[Purple Haize]

gotta love the trolls and AD haters who have "joined" today.....

The Bible says love everyone.

[prototype]

I'm glad he's gone. Same as Curry - I want people who want to be here and obviously Dan Rocco didn't feel he's up to the challenge of leading Liberty to be a top 10 program. The only problem is Curry was a exceptional player and you knew he would excel at a top flight University - Rocco is going to suck at a school less passionate about football. He got out because Mike Brown,Summers, Asa were all leaving and this is the easy out. Never really believed in his "Unfinished business" philosophy, obviously you can see now he was looking for the first train out of here...

He wants to get to the next level and doesn't think he can get there from here. Not sure what that next level is, but I'm pretty sure a big piece of that is winning big games and making it into the post season. Good luck with that Richmond job Dan Rocco - they aren't going to care about the salvation of their players - they're going to want to see results.

Let's go out and find us a GREAT coach that will finish the job this time!! I think someone named Jim, from Ohio is available;)

You know proto, bitterness isnt exactly a good thing for one's long term health prospects...

Not bitter - You can go back and look - I have never been a huge fan of Rocco's (As a coach). Just hate that he's leaving because he thinks there is a better situation than he had here. You can tell he is not a good coach if he's opting to bring Streeter with him.

[Stevev]

I think that Coach Rocco did a great job here you can't argue that. He was a consistent winner every year, very likeable guy and built a solid fanbase but I felt that he took the program as far as he could. Had problems winning close games, weak schedule, and all but he did really good. I think that we can do better with the resources/facilities we have if we can get the right guy in here. I look at our roster of underclassmen and I think that we have a great nucleaus to build around provided that they don't bolt. We just need to tweek a few positions and bring in some transfers/top recruits that can take us to postseason. We needed a change considering what has happened the last 2 years of underachieving. Looking forward to who the next hire would be and what the school is willing to pay him and I think that we can experience a new level of success if they can bring in the right person. I still don't quite understand the move but I hope that experiences success and looking forward to our future.

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

You can thank Barber for his departure. His ego is a little to big for Liberty.

You are the winner. It is not about the university, community or department. It is about his career. Didn't hire DR, RD or MR...so now it is all his show.

I like you. You stay as long as you like.

[g-webb1994]

Just a complete outsider .02.....I agree 100% with the sentiment of Rocco doing this for a job 4-5 years down the road at a big-time high FBS level gig. Springboarding out of UR with multiple playoff appearances in non-conference winning years makes it easier than moving up out of LU due to the supposed and assumed Falwell-related 'stigma' LU has (one that is diminishing now that Dr. F. has gone home), and the fact that we will never more than one Big South team in the playoff field.

Anyway, good luck with the coaching search.

[Purple Haize]

I'm glad he's gone. Same as Curry - I want people who want to be here and obviously Dan Rocco didn't feel he's up to the challenge of leading Liberty to be a top 10 program. The only problem is Curry was a exceptional player and you knew he would excel at a top flight University - Rocco is going to suck at a school less passionate about football. He got out because Mike Brown,Summers, Asa were all leaving and this is the easy out. Never really believed in his "Unfinished business" philosophy, obviously you can see now he was looking for the first train out

This is good spin! This is the type of statement they needed earlier in the fall. I'm not sure the bold is an accurate statement.Why blame people who leave? I've known people who wanted to be where they are at but had to go. Maybe he DID feel up to the challenge but felt others weren't up to it? It's up there with saying 'but working at LU is a ministry' as if working with troubled inner city kids is a Cush job!

The rest of the point is pretty good!

[Purple Haize]

After talking with some folks, I'm afraid we are going to lose some talent. Not necessarily to Richmond, but it seems like a lot of guys might already be looking elsewhere.

That could also be emotion talking. Once players see who the new coach is and if they will have sit out the number will probably be small

[jcmanson]

Interview with Barber - http://www.wset.com/story/16203771/rocc ... o-richmond

He said we offered him a contract extension last week

[From the class of 09]

Interview with Barber - http://www.wset.com/story/16203771/rocc ... o-richmond

He said we offered him a contract extension last week

wheres the rest of the interview come on people

[alabama24]

I didn't know Rocco owned a suit. I thought his whole closet just had wind pants, dirty old t-shirts, and Joe Pesci skull caps.

[RVAparks]

I didn't know Rocco owned a suit. I thought his whole closet just had wind pants, dirty old t-shirts, and Joe Pesci skull caps.

I'm a sucker for the Al Golden look, haha

[alabama24]

I'm a sucker for the Al Golden look, haha

I am not a Rocco hater, but he didn't portray to me "Head Coach," especially in his game day dress.

[RVAparks]

I'm a sucker for the Al Golden look, haha

I am not a Rocco hater, but he didn't portray to me "Head Coach," especially in his game day dress.

Completely agree, some people scoff, but my dad and I would sit and watch games and just laugh. Not that I'm the fashion police, but it was embarrassing at times. Especially at Lehigh, he took off his clothes at half time and wore a cheap t-shirt the second half with serious sweat stains. If you win I don't care, but try to look the part.

[BiggAl57]

After talking with some folks, I'm afraid we are going to lose some talent. Not necessarily to Richmond, but it seems like a lot of guys might already be looking elsewhere.

There is a rumor floating around the team that if your coach leaves to go to another program (and not fired) you can follow him without losing any eligibility. I think there ia a lot of wishful thinking going one.

all my son said was that it felt like someone died today in the meeting

[RVAparks]

I'm curious how this may affect LCA? Any ideas? or am I worried about nothing?

[prototype]

I'm glad he's gone. Same as Curry - I want people who want to be here and obviously Dan Rocco didn't feel he's up to the challenge of leading Liberty to be a top 10 program. The only problem is Curry was a exceptional player and you knew he would excel at a top flight University - Rocco is going to suck at a school less passionate about football. He got out because Mike Brown,Summers, Asa were all leaving and this is the easy out. Never really believed in his "Unfinished business" philosophy, obviously you can see now he was looking for the first train out

This is good spin! This is the type of statement they needed earlier in the fall. I'm not sure the bold is an accurate statement.Why blame people who leave? I've known people who wanted to be where they are at but had to go. Maybe he DID feel up to the challenge but felt others weren't up to it? It's up there with saying 'but working at LU is a ministry' as if working with troubled inner city kids is a Cush job!

The rest of the point is pretty good!

I can see that, but my point is he feels like he can get to the next level quicker at Richmond - I think he would have gotten that shot by making us in to an Appy State, Georgia Southern, etc... but just couldn't feel he could do it.

[PAmedic]

I was wondering the same thing.

and BIGGAL tell your kid to hang in there... better days are ahead!

[BJWilliams]

THat is probably the more important recruiting job for whoever the new coach is, much like it was when Coach Rocco came in in 2005-2006

[Purple Haize]

I'm curious how this may affect LCA? Any ideas? or am I worried about nothing?

Would love to see that Rocco step in!

[Hold My Own]

There is a rumor floating around the team that if your coach leaves to go to another program (and not fired) you can follow him without losing any eligibility. I think there ia a lot of wishful thinking going one.

all my son said was that it felt like someone died today in the meeting

Please tell him to hang in there. When he or players start getting the "fear of the unknown" get a group together and speak to the admins...they might not be able to tell you the in's and outs of the search but they wont purposely keep you in the dark...they dont want the "fear" to cause players to jump ship to something else.

I promise you, I've seen this here 100 times around here...we have NEVER been in the current situation though. The sky is the limit for this next coach, I promise you that.


As for the fly by the night posters....love them or hate them they're close to the situation, so they may have an angle but you have to listen to the words they say. I've been thinking/saying (not publicly) that I thought he'd leave at the end of the season for the last 3-4 months, even told someone yesterday I thought it was going to happen b/c I noticed Rocco's car hasnt been around the last few weeks (I pass it on the way to the office) but that dude's a work horse and not like him (very beej like I know but I'm observant lol)...the moment I read Wishbone's post the other day my first thought was "oh wow, its actually happening now."

I do stand by my comment though that reading message boards is not good for the health of friends and family of the people the threads pertain to...its just not worth it. This is child's play compared to the CAAZone and not to mention the bigger conferences...that's where they'll name their first born "I hate ___ _____" for a former coach that couldnt win

I'm curious how this may affect LCA? Any ideas? or am I worried about nothing?

I thought a few months ago that FR as our HC makes perfect sense....esp with the recruiting class of UVa. Now its much harder to see.

[logic]

Thoughts -

Rocco's interview says it all. Read between the lines. He took this program as far as he could take it, and if he wants the Wake job some day he needs to make the playoffs in a better conference and also raise his academic profile as a coach. Quite simple really. If Wake is the goal, Richmond is the next step from an academic standpoint.

Having said that, our best days are ahead. Rocco did a tremendous job here and we owe him a lot. No one should be upset about this however. This is a top 5 FCS job and is easily a top job in the country overall, better than many FBS programs. Understand that we will be fine. The interest has been tremendous thus far and we will no doubt make a fantastic hire.

Rocco took us as far as he could, and in order to reach his long term professional goals he had to move on. Our next HC will absolutely get us over the hill and to the next level. You can take that to the bank.

[D-ZasterLU]

Interview with Barber - http://www.wset.com/story/16203771/rocc ... o-richmond

Rocco sure is hating on LU Academics. I know we are super but man.

[D-ZasterLU]

Thoughts -

Rocco's interview says it all. Read between the lines. He took this program as far as he could take it, and if he wants the Wake job some day he needs to make the playoffs in a better conference and also raise his academic profile as a coach. Quite simple really. If Wake is the goal, Richmond is the next step from an academic standpoint.

I agree. He's going to have to work on his dress on the sidelines if he wants to get to Wake. Probably at UR as well

[Hold My Own]

Interview with Barber - http://www.wset.com/story/16203771/rocc ... o-richmond

Rocco sure is hating on LU Academics. I know we are super but man.

I think he's wearing all black in the interview to spite me...

[jinxy]

It's interesting that there has been a ton of things thrown about on here and most of them have been contradictory. Rocco said point blank in the interview it wasn't that JB forced his hand on personnel. If thats not true then rocco is a liar and he will never succeed down the road because your hand is only strong when you hold all the cards, the moment you start losing a bit your staff will come into question and if he can't handle that he'll never amount to much more than he is now. I appreciate loyalty to staff but clearly some change was needed.

The bottom line is the defense was his and Clark was only the D coordinator by title. It was DR's problem and he couldn't fix it. If you listened to the interview it was crystal clear that this was never more than a stop for him in his mind. It's dissappointing, if someone came calling and blew him away it be completely understandable. However, his own WR said it best when he simply stated what Richmond is and was. It's a lateral move and admittance that he can't deliver the program any further. He answered the question that many of us had been asking, i can respect that. I don't buy the academic spill that he recited in the interview one bit. Sure the majority of coaches do care abotu their kids passing but the they like to win football games, thats why they coach football instead of teach Biology or business.

The simple truth is this. He took over a mess at the perfect time with new commitment to facilities and a high budget and a fat salary for a coach that never made the playoffs. He won most of the battles he was supposed to win and lost most of the ones he was supposed to lose. He made several blunders this year (asa among others) and apparently according to Sly had some other issues arise. For both parties now is a good time for change. Both parties got what they wanted out of the deal. He got head coaching experience and helped to make us relevant. Truth be told i would have been really worried this time last year. The way this year unfolded i think this is best for both parties. I really don't quite understand it from his perspective taking the RU job. If he wasn't forced out and he was getting all the interest he claims i would have held out for something other than that, but who am I. At the end of the day i think were at a good place and if we can make the right move i think HMO's earlier statement may be the one we look back on as the biggest truth.