[pbow]

Even though our last possesion was horrible, our defense the second half was twenty times worse...GWU just ran the same passing play over and over and we never once adjusted to stop it.

[thepostman]

yeah dude I agree...the defense is the reason why we lost ultimately....but we still could've won that game if Coach just showed a little bit more confidence in our passing game...just a little....

[mrmacphisto]

General thoughts post-game:

Kickoff returns still great
Kicking game noticeably improved
Offense was alright (Terrell looked great on the run, passing game seemed better than last week although our receivers STILL can't catch anything longer than 5-10 yards)
Defense was horrendous, especially the pass coverage (or lack thereof... were we running a prevent defense the whole time?)

We're still pretty embarrassing. If only we could get all the parts of the machine to work at once...

[Schfourteenteen]

All I can remember is watching Estes and whoever the OLB(Hursky?) was and thinking when on God's green earth are they gonna pick up that the WR on the outside is gonna cross infront of the LB and get another 10 YAC? Also I dont specifically remember the corners even attempting to jam the wideouts it was a "Here you go take 10-15 yards a play hey while were at it why dont we bend over for you too?" type of D in the second half

[auntieann]

Ok why take Brock out on 3rd down? I think we got out coached. I am sorry that is the way I feel. I am so tired of this QB thing. And how many td's did we give up the first half to penalities? SO depressed...

[thepostman]

Ok why take Brock out on 3rd down? I think we got out coached. I am sorry that is the way I feel. I am so tired of this QB thing. And how many td's did we give up the first half to penalities? SO depressed...

Yeah, I think Brock proved today he could be a very special QB for us, he made good throws and right decisions...some weren't caught, but were good throws...he continues to improve...I think he is a much much better QB then Zach...Zach is a freak athlete, but his arm is crap.....Only if Coach would have some confidence in him.....i think this would go a long way.....rarely the 2 QB thing works....things like rythem and confidence are something that comes with consistent play...I am so sick of it...

[SuperJon]

auntieann, you're not the only one that feels we got outcoached. They made the adjustments, we didn't.


Tyler Thigpen and Jerome Simpson had to change their pants they got so happy listening to this game.


It could get ugly next week. I'll be there watching it all.


If we EVER play like this again, we won't win the rest of the year.

[auntieann]

Thanks, My husband was just shaking his head, he is just so disgusted, we have lost so many this year already like this. I am glad I have the board for moral support, and shoulders that feel like mine..

[thesportscritic]

We play one good half and then stink it up in the second half. Why did we make and freakin adjustments on Defense? . I am still disgusted just like everybody else.

[thesportscritic]

its going to be a long season if we don't sure up our pass defense. Well it needs more than sureing up.

[jimflamesfan]

I'm telling you, that delay of game was not Brock's fault.

Rocco could have called a time-out if he wanted...we were playing for the punt...I just can't believe how conservative we are...we haven't stopped GW in the 2nd half, and there's like 3 minutes left, and we're playing for the punt!

Also, the FG was nice in the first half, but wasn't it 4th and 2 from like the 5 yard line...make a statement and bury them when you have the momentum.

Brock did a great job at QB...I hope we stick with him, and let Terell do the slot run type thing.

I still support Rocco, but I think it was being too conservative that cost us the last two games (not going for 2 with W&M, and not going for it on 4th and 2 in the 1st half, and then playing for the punt in the 4th quarter).

UGGHHHHHHH....I still have to do the bulletins for church tomorrow...I'm so frustrated right now, and I know I need to go over there and do them, but I feel like braking something....AGGH!

[Stevev]

I think that we took a serious step backwards today with that loss. Just by going over G/W's results this year I don't see that good of a team that beat us today. I can see lossing to App State but UT Martin. We have lost the last 5 of 6 times we have played them which doesn't say too much about our accomplishments of the recent past. Somebody correct me if I am wrong but we lost to a very mediocre team at best. I have been praising our defense all along this year but after today I might have to take that back after our inability to stop the pass at all. I am too frustrated right now, certainly more that ever for this year but I will have to put it behind me because their is more to life than LU football.

[LUconn]

I'm telling you, that delay of game was not Brock's fault.

Rocco could have called a time-out if he wanted...we were playing for the punt...I just can't believe how conservative we are...we haven't stopped GW in the 2nd half, and there's like 3 minutes left, and we're playing for the punt!

Also, the FG was nice in the first half, but wasn't it 4th and 2 from like the 5 yard line...make a statement and bury them when you have the momentum.

Brock did a great job at QB...I hope we stick with him, and let Terell do the slot run type thing.

I still support Rocco, but I think it was being too conservative that cost us the last two games (not going for 2 with W&M, and not going for it on 4th and 2 in the 1st half, and then playing for the punt in the 4th quarter).

UGGHHHHHHH....I still have to do the bulletins for church tomorrow...I'm so frustrated right now, and I know I need to go over there and do them, but I feel like braking something....AGGH!

This is exactly what I've been thinking for the last 4 hours. I love conservative coaches. In fact our football team is built in a conservative style which always keeps you in every game and more often than not, can win you the game. But in this instance, you've got to try to pick up the 1st down. The defense stopped them one whole series in the 2nd half. One. It doesn't matter if you make them go an extra 25 yards. They'll do it easily. Our secondary was NOT going to stop that backside post route. We were not going to jam. We were not going to force him in front of the LBs. So just run the freaking ball like we had been and hope to get it. Hey maybe since we did punt, it kept us from losing by 7. Yippee.

In conclusion, conservative playcalling = good. But even the Steelers go for it now and then.

[Baldspot]

Not to add insult to injury but our three wins thus far came against competition with a combined record of 6-15. Most of those wins were against teams I don't recognize.

[bigsmooth]

peter parkers comments are ridiculous. we lose o couple of games and we will never be a prominent program?? stay at home brother. this is a building process. if some students and "baptist" side fans leave, fine don't come back. i cannot stand apathetic fans. SJ's crew, the SFC, and the windsor crew are the catalysts. we will eventually get better support form both sides, but we were 1-10 last year. our play has improved and despite the fact we have lost two games we shoudl have won, this is no time to bail. let's keep supporting our guys. BTW, rocco did get outcoached today. hopefully a master game plan will be devised for coastal.

[fsn32]

Let's not forget that this is Danny's first Head Coaching job... he is still finding out his own style in play calling... this season is a learning process.

Also, in the first half there was a TD catch that was called OB... it could have easily been called in... from where I was standing it looked good but the field judge was shielded a bit by the Defender... the point... one play goes our way and we win... we have been in every game this year... sure we have made a few mistakes that have cost us more wins, but remember... we were 1-10 last year.

These coaches haven't even had one true recruiting class yet... if a year or two from now we are at the same spot, then maybe there is reason to complain... but as far as this year... maybe some had too high of expectations. We still have a chance to have a winning record.

We just went through two gut wrenching loses and everyone is disappointed... count to ten, take a deep breath... don't give up on the program.

[Sly Fox]

Here is the SID's summary:

Second-Half Effort Gives Bulldogs 27-24 Victory Over Homestanding Flames

October 21, 2006
Lynchburg, Va.

Box Score

A pair of Hunter Smith fourth-quarter field goals, including one with five seconds left on the clock, proved to be the difference as Gardner-Webb overcame a 17-point halftime deficit to pick up a 27-24 Big South win over Liberty, Saturday afternoon, at Williams Stadium.

The game was certainly a tale of two halves, with Liberty dominating the opening 30 minutes and Gardner-Webb controlling the decisive second half. The Flames finished the first half with a 271-46 total offensive yard advantage over Gardner-Webb, but the Bulldogs evened things out with 313 yards of offense to Liberty’s 90 over the last 30 minutes of action.

Liberty wasted little time taking control of the game as the Flames scored on their opening drive of the contest. Liberty kept to the ground on the scoring drive as nine of its 11 plays were of the rushing variety, including a six-yard touchdown run by Zach Terrell. The sophomore cut to the outside and found a hole to give Liberty a 7-0 lead with 9:56 left to play in the opening quarter.

After holding the Bulldogs to just 13 yards on the ensuing drive, the Flames regained possession and marched down the field to seemingly score their second touchdown of the game on a four-yard run by Terrell. But the play was negated on a holding penalty, pushing the Flames back to the 15-yard line. The Flames had to settle for just three points with Zac Kolegue’s 23-yard field goal giving Liberty a 10-point lead with 25 seconds left in the quarter.

The score remained the same until late in the second quarter, when Liberty hit paydirt once again. Brock Smith rolled to the right to mislead the defense and found Brandon Turner open over the middle of the field. The junior scampered to the opposite side of the field, including a dive into the corner of the end zone to complete a 26-yard pass play for a touchdown with 49 seconds left before halftime.

Liberty entered the locker room at intermission leading by a 17-0 count and holding a 225-total offensive yard advantage over Gardner-Webb, while tallying 14 first downs to the Bulldogs’ three. Terrell passed the 100-yard mark on the ground for the third time in his career and the second against Gardner-Webb, while Smith put together his most impressive half of the season by completing 12-of-17 pass attempts for 147 yards and the score before the break.

However, as much as the first half belonged to the home team, the second half was dominated by the visitors, starting with the opening drive of the third quarter. Devin Campbell completed three-straight 10-plus yard pass attempts, including a 21 yarder to Kory Alston on the first play, to set up a two-yard run by Bubba Wallace for a touchdown just 2:10 into the period.

After a three-and-out series by Liberty, Gardner-Webb kept to the air as 10 of the next 12 plays were passing plays. The drive was capped off by a three-yard strike from Campbell to Austin Gaines. The senior made an acrobatic catch in the back of the end zone to pull Gardner-Webb within three points, 17-14, at the 8:19 mark of the third.

And for the second-straight drive, Liberty failed to pick up a first down, punting the ball away after three plays and giving the Bulldogs possession at their own 27-yard line. Gardner-Webb quickly moved the ball downfield on a mixture of passing and rushing plays. A nine-yard slant from Campbell to Duvaughn Flagler at 2:33 gave the visitors a 21-17 lead, allowing the Bulldogs to erase a 17-point deficit in under 13 minutes (12:27).
The Flames’ offense was able to find its first-half stride on the ensuing drive as Liberty marched down the field on 12 plays for 57 yards, capped off by a one-yard run over the left tackle by Terrell. The touchdown allowed the home team to regain the lead, 24-21, with 12:28 left in the game and gave the running back his 1,000th career rushing yard.

Liberty’s defense was finally able to find some answers for Gardner-Webb’s second-half passing attack on the following drive as the Bulldogs’ drive stalled at Liberty’s 26-yard line, forcing Gardner-Webb to settle for a 44-yard field goal by Hunter Smith that knotted the contest at 24 apiece with 9:03 left to play.

The Flames were able to move the ball down the field on the following drive as well, but a key third-down stop at Gardner-Webb’s 38-yard line as the Bulldogs held Wesley Cheek to a single yard on a rushing attempt, forced the Flames to punt.

And Gardner-Webb went back to what was working in the second half as Campbell completed 5-of-7 pass attempts to get Smith in field goal range. The senior didn’t disappoint as he nailed a 40-yard field goal with five seconds left to seal the victory.

For the fifth-straight conference game, the Flames dropped a Big South Conference contest by six or fewer points. The Liberty-Gardner-Webb series has also been close as the past 11 games have been decided by an average of 5.7 points per game.

The Flames’ faithful continued to show up as Liberty recorded the sixth-largest crowd in school history and the third largest in Big South history as 12,056 fans saw the contest.
The scoreboard wasn’t the only thing that was close at the end of the day as Liberty outgained Gardner-Webb by two yards (361 to 359), while the Bulldogs held a 20-19 edge in first downs.

Liberty rushed for 198 yards in the contest with 175 yards coming through the efforts of Terrell, who became the 14th player in Big South history to rush for 1,000 career yards. His 175 yards marks the second-highest rushing total of his career. Gardner-Webb was led in rushing by David Montgomery with 33 yards on eight carries.

Campbell overcame his first-half struggles to complete 26-of-41 pass attempts for 293 yards, including 22-of-30 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns in the second half. Smith finished the game 15-of-24 for 163 yards, but was held to just two completions for 16 yards in the decisive second half.

Both Gaines and Flagler moved over the 100 career catches plateau in the contest with Gaines leading the way with 100 yards on nine receptions and Flagler catching seven catches for 81 yards. Turner paced Liberty’s seven different players who finished with receptions, totaling five catches for 63 yards. Wynton Jackson joined Terrell in reaching the 1,000 career yard milestone on the afternoon as the junior’s four receptions for 57 yards gives him 1,034 receiving yards in his career.

Gardner-Webb’s Mike Pavelko led the Bulldogs’ defensive effort with 11 tackles and Dave Simpson followed with eight stops. Ryan Greiser posted a career-high 12 tackles to lead the Flames and Stevie Ray Lloyd followed with eight tackles. Manny Rojas moved into sole possession of second place on the Big South’s all-time career tackle list with his six stops on Saturday. The senior now has 314 career tackles to his credit.

The Flames continue Big South Conference action next week when they travel to Conway, S.C., to face co-defending league champions Coastal Carolina on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. The Bulldogs also stay in league play as they host VMI in Boiling Springs, N.C., for a 1 p.m. contest.

http://libertyflames.com/index.cfm?PID= ... 6&TeamID=9

[Chris Lang]

Steve, FYI, Tennessee-Martin is 6-1 and ranked in the top 15 of I-AA.

[PeterParker]

Bigsmooth wrote:

peter parkers comments are ridiculous. we lose o couple of games and we will never be a prominent program?? stay at home brother. this is a building process.

Alright, I'll be gentle because I know you're probably still riding the disappointment emotional wave, however, let's examine for a second what I posted.

First, from an objective standpoint my points are hardly ridiculous. I simply pointed out that the team we played is a school which has the same philosophy and mission as LU with a football program that got the upper hand today and is also looking to move up the athletic food chain in a similar fashion that LU employed--a rather innocuous point.

Second, I allowed that the coaching staff/team results this year shouldn't define the direction of the program when I said that year 3 and 4 would be more of a "litmus" test for the program than this year--hardly a ridiculous or negative point.

Third, I pointed out that they will need to land the talent necessary to plug the "holes" in some of the areas on the field that have proven to be weaknesses to some degree in order to raise the level of play in said areas--that's a common sense thing there.

Fourth, my point about attracting the caliber of talent that being a consistently nationally prominent program would require has some merit when you examine the reality of the situation. (Note that I said "a consistently" prominent program, not that LU would never be a prominent program. I even highlighted it earlier.) Also note that I have a desire to see LU be a national scene contender someday just as much as the next guy, after all, it is my alma mater.


If you look at it from a purely personnel standpoint, Liberty's set-up already has it starting with a smaller pool of potential recruits because of its student life philosophy (i.e more structured environment.) So-called secular schools with the prominent programs will accept christian/non-christian alike, they have access to the entire pool of players (regardless of religious affiliation) while LU only has access to christians who happen to be good football players that want to go to a more structured environment or non-christian players whose stock was undervalued by other schools so they are willing to accept the structured environment of LU as a trade-off in order for the chance to play D1 football/sports.


To illustrate, there are tons of high marquee players whose worldview is in alignment with Liberty's yet choose to go to other "secular" programs--you see it all over the NCAA in football and especially basketball (During the final four, I must have seen two dozen stories of the role of a player's faith in his life--none of these players were at LU.) It seems to follow that until LU can consistently land these players, it will have a modicum of success, but to have a prominent program, which I define as top 25, will prove to be somewhat elusive. For every one instance of a Larry Blair, McDougal, Feenstra, etc. at LU, the prominent programs have several...that depth is hard to compete with...although, it is easier to hide the lack of depth in basketball than football which is why March Madness can have so many Cinderellas, but NCAA football doesn't shake out the same way.

Also, contrary to popular belief, intense hoping does not a championship caliber team make (or the Red Sox would be 35 time repeat World Series Champs, for now one will have to do)...practical adjustments do. And to address another non sequitir that appears on here often, a good team will execute regardless of crowd participation. To say that a team failed to get it done because the crowd was less loud than one would like is a poor excuse at worst and naive at best. While a loud section can help in a given situation to add intensity to the moment it cannot overcome repeatable non-execution; a good team executes its plan regardless of fan participation. To blame the fans for a loss is like blaming the customer for less than stellar service at a restaurant..."well, you received less than steller service today, sir, because you did not engage your waitress with platitudes and encouraging conversation while she waited on you..."

Having said that, it is probable that LU can get to its stated intention eventually, but some institutional adjustments will have to be made in order to accomplish the goal.

[thepostman]

wow dude...nicely put....thats really all I can say...who in their right mind would disagree with that....normally i don't read such long posts because I am very ADD but i read every word you had to say....very nicely done

[Sly Fox]

From Chris ...

LU can't close close games

By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
October 22, 2006

Liberty has lost its last five Big South games by six points or less. Three times this season, the Flames have played a game decided by a touchdown or less.

Liberty has lost all three.

Those facts have Liberty's coaching staff stumped. How do you teach killer instinct to a program accustomed to losing?

LU coach Danny Rocco is finding it's harder to do than he expected.

"I wish it was going to be easier," said Rocco, whose team blew a 17-0 halftime lead and lost 27-24 to Gardner-Webb Saturday. "Maybe deep down, I thought it would be easier. But it's not playing out that way. If there was a legitimate formula (to developing killer instinct), someone would have bottled it. We're working on it every day.

"But I can't be out there giving a pep talk every five minutes. That's the reality of it. These kids are growing and responding. I need more guys to step up, and the biggest thing we have to do is stay together. Our strength is in our unity."

Liberty linebacker Stevie Ray Lloyd is doing everything possible to instill a winning mentality at LU. He spent three years at Virginia Tech, and though he didn't play much, he gained an appreciation for winning football.

"I just (tell teammates), you can't be down yourself," Lloyd said. "You have to stay up and stay motivated the whole game. You have to play hard every snap. It doesn't matter if you're up 14-0 or 17-0 at halftime. You have to come out and fight just as hard in the second half as you did in the first half."

Too much pain

On Rashad Jennings' first play midway through the first quarter Saturday, he got caught up in a swarm at the line of scrimmage.

He lacked the ability to break through a hole, convincing the coaching staff that Jennings was better served on the bench.

"It looked like he didn't have the burst he usually has," said Zach Terrell, who started in Jennings' place and ran for 175 yards on 29 carries and scored two touchdowns. "It looked like it still bothered him. I told him before the game that I was going to do the best I could so he could heal."

Jennings sustained a high-ankle sprain last week against William & Mary and was limited in practice this week. Terrell was more than a capable backup, though. He was the Big South's freshman of the year last season and was named a preseason all-conference running back.

Terrell would have eclipsed the 200-yard mark had his 30-yard TD run in the second quarter not been called back because of a holding penalty.

Passing grade

Rocco's moves in the kicking game worked Saturday. Zac Kolegue was perfect on three extra-point tries and made a 23-yard field goal.

Ben Beasley, who missed three field goals last week, averaged 58.2 yards on five kickoffs and punted five times for 170 yards (a 34.0 yard average).

Though that number doesn't look impressive, two times, Beasley was punting for field position from inside Gardner-Webb territory. He put both punts inside the 20.

Extra points

Big South commissioner Kyle Kallander, who tries to make it to one game at each league school per year, was in town Saturday. He took a tour of Liberty's football operations center with LU athletics director Jeff Barber and called the building "ACC caliber." * Rocco went on an "absolute, positive tirade" at the team hotel before the game. He was unhappy that some players were late for a pre-game meeting. "Coach doesn't ask a lot of us, so that's kind of disrespectful to come in late, you know," Terrell said. * Safety Ryan Greiser set a career high with 12 tackles, also marking the most takedowns for an LU player this season.

http://newsadvance.com/servlet/Satellit ... th=!sports

Liberty-Gardner-Webb player of the game and more

By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
October 22, 2006

Player of the game:

Devin Campbell, Gardner-Webb QB

Campbell completed 26 of 41 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Bulldogs back from a 17-9 halftime hole.

Play of the game:

Gardner-Webb 3rd-and-9 at the Liberty 23 with :10 left in the fourth quarter

Hunter Smith's 40-yard field goal attempt is plenty long, and it just squeezes inside the right goal post to give the Bulldogs the lead 27-24 with :05 left.

Quotable:

'We had an opportunity at half to have a little bit more significant lead. If we would have had that, it would have made that comeback that much harder and given them really no margin for error.'

LU coach Danny Rocco, on penalties that took away two first-half TDs

Grading the three keys:

Man up. The Flames played a soft cover-two zone in the second half, allowing Gardner-Webb's receivers plenty of space to make plays. Devin Campbell threw for all but 26 of his 293 yards after halftime. Grade: F.

Stretch the field. Flames quarterback Brock Smith got on track with Wynton Jackson and Brandon Turner, with Turner's 28-yard TD grab in the second quarter putting LU up 17-0. Dominic Bolden dropped what would have been a sure 40-yard TD. Grade: B+.

Fluster Campbell. The Flames got minimal pressure on Campbell in the second half, allowing him time to make multiple reads to find his targets. The result was 27 points and 313 yards of offense after halftime. Grade: F.

http://newsadvance.com/servlet/Satellit ... th=!sports

[Chris Lang]

Just a couple of random observations:

* Brock Smith played an excellent football game yesterday. He missed a couple of passes, but you know, no quarterback is going to be perfect. He had Dominic Bolden for a TD and Dominic dropped it. He was about a foot too long on that long ball to Brandon Turner. He played with a lot of poise yesterday, and that's a very good sign for LU.

* One thing I talked with Ryan Greiser about was the idea of patience. It seems like the players understand that this thing wasn't going to turn around overnight. So many fans were making outrageous predictions for this team, which at its core is still very young. 9-2, 10-1, even 8-3 ... when you step back and look at it, Jon had it as right as anyone. A young team with a new coaching staff, new offense and new defense is going to take some time to mold. Yes, the last two games hurt a great deal, but in a big picture view, things are moving in the right direction.

* LU will not get run off the field by Coastal. No one in the Big South is that much better than anyone else. Just look at the "worst" team in the conference, VMI, losing close to the favorites.

* FSN32 makes an excellent point about Rocco and his playcalling. Yeah, the guy is still learning, too. The coaching staff is still developing chemistry. Wach and Rocco are still feeling each other out.

I think this program is moving in the right direction and there is a lot of promise. The final four games should be very interesting.

[SuperJon]

That Flea-Flicker in the first half was probably the best ball Brock has thrown this entire year. I know it was broken up, but that was a pretty pass.

[thepostman]

Brock is the kind of QB that needs to be in there the whole game, which was proved yesterday...I think he has a great arm and proved it yesterday....Zach is such a freak athlete that its hard for coach to keep him out of the game, but i think he is much more talented in other areas of his game then throwing the ball...Brock has him beat on that, as long as he is in there and not pulled out just as he is getting into a rythem...

[auntieann]

This is the first time in Brock's football career that he has been taken out and put back in like this, I think last week taking him out during W&M was just the wrong thing to do. And then taking him out on 3rd down and giving the ball to a 4th string running back was ridiculous. I think we just need to believe in our QB and not bring him in and out. He had some awesome cathcable passes today, and a couple that were called out of bounds were in. I think Rocco needs to support him. I can honestly say Brock has not once complained about any of this, I am the one that is complaining.... I am trying to have Faith like Brock, he is an inspiration, he has had a life that most people would have fell apart from, but instead he has become such a fine and admirable young man. Trust me when I say that if you guys support this kid, you are supporting a person who is really deserving of good things. He is a true moralistic good kid.....