[JK37]

W&M was flagged twice to help Liberty continue drives which led to points.

That's a fabulous point that hopefully doesn'tget lost in all this. Really seemed like refs were keying on pass interference in the 1st half, and either backed off on it in the seonc dhalf, or the teams djusted a bit.

On both major spots, the W&M 4th down and the Liberty 4th down, both referees were in disagreement that had the other had the ball tossed to him instead of the other, it would have gone Liberty's way.

Someone else who was there told me the same thing. That's really poor mechanics by the crew...

[magnolialeague]

I drive down from Alexandria so I'm not an in the know fan. Although I would love to be there, I cannot make the QB Club meetings where the coaches address the fans.

I would love to see this continue. Your fans are all class. Unfortunately, your team keeps improving. I thought you had us, but my undergraduate was from Vanderbilt so I'm used to seeing my team lose in creative ways.

[flafan]

Numerous times during the game we said it was time to get tough and dig deep - and they finally did. Too bad we didn't perform that way all night. The defense was killed by an exceptional display of an powerful air attack and it shows we need some work there.

But the good thing is that the team didn't quit. They kept fighting. That speaks volumes of their guts. But Coach Rocco said this week will show what kind of character we have. I think they'll prove themselves in the days and weeks to come.

Good game for Brock.

[KaplanKrazies]

There was a sketchy pass interference play on the last drive you guys scored on. Refs didn't really seem all that terrible to me, save maybe one or 2 calls

[PAmedic]

There was a sketchy pass interference play on the last drive you guys scored on. Refs didn't really seem all that terrible to me, save maybe one or 2 calls

One of them being that horrendous Interference call on the jump ball (Hail Mary) at the end of the first half.

never seen one called in that situation, when 12 guys are in there going for it.

gotta admit, that was a little iffy.

but, AGAIN- it should never come down to one or two plays. Your TE and QB flat out beat us like their red-headed stepchild.

PS: had your team lost, I'm thinking you may have a different opinions of the officiating

[magnolialeague]

If I were a Flames fan, I'd consider the spots homecooking. It is a perogative as a fan.

Nonetheless, someone has to win and someone has to lose. It bites because both sides were playing their hearts out. Let's just say it wasn't much of a defense battle tonight for both sides by any means.

Your QB is a cool customer. He had the two step drop down pat in the second half. Our horrendous coverage in the so-called prevent was attrocious. Liberty had a lot of heart and ate us up.

[KaplanKrazies]

Well I guess it would depend on how we lost.

In regulation I think there was one PO play that helped LU and one that helped W&M. Both led to points, while LU got 5 more off theirs.

[KaplanKrazies]

If I were a Flames fan, I'd consider the spots homecooking. It is a perogative as a fan.

So people who were not at the game and did not see the play should say it is homecooking and leave it at that?

[magnolialeague]

Were talking about taking a football from someone's hand on the ground and flipping it to a guy who catches the ball five yards away and places the ball by one of his feet. Not very scientific. It is the way it is.

As a Vanderbilt fan in the SEC where everytime we win might cause a large state school a bowl bid that translates into millions of dollars of lost revenue. I've seen some crap. We take it with "class" and shut up like good conference whores that collect a fat check.

KK - if that ball was tossed to the other spotter both times, we lost. The spots weren't the same. The calls went our way.

However, you are right. More than one of the pass interferences on us were bogus. The hold on us at the end was not. Our guy grabbed their guy.

Our clip was a clip and stupid because it didn't figure into the play.

[PAmedic]

If I were a Flames fan, I'd consider the spots homecooking. It is a perogative as a fan.

So people who were not at the game and did not see the play should say it is homecooking and leave it at that?

yes

it makes us feel better.

MagLeague is right- someone had to lose. This series is a good one- I wish you guys were coming back to LU next season- but it doesn't look like it right now (at least, not the '08 schedule we've seen)

[magnolialeague]

I was told you have JMU. Good luck.

[KaplanKrazies]

Yeah beat JMU. I don't like them very much.

[PAmedic]

I was told you have JMU. Good luck.

they've been pushed back to '09 (I believe by THEIR choice?) so ... [/fingers crossed]

this is where we're monitoring it...
http://www.flamefans.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5917

[magnolialeague]

This series should continue as part of the Magnolia League.

[KaplanKrazies]

I was told you have JMU. Good luck.

they've been pushed back to '09 (I believe by THEIR choice?) so ... [/fingers crossed]

this is where we're monitoring it...
http://www.flamefans.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5917

man you're just full of links tonight

[Fumblerooskies]

[PAmedic]

man you're just full of links tonight

would be great if they paid me for it, wouldn't it?

[KaplanKrazies]

[Hold My Own]

The spot was awful, ask anyone at the game either side either fan....doesnt matter...video backs this up...whatever, it doesnt matter

[KaplanKrazies]

What video?

[Mo]

I saw most of the first three quarters tonight and was very impressed with Liberty. I was there long enough to yell myself hoarse for you, anyway.

I thought the pass interference call at the end of the half was beyond cheap. Then, no points in the 3rd quarter after the fumbled punt really hurt. I didn't understand the play calling from 1st and goal from the 13 (two runs and the rollout ), or why your QB tried to force that intercepted pass into a crowd down there. That drive was really important.

But that's how close you came, and you might well have the better team. Rocco's done an amazing job of turning your program around on a dime--I saw Karcher's last team get rolled 56-0 here just two years ago.

Also, I got to peer over the side of the stands and look down on Liberty's halftime meeting. That was neat. I liked the way the players focused and how the coaches handled them.

Well done. You'll be tough for the BS to handle.

[jcmanson]

Just got home. Tough night. I will catch up on all the reading, but I just wanted to say that I walked out of that stadium with my head high, proud to be wearing my red & blue. Those guys gave all they had, played a great game, and got beat by a GOOD W&M team.

[PAmedic]

thanks for the kind words, MO.

we're proud of Coach and the guys- but REALLY needed a win tonite.

[TallyW]

I'm sure more of the FlameFans will be on later in the night and tomorrow so it'll be interesting to see their take.

Starting in reverse I think the end of the game was the worst I may have ever seen. After the play was dead their was no one from either side confident of anything. Watching the players it was an eternity and uncertainty on both sides. I hate to see a game end on how far to the right or left a ref decides to spot the ball. I don't think any of our fans can honestly give an account on the spot. W&M chose to play the overtime toward their student section and opposite of us so all of our fans had slanted sight lines. Players and press had a better view but I promise you... even the players on the field didn't give off body language like they knew how that spot would turn out. Before the chains came out I felt that we got enough not to need the chains... apparently not. At least not according to the spot.

That said, I'm also in the camp that believes we did not lose on that play. We had so many opportunities tonight (including the late interception that was dropped in OT and the 4th down that they converted in OT). We got NO points on a muffed punt we recovered in the red zone. We threw and INT for no apparent reason. The DB caught it with ease... it was a horrible pass. Honestly I'm not a fan of Brock after watching him tonight. Let me rephrase that. I'm not a fan of the Brock I saw for the first 3 quarters. To me it seemed like he was a different guy during the last 2 minutes of the game. From my observation Brock throws very hard passes well (he's accurate on the short ball) but he doesn't appear to have developed a touch on anything beyond 10 yards. So many passes tonight sailed over our receivers heads. In his defense I did see a few balls (2-3) that were catchable but were dropped. Some of our student fans behind me in our section were jeering him badly. Many of us were wondering what the problem was. I haven't seen him play a ton so I'm not saying he should be benched (especially with the poise he showed late in the game).... I just would like to see him be more consistent and make quicker decisions. As I type that's what I think the problem may be. Early on he would hold the ball too long and be forced to make passes he shouldn't make or he made them difficult when they weren't. But later in the game when time was a factor he would make very quick throws. Mainly b/c it seemed he was vastly more confident. He didn't have to wait for the play to develop. When he waited it seemed to screw him up... maybe the mental clock and collapsing pocket? Either way ... Brock was great toward the end, I just would like to see that earlier in the game.


AS FOR OUR D
"Pass". "Pass." "Pass."
It looked like we played "Prevent Zone" all night. I saw us bump their receivers off the line um... never. It appeared to me like we were giving them a 5 yard cushion. Our guys can hit and I saw some great hitting but the hits always came after a 12 yard gain. On one run there was a huge hit on a lead blocker when the QB had scrambled up the sideline. A guy behind me (I think a friend of SJ's) said "Great Hit... Next time hit the guy with the ball." That was my feeling. We seemed so concerned about not getting beat that we let so much happen in front of us. They basically had their way with us for the first 3 quarters. It was crazy. Our D-line also seemed to leave something to be desired. Their QB had about 14 seconds to make a decision. On a late TD on our end of the field he honestly had 15 seconds or so. A weak defensive front and a soft secondary make for a long night. If the QB was worried about being sacked more often I'm sure our ability to handle the pass would increase dramatically. If our guys broke up more passes I'm sure it'd make their coaches try to run more. I felt we were pretty good against the run. Again, toward the end I felt better about the D (although W&M improved the run toward the end) but if we were consistant and capitilized on opportunities this would have been a far different game.


I too am still VERY proud of our guys. I think we're right on the edge of being a great team at our level. Despite what I think of some areas we need to fix, this team showed a ton of heart, especially during the last two stands on both sides of the ball. I'm proud of them and I'm looking forward to a great season.

***************
SIDENOTES
***************

Saw SJ and company. Great job keeping our fans into it. I could see what you mean about our cheerleaders now. So many times during the game the cheers you and your friends were making made a ton more sense than the "LU" chants. I think your buddy from LOAL was near my section. He was hilarious... I don't know his name but believe I saw him in your media day video... he was so funny tonight.


SPARKY needs to get tougher. When their Cheerleaders kept waving their flag right to our fans I wish Sparky would have gotten in his face or something... instead he pranced after them as they ran to their fans. Sparky... c'mon... stick up for us... The old Eagle Mascott would have at least marked his turf. Sparky did have problems tonight though... some old dude in a blue jacket (some volunteer Fire Dept.) kept taunting Sparky tonight. Then a group of 8-10 kids came over and heckled him for a while. Poor Bird.

WILLIAM AND MARY'S FANS SUCK!
The entire place (including their fake suites) appeared to be there for a polo match when a football game broke out. Their fans were boring. I was proud to be among the red and blue.


Okay... that's my initial take... I'm sure there will be more to discuss about tonight.

[magnolialeague]

WILLIAM AND MARY'S FANS SUCK!
The entire place (including their fake suites) appeared to be there for a polo match when a football game broke out. Their fans were boring. I was proud to be among the red and blue.

Hey! Respect your elders. You know our fans gave up Matlock to be there for a night game. A night game! Geritol wears off after 12 hours. You try to root for a team for more than two quarters without tapioca pudding!

There was a polo match? Where? Maybe they played defense over there.