get hurt. Cornerback Josh Lay, who got a late start because of academic issues, will likely be out for a while with a hamstring injury. More dinged up defensive players — J.J. Horne and Kennard Cox. Harris was unhappy with the way the defense played, they lacked intensity.

Bendel’s notebook led the ailing left foot of Guard Rob Frederick. The positive, being that the X-rays were negative. Now he will have an MRI to see why it is hurting. Bendel thinks Mason won’t return from his thumb ligament surgery until late in the season, and will end up red-shirting. Kirkely looked good running the ball, but was it all him or did the defense let down.