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Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 9:24 am
by Bigsouthking
Seriously?
Liberty recruits nationally
No academic restrictions (for football thats a good thing)
facilities are better
Ability to win the BSC every year
Possible move to 1A
Richmond academic school
plays in a tough conference
smaller stadium
doesn't make sense to me except maybe the city of Richmond is better than living in the Burg???
tell me please...

Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 9:26 am
by jcmanson
Why are we having this discussion now? We already had it back in January.
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 9:38 am
by Rooster Cogburn
Who Cares?
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 9:44 am
by MCJohansen
Rocco saw the writing on the wall that Jeff Barber didn't want him as head coach (he wasn't involved in his hiring back in 06?) he got a job offer at Richmond and left on his terms instead of getting fired.
Atleast thats what I think. Turner Gill is a big upgrade, makes me think something was happening behind closed doors.
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 9:54 am
by Blessed1
I did not participate in the conversation about Rocco last time. I think Rocco gave a perfect explanation why he was leaving Liberty... Paraphrasing of course, he basically said that he had done all he could do for Liberty.
We went from a conference doormat to winning conference championships in football. He created a buzz with our football program that some do not give him credit for. The only knock about him was the fact that Liberty failed to make the playoffs under his leadership. Also, Rocco's teams did not show at times where they were expected to win. In essence, we had too many bad losses at the worst possible times late in the season. Those bad losses ultimately hindered our playoff chances.
In conclusion, Rocco did some great things at Liberty. However, his time and season had expired. He wanted to move on and take on another challenge. Of course we all did not like the way he left, but it is what it is.
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 12:02 pm
by Chippy
It's amazing how many posters are always looking backwards. What's that about?
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 1:00 pm
by libertyfan4life
This is a fairly dead issue. So why resurrect it? Rocco is gone. And both Liberty and Rocco have parted ways. Anything beyond those tangibles is speculation. I generally respect Rocco. He left Liberty IMHO in better standing than in what he had inherited in 2006. I don't see or know of Rocco publically ripping on Liberty in sheer bitterness; and Liberty Athletics has not to my knowledge officially said anything derogatory or slanderous against Rocco in return. So, there really is no need to sling mud. Let's take the high road. Both parties have moved on. Rocco took the program as far as he did. Whether you like or don't like what he did is past history. I don't think it necessary that we in the Liberty community throw what he did or his reputation under the bus in return. Let's move on. And hope in the Gill era for better as any team or following does with a new coaching staff and eventual recruiting classes.
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 1:11 pm
by Rooster Cogburn
Rooster Cogburn wrote:Who Cares?
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 1:17 pm
by jcmanson
Just to clear things up, the guy who started this thread is NOT a Liberty fan.
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 1:21 pm
by Rooster Cogburn
jcmanson wrote:Just to clear things up, the guy who started this thread is NOT a Liberty fan.
Wait, so what is he doing here?
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 1:25 pm
by jcmanson
Rooster Cogburn wrote:jcmanson wrote:Just to clear things up, the guy who started this thread is NOT a Liberty fan.
Wait, so what is he doing here?
Talking Liberty sports. Non-Liberty fans are welcome here.
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 1:26 pm
by flameshaw
I will save TOC the time, "It is all JB's fault".
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 1:46 pm
by Rooster Cogburn
jcmanson wrote:Rooster Cogburn wrote:jcmanson wrote:Just to clear things up, the guy who started this thread is NOT a Liberty fan.
Wait, so what is he doing here?
Talking Liberty sports. Non-Liberty fans are welcome here.
I agree except this guy just seems to be here to be a pot stilling troll.
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 2:12 pm
by LUconn
Bill's Barbeque
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 2:19 pm
by jcmanson
LUconn wrote:Bill's Barbeque
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/business/ ... r-2197396/
Bill's Barbecue will shut down its remaining three restaurants Sunday after more than eight decades of serving Richmond-area customers.
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 3:02 pm
by LUconn
What!?! crazy! I love Bill's. It was a completely random Richmond reference. I'm so sad now.
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 3:12 pm
by jlread
Buzz and Ned's is 100mill times better, that's what shut Bill's down. I will miss their lime aid though.
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 3:58 pm
by bluedevilflame
we're in a better situation now than ever. i think details of roccos situation will never fully be known...
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 7:28 pm
by flamesfan30
MCJohansen wrote:Rocco saw the writing on the wall that Jeff Barber didn't want him as head coach (he wasn't involved in his hiring back in 06?) he got a job offer at Richmond and left on his terms instead of getting fired.
this is the correct answer.
/thread.
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 8:32 pm
by jimflamesfan
The only thing that doesn't make sense about that theory is that Barber said when Rocco was offered the Richmond job, he offered him an extension to keep him. Rocco turned it down. So I don't think Rocco's job was in jeopardy as mentioned above. It just doesn't fit the facts that we know for sure.
It is just as likely that Rocco knew that his most talented team was last year...LU still didn't win the Big South, so he wanted to leave instead of going through a rebuilding process. But that's just a guess...I have no idea.
So he's moved on and LU has moved on. I'm looking forward to see where we are with Gill in 5 years. Hopefully we'll have been in the playoffs or moved to D1A or the CAA or SoCon. I'm excited!
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 8:48 pm
by flamesfan30
rocco may have been offered an extension, but whose to say his assistants/ staff (specifically his defensive coordinator) were?
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 18th, 2012, 9:27 pm
by Sly Fox
Sheesh. I really don't see the point of this discussion. When and if we meet the Spiders on the field, then this topic is appropriate. Right now let's try to stay focused on what is happening on our campus right now.
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 19th, 2012, 7:56 am
by ProudPapa73
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 19th, 2012, 8:02 am
by Purple Haize
Re: Why would Rocco leave??
Posted: September 21st, 2012, 3:41 pm
by WildernessVoice
Nice Up! reference, PHaze!