[WinterIsComing]

While I certainly hope we recover and win the BSC for the autobid I'm just going to throw out there that I got crucified for questioning some aspects of MB's game, our porous secondary, and our return game (we kept letting ourselves get pinned by making bad decisions, and only one decent return and then we fumble) at the beginning of the year. This game only confirms why I questioned.

I think it remains to be seen if Mike Brown can make all the throws...and if he can stay healthy. Though our running game, and Brown's other abilities, should make up for any difficulties hopefully. I'm not exactly blown away by our backup QBs, though they may be servicable.

Return game is sort of question mark in my mind, with Brown being the QB.

It also remains to be seen if we actually have a good receiving corps or not. After a strong season last year, I'm hoping Summers has permanently lost his teflon gloves from a couple years ago. But is there anyone else after him?

Oh, and the dirty "S" word; our Secondary. Hopefully I won't have to cover my eyes every time the opposing quaterback throws up the ball, or a running back breaks into the secondary this year. I think we have adderessed the issue, but we'll see.

...As for his arm. We've seen him play in a somewhat limited format, but full time is a different beast, and I'm interested to see if his arm is good enough, enough of the time, to beat the defence and hit the receiver in the hands. Defences will be expecting him this year, and that is not to be taken lightly. If they can contain his escapability, does he have the arm to get it done? Can his arm make up for an otherwise poor decision on the run, as happens to all QB's at some point?...I think MB will be fine, but until we actually start the season, and until we need a game winning drive, the jury is still out. That's what seperates the good from the great. The season, and then when the season comes down to one drive.

MB is still awesome, but this game exposed some of the things I mentioned above, though part of that I will attribute to poor play calling and a poor running game (and penalties) that put him in long yardage situations. He won us Ball State, but he couldn't will us to win this one, which is unfortunate and certainly the blame does not rest squarely on his shoulders alone.

The points I admit I was wrong on:

1.Chris Summers has only gotten better and better and he almost still found a way to tie it for us as time expired.

and

2. Not realizing that we have zero running backs willing to HIT THE HOLE with any fricking conviction, made me sick! We gotta stop this happy feet thing, go back and watch some Rashad Jennings tape then come back to the field.

[TDDance234]

I've been drinking the kool aid but this one was tough to take. Was a real reality check. Were an average team who has been beating mediocre big south teams. We don't have the talent to compete on a high FCS level.

[jcmanson]

Can anybody name a playoff caliber team we've beaten in the last 5 years besides Elon? And they were a fringe playoff team. Maybe we need to come to terms with the fact that we have a good football program and it's rising, but we still have a LONG way to go to be in the championship hunt. (or even the 2nd round hunt)

Very well said, and I'm probably the Captain of the we're going to be National Champs train. I guess I need to scrap that. If we can't beat RMU, or Presby, or SBU, etc. etc. in a "trap game" then we won't make a run in the playoffs.

It seems like we've been at this same level though since 2008. Good, but not great.

[kiltsareitchy07]

Sorry guys, tough loss. Y'all will bounce back.

[ToTheLeft]

Can anybody name a playoff caliber team we've beaten in the last 5 years besides Elon? And they were a fringe playoff team. Maybe we need to come to terms with the fact that we have a good football program and it's rising, but we still have a LONG way to go to be in the championship hunt. (or even the 2nd round hunt)

Very well said, and I'm probably the Captain of the we're going to be National Champs train. I guess I need to scrap that. If we can't beat RMU, or Presby, or SBU, etc. etc. in a "trap game" then we won't make a run in the playoffs.

It seems like we've been at this same level though since 2008. Good, but not great.

I agree. We're good, maybe very good. Just not great.

We have some great players. Chris is a great player. Mike is a great player. We just need to put it all together. And I am sure we can and will, we just haven't yet.

A win in Bridgeforth is another step in that direction. We could be capable of being great right now and it's just an issue of mindset. Who knows. We could beat JMU, run the table, and win a playoff game, all as a response to this game and the feeling of wanting to prove that we're great.

I have always been the pessimist because I just didn't think we were as far ahead as everyone else thought. We all know we can get there, and this could still be that year. We could take this punch and come back and fight harder, play better, and win. Or we could just be a good to very good team, lose to JMU, and compete for a Big South title.

Either way, we're not in a bad place. Just not as good of a place as we thought we were.

[ballah09]

also, granted it might've been the backups (st.francis game) but i liked barnett the best and i wish we would get more carries.

[phoenix]

I'm hoping this was our bad loss for this season, and we run through the Big South after Rocco lights a fire under some people this week in practice. Totally missed the game today, so I can't say much more than that, but I really hope the team that beat Ball State shows up next week to play JMU.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Well at least there is room for new folks on the bandwagon after we beat JMU on Saturday.

[FrontRow]

I agree. We're good, maybe very good. Just not great.

The same could be said about the new radio play by play announcer today! After all the hype, seeing the game (video) while listening to the radio (audio), gave a clear, objective, black & white evaluation based on facts, not emotion. Accuracy went out the window today - not the sync between audio and video - but what he said - the down, distance, yard line, time left in game and even the opponent (he called RMU "Ball State" a couple times! Really?!)

The video was pretty bad at times (funny how the Robert Morris camera people lost the ball on big plays) - but it was understandable for college students (it was what it was). However, Liberty's radio coverage should be better than a student production. Maybe it was just a bad day.

Perhaps our radio coverage is on par with the rest of Big South schools, but nothing on the level of JMU, Richmond, Tech or UVA. Just disappointed. A good announcer is more than just yelling out a touchdown. Anyone can do that.

BTW - Jerry Edwards was consistently accurate on the basics...I never had to wonder.

[Maximus]

I really miss Rashad.

[From the class of 09]

Out of all the things that went wrong today the radio play by play is the last thing I care about... that being said we will be able to tell a lot about this team next week. As every spot on the field has room for improvement and we will see if they are willing to fight next week. Even if we don't win we better put up a much better fight then the sloppy mess we had today.

Also just remember that at least we're not (most of us) VA Tech fans lol. They finally got their fist win of the year after preseason NC talk and they were down at the half. Talk about a let down season lol.

[kuntryboimike]

by the way this is a rough liberty day not just a rough football day. we've lost in many sports today

[flamesfan30]

its just one of those days....

[BJWilliams]

Ive been away from my computer much of the day because Im in Baltimore for the weekend and I just got on to check on this and I will say that I still believe in this team...was the loss today frustrating? Absolutely...but you know what? Its in the past now and as Mark McGwire said (although he got crucified for it in Congress), "Im not here to talk about the past." We lost...but my mom gave me a word of advice that has allowed me to get over things like this and if I was coaching Id pass it along to my players, "keep your mind on the task at hand." Now the task is JMU. I took the portion of the drive to MD after the game out of my system and now Im moving onto the next game...you all should too

[FlamesBeBallin]

Rocco is an amazing coach, and has greatly turned this football program around, but Joe Walton got my "Liberty Mutual Coach vote" for the night...

[Schfourteenteen]

The same could be said about the new radio play by play announcer today! After all the hype, seeing the game (video) while listening to the radio (audio), gave a clear, objective, black & white evaluation based on facts, not emotion. Accuracy went out the window today - not the sync between audio and video - but what he said - the down, distance, yard line, time left in game and even the opponent (he called RMU "Ball State" a couple times! Really?!)

The video was pretty bad at times (funny how the Robert Morris camera people lost the ball on big plays) - but it was understandable for college students (it was what it was). However, Liberty's radio coverage should be better than a student production. Maybe it was just a bad day.

Perhaps our radio coverage is on par with the rest of Big South schools, but nothing on the level of JMU, Richmond, Tech or UVA. Just disappointed. A good announcer is more than just yelling out a touchdown. Anyone can do that.

BTW - Jerry Edwards was consistently accurate on the basics...I never had to wonder.

You are an *(come on). And off base. Your boy Ray Jones was brutal in Week 1, and deserved all the criticism he got. The radio guy was still better. No personal agenda garbage, it is what it is.

And that bottom statement? Quite possibly the dumbest thing on FF today, and that's tough to do with treyjman around.

[Schfourteenteen]

Ive been away from my computer much of the day because Im in Baltimore for the weekend and I just got on to check on this and I will say that I still believe in this team...was the loss today frustrating? Absolutely...but you know what? Its in the past now and as Mark McGwire said (although he got crucified for it in Congress), "Im not here to talk about the past." We lost...but my mom gave me a word of advice that has allowed me to get over things like this and if I was coaching Id pass it along to my players, "keep your mind on the task at hand." Now the task is JMU. I took the portion of the drive to MD after the game out of my system and now Im moving onto the next game...you all should too

Words of wisdom from Mark McGuire? The guy who wouldn't admit he cheated baseball? Very bad quote and bad example.

"We're not here to talk about our pitiful defense. We don't want to answer for why they play with no heart. We are focused on the future."

[BJWilliams]

I only used that because yes this was a frustrating loss but its over...we can harp on all the negatives from today or we can look at what went wrong, and hopefully learn from it and turn our attention to the task at hand (JMU)

[WinterIsComing]

...we can harp on all the negatives from today or we can look at what went wrong, and hopefully learn from it and turn our attention to the task at hand (JMU)

Ultimately, either way we choose to address it, negative harping or looking and learning at what went wrong, the same issues still need to be addressed. I feel like it has been fairly balanced between those two viewpoints today on this board. At least we can say no one is drinking the kool-aid today...well no one but RMU.

[bigsmooth]

i made the trip up to bobby mo and wanted to weigh in.

1. bobby mo wanted the game more. give them credit. if im correct they are reduced scholly not scholly. these guys played hard and were simply more aggressive.
2. we had no answer for myles russ. that guy ran all over us, plain and simple.
3. mike brown was a bit off but i also thought we did not throw to chris summers enough, so i echo the poor play calling.
4. we have zero running game other than mike brown. im missing AA.
5. defense was pathetic....poor tackling, poor everything
6. matt bevins is still struggling despite his two makes. his long distance FG's are just not there.
7. LU always get snakebit. we lose games that we should not. despite the coaches pleas for the guys not to overlook booby mo, they did.
8. if we play like this next saturday, we will get murdered.

we will still make the playoffs provided we win the big south, so im sure rocco will get the guys attention this week. The JMU game is about pride and it is for national level respect and to show everyone we belong. again bobby mo just outplayed us and credit to them, but no excuse losing to them...none whatsoever. i do want to say the game experience was good. classy people, and good fans. the stadium had stands on one side and LU's bench was on the opposite by themselves. the colonials come to the field by walking through the fans down steps in the middle of the stadium to the field. anyway, disapointing loss, but we will rebound and get better. GO FLAMES!

[jcmanson]

I blame this loss on the schedule. Why would you schedule this game? Barber's been quoted as to say we will play a home and home with anybody - JMU, Appy, Richmond, 'Nova, etc. Then why the crap are we scheduling home and homes with Bobby Mo? And I don't want to hear the "we want to recruit western PA" garbage. You don't go up there, lose, and expect to recruit well. We had nothing to gain with the game, RMU had nothing to lose. If we win 50-0, no heads will turn. If we win 24-23, no heads will turn. If we lose, every head will turn and say "yep same ol' Liberty."

I'd rather play a D2 at City Stadium than this.


manson...i love ya brother, but playing bobby mo is much better than playing a D2. you can recruit well despite a loss. any recruit there saw our fanbase, and though we lost saw our brand of football. i tell you what, there will several bobby mo players i would like to have on our squad. Bobby Mo has had a solid program that has been down, but is on the way back. i would rather play ans NEC school that the west va. wesleyan's and glenville states of the world.

[jcmanson]

I think I'm going to start betting on our games. The week leading up to the BSU game, I had a really good feeling about the game. I really thought we would win. As this past week went on, I got more and more uncomfortable with this game. I still thought we would win, but I knew it would be tight. When I woke up yesterday morning, I had this sick feeling in my gut that we were gonna lose.

[thepostman]

BTW - Jerry Edwards was consistently accurate on the basics...I never had to wonder.

wow seriously?? I can not speak for his entire time here, but towards the end he had lost it. The play by play guy this year is very solid, We have bigger things to worry about with this team then caring about what you think about the play by play guy.

[ToTheLeft]

BTW - Jerry Edwards was consistently accurate on the basics...I never had to wonder.

wow seriously?? I can not speak for his entire time here, but towards the end he had lost it. The play by play guy this year is very solid, We have bigger things to worry about with this team then caring about what you think about the play by play guy.

Yeah, especially with basketball, JE couldn't keep up. He couldn't really keep up with football either.

York is light years better. I've enjoyed his work so far. He messed up a few words, but you do a game fast paced like that and not misspeak a few times. He got the basics right. And to be fair, the ref was terrible and had the down, distance, and yardage wrong a lot, so he had to go off his spotter, not the ref who had no idea what he was doing.

[ALAFlamesFan]

I blame this loss on the schedule. Why would you schedule this game? Barber's been quoted as to say we will play a home and home with anybody - JMU, Appy, Richmond, 'Nova, etc. Then why the crap are we scheduling home and homes with Bobby Mo? And I don't want to hear the "we want to recruit western PA" garbage. You don't go up there, lose, and expect to recruit well. We had nothing to gain with the game, RMU had nothing to lose. If we win 50-0, no heads will turn. If we win 24-23, no heads will turn. If we lose, every head will turn and say "yep same ol' Liberty."

I'd rather play a D2 at City Stadium than this.

I disagree. If you want to be champs then you need to win on the road. Yes these guys were hyped and ready to give us their best shot in their home stadium but if we can't survive that then how do we expect to go on the road at JMU and win?
Let's just face the facts:
1. To borrow from Coach Saban from halftime yesterday when Alabama went on the road to that "cracker box" stadium at Duke: "We want to play to a standard regardless of who we compete against". LU did not play to that standard and until we learn how to do that we will NEVER be great.

2. Running game. Every great team needs to have one.
3. RMU came out strong in the 1st half and we came out flat. Ok, fine. The fact that we couldn't make adjustments at halftime: Unacceptable.
4. Defense. I have heard some of you be apologists for our D for years now. It is time for a coaching change there plain and simple. I think we have the talent to be good and we show flashes but we always seem to end up an undisciplined mess in key games and situations. I blame this on coaching.
5. Mike Brown. The guy has got the heart of a winner but no one should be expected to do it all. To quote the guy on ESPN explaining why Denard Robinson of MI will not win the Heisman: "I don't think he can keep it up. He is one guy and eventually defenses figure out how to stop one guy."