Throwback Hoover helping groom his own replacement......

[AKPantherFan]

One of the last of a dying breed is doing the unthinkable in the current economy — helping to train his likely replacement.

Camp schedule

All practices at Wofford College are free and open to the public with each session lasting between 90 minutes and two hours. Times are subject to change without notice.

Thursday — 3:10 p.m.

Friday — 9:10 a.m., 6:40 p.m.

Saturday — 11 a.m. Fan Fest at Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, N.C.)

Injury update

-- LB Thomas Davis banged his right knee in the afternoon practice and was attended to on the field.

-- G Duke Robinson returned for the afternoon workout, a day after being carted to the locker room for what coach John Fox called heat exhaustion.

-- Guard C.J. Davis (ankle) missed both practices.

Carolina Panthers fullback Brad Hoover has spent nine seasons, all with the Carolina Panthers, slamming into opposing linebackers to open running lanes.

In April’s draft the Panthers used a fourth-round pick to select Tony Fiametta, a pure blocking back from Syracuse.

“I try to help him,” Hoover said after Tuesday’s practice at Wofford College. “Just because I didn’t have guys to really show me the position when I started playing fullback. I want to be the guy that gives him advice and help him, but not do too much because it is a competition between us. He knows that, and I know that and I can’t take that for granted. Tony’s a nice guy and I can’t fault him, so I have to at least help him somewhat.”

With football teams at all levels using more one-back sets, players like Hoover and Fiametta are becoming museum pieces.

“I think it’s going to come and go,” said Hoover. “Right now I feel it’s sort of fading away as far as there being a lot of fullbacks in the league and teams using them. I think eventually it’s just like a cycle, they’ll come back and go away, come back and go away.”

In Carolina’s smash-mouth offense there remains a need for someone to plow the road in front of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Hoover ran the ball just nine times last season but was a key component in a rushing attack that produced 152.3 yards per game, third-best in the NFL.

Hoover continued working with the first-team offense and the punt protection team during Tuesday’s camp practice. Fiametta was getting snaps with the second unit. The Panthers have carried two fullbacks in the past with Hoover and Nick Goings, but Goings was a versatile threat who could fill in at tailback.

Hoover has been a Panther longer than anyone save kicker John Kasey. Not bad for the former Ledford High School standout from Thomasville who entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Western Carolina University.

Given the demands of his position, Hoover should be slowing down.

more....http://www.goupstate.com/article/20090805/NEWS/908069991/1088/sports?Title=Throwback-Hoover-helping-groom-his-own-replacement

[PanthaSan]

Classy guy that Hoover....

[Fireball77]

Some more good pimping of teh Hoov!

http://www.thesunnews.com/sports/story/1010997.html

[SMACKDAB]

Love Hoov, always have. Helluva player and person.

His soon to be/assumed replacement Tony appears to be a good one, he is truly HUGE. His biceps are almost twice the size of Hoov's from what I've seen at training camp this week. He signed a couple of autographs for me too, and seems like a real nice guy as well. I'll tell you one thing, the guy is put together like a tank, and I think we did good, and Hoover is doing even better being the class act he always has been.

Kasay was holding Fiametta's baby(in a baby stroller) as they rode off the field in a golf cart back to the locker room Monday I think it was. Kinda funny.

EDIT: Oh yeah, also got a few auto's from Hoov, and asked him what he thought about Tony, and he wasn't short on words telling me he liked him a lot, and thought he was gonna do just fine. Forgot to add that first time. :cheers2:

[MrBubba]

Hope Tony can help on special teams, while Hoover starts this year.

[AKPantherFan]

thanks for the update bud!

[janosha]

I had an English class with Brad my freshman year at WCU. He was always so smart and classy.

[Carolina Husker]

I had an English class with Brad my freshman year at WCU. He was always so smart and classy.

Not hard to distinguish those people at Western.