Frank the moderator: Submit a question for the members for the Tolman football team now.
Join Carolyn Thornton and members of the Tolman football team: Senior tri-captains Lynn Swann Torres, Ryan Worthington, and Jonathan Neves, along with junior Jonathan Dawson, to talk about their current season.
Come back Wed. night @ 8 p.m. to join the chat.

Carolyn Thornton: Hello, everyone. This is Carolyn Thornton and I am here in the Journal newsroom tonight with four members of the Tolman football team. Lynn, Ryan, Jonathan D. and Jonathan N. are here and ready to answer your questions, so fire away.

qbgirlfriend: Who do you see as your biggest rivals this year, and why?
Tolman football team: shea raiders because they are in the same city and division as we are and they always give us a challenge.

qbgirlfriend: Is football as big as it ever was at Tolman, or are other sports gaining in popularity? If so, what are they, and does it have any impact on the pool of recruits for the team?
Tolman football team: Right now Football is probably the biggest it's ever been because of our success the previous season. Fan support is really great.

Carolyn Thornton: Lynn, Your name probably seems awfully familiar to Pittsburgh fans of the mid-70s and early 80s. Can you tell us how your parents came to decide to name you after the Steelers wide receiver?
Tolman football team: Lynn: My mother was a big fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Lynn Swann.

Carolyn Thornton: Your team has gotten off to a great start. Can you talk about some of the keys to your success?
Tolman football team: Our coaching staff does a great job of preparing us for our upcoming opponents and we respond by executing well all week in practice and the results show in the game.

Bulldog: Ryan do u think the 2004 tigers are better than the 2005 tigers and why?
Tolman football team: No, this year the team is more versatile than last year's team. Our team is more of a family.

Carolyn Thornton: I understand you all were part of last year's team that won Tolman's first Super Bowl in 33 years. Does it feel any different when you step on the field for each game this season as the defending Division II champions?
Tolman football team: When we step out on the field we don't think about last year our main focus is that game and trying to get back to the Superbowl.

Carolyn Thornton: What areas of your game have been particularly strong in your first five victories?
Tolman football team: It all starts with our Offensive Lineman. If they block we give Lynn a chance to pass the ball and our backs to run.

Carolyn Thornton: You described your team as being like a family. Why do you think you have such a close knit group this year? Do you do anything in particular in terms of team functions to help strengthen that?
Tolman football team: Most of us knew each other since we were kids or played Pop Warner football. We try to go out together as much as possible and stay close even after football season is over. We feel that's a big key to our success.

Bulldog: What is the advantage that the tigers have playing all their home games Friday night? And is westerly at a disadvantage traveling all the way from the end of the state to play the tigers?
Tolman football team: When we play at home we feel that we won't get beat at home and having our fans' and families' support, it helps. Last year we had to travel to Westerly and it hurt our momentum traveling for so long. But that's just how the scheduling works - one year you travel and one year you don't. You just have to deal with it.

Carolyn Thornton: Who do you have playing offensive line for you?
Tolman football team: This week it's Steve Langevin, Eric d'Oliveira, Kevin Matos, Eric Melo, and Jonathan Neves. Because of an injury one of our captians, Andrew Laprade, is out this week.

alexis: hi ryan
Tolman football team: Hi

Carolyn Thornton: What advice do you have for parents who want to get their children involved in football? What's the best way to get started?
Tolman football team: They should get them signed up for a Pop Warner football team. There are many kids on our team that have played Pop Warner and they feel it gives you a love for the game early on as a child.

Carolyn Thornton: What would you say is the biggest misconception about football players?
Tolman football team: The biggest misconception about football players is how we act off the field. People feel that we're "hot-heads" and they think we're rude, when really we keep our attitudes on the field separate from our attitudes off.

christian: hi mj!!
Tolman football team: Hi

christian: what do you think lynn's chances for all-state this year are?
Tolman football team: Lynn's chances are very good. As a team we feel Lynn is the best quarterback in the state.

Carolyn Thornton: Lynn, Two more questions about your name - Have you ever had an opportunity to meet the "other" Lynn Swann. And have you ever felt that having the same name as such a successful NFL player meant you would be destined to play football?
Tolman football team : No, I haven't met the other Lynn Swann, but I would love to meet him someday. Yes, I've always felt that I was destined to play football.

christian: who do you think will have the most interceptions by the end of the season?
Tolman football team: Cristian Ducharme

Carolyn Thornton: During the season, how difficult is it to balance schoolwork with practices and games? What sorts of things do you do that help you stay on top of everything?
Tolman football team : It's very difficult if you let it add up or fall behind. You have to be in school everyday and do all your work.

Carolyn Thornton: This is a question for each of you: What do you think you would be doing with your time in the fall if you didn't have football?
Tolman football team: Neves: I would probably be trying to get better at basketball. Worthington: I would probably be working more. Dawson: I would probably be training for Indoor/Outdoor track. Lynn: I would probably be working more.

javis torres: hi lynn
Tolman football team: Hi brother

christian: thank you i know

javis torres: M.J is the best WR in the state
Tolman football team: Thank you

Tolman mom: Ryan are you getting our mail ?????
Tolman football team: Yes

Carolyn Thornton: OK. Here's kind of an off-the-wall question: If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
Tolman football team : Neves: A bear so I could hibernate in the winter. Worthington: A wolverine because they're vicious like me on the field. Dawson: A cheetah because of how smooth they run. Lynn: A lion because they're the king of the jungle.

christian: do u think having jeff costa at qb last year, sets a higher standard for u this season?
Tolman football team: Lynn: Yes because Jeff did very well.

Carolyn Thornton: I know you said you don't think about what you've accomplished in the past, but as the leaders of this year's team, how much pressure do you feel to repeat as Super Bowl champions?
Tolman football team: There is more pressure coming from ourselves than from anyone else. We feel only we can beat ourselves.

Carolyn Thornton: Well, our hour is up, guys. Thanks for taking the time to chat with us. Best of luck with the rest of your season. Have a safe trip home!
Tolman football team: Thank you for allowing us to have the opportunity.