[krh44]

For sure a tough pill to swallow. Makes it worse considering Coach Roccos plan for this year looking at this being the year with senior QB and NFL prospect at RB and other players that have been in the system for 3 and 4 years. This was the year. He said he didn't schedule a D1 program because of intent to make the playoffs this year. I think that is why most are just as upset as I am and you have good reason. No one is giving up on the team but no excuse for this. Special teams was terrible and Defense gave up too many big plays. You can have your practice tonight but it is too late. We maybe overrated but it is not because we don't have the talent. We want to be a good program we have got to find ways to win games. We can not take a sack that takes us out off FG range.

[Mixitup]

Wow, this is a shock and very embarassing. Yes, this will hurt Jennings draft stock. No way does it help his draft stock.

This is not going to hurt his draft stock. Rashad has been running over teams all year. He most likely will play in some all-star games to showcase his talent. As of Sat he was rated as high as the #4 RB on some draft boards in all of college football. His talent is speaking for itself. The only thing this loss hurt was the teams chances of playing in any post season games.

[SuperJon]

Believe me, this game will by no means hurt Rashad's chances of playing in the pros or getting drafted. It knocks us out of the playoffs but in no way, shape, or form will it hurt Rashad. Mel Kiper has Rashad listed as the 5th best senior running back in all of college football. The amount of NFL scouts coming to look at our guys is at an unprecedented level. This game won't hurt Rashad.

[olldflame]

The teams that are still in the running with 3 losses play in conferences with automatic bids, and which historically send multiple teams to the playoffs. Our schedule this year ended up looking weak because some teams which projected as quality opponents are having bad years. Tough to blame Rocco and Barber for that.

[Rocketfan]

I didn't read this whole thread because it would be to disturbing. I was at the game, so i can sum up my thoughts in one statement.

I was embarrased.



I will give credit where credit is due.....PC scouted us, found our weaknesses and executed.

Also SJ, your comment on our linebackers about the speed was a preseason time when they were healthy, it was very clear some of them aren't anywhere near that speed now.

[CMII]

The teams that are still in the running with 3 losses play in conferences with automatic bids, and which historically send multiple teams to the playoffs. Our schedule this year ended up looking weak because some teams which projected as quality opponents are having bad years. Tough to blame Rocco and Barber for that.

Which team(s) are historically strong?

Our schedule:
NORTH GREENVILLE, GLENVILLE ST....two bye weeks
YOUNGSTOWN ST, WESTERN CAROLINA....combined 5-15 with wins over Shorter, Presbyrterian, Central State.
LAFAYETTE....6-2 Patriot league with losses to Ivy league, came to Lynchburg and kicked us.
PRESBYTERIAN....despite losses of 66-12 to Elon and 47-21 to Gardener-Webb and 23 less scholarship handed us a loss.
BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE combined record of 19-25 with no out of conference wins and the majority of the 19 wins against
non DI's or conference games. Otherwise an objective voter will say WEAK football.

Barber and Rocco are the ones who are accountable for schedules. At some point in time the substance of our wins needs to merit playoff consideration not just our PR campaigns. Style over substance leadership from the department comes crashing down last year in Burlington, NC and this year in Clinton, SC. "Unfinshed business" can remain the slogan.

But like I said earlier maybe the students who don't know better will rally around a conference championship.

[jcmanson]

Which team(s) are historically strong?

Youngstown St in particular. 4 national championships, 2nd only to Georgia Southern. Twice they have been runner ups. 11 playoff appearances.

[olldflame]

CMII,

Neither I or anyone else here remotely suggested that yesterday was not a very bad loss. Certainly Youngstown State is a quality program having a bad year and Western Carolina is a SC school which is usually more competitive than they are this year. It's amazing how some people's expectations have changed in just a year or 2. We are simply not good enough to play a non conference schedule of exclusively FBS and perrenial powerhouse FCS teams. We couldn't beat Presby for crynoutloud.

[jcmanson]

Barber and Rocco are the ones who are accountable for schedules. At some point in time the substance of our wins needs to merit playoff consideration not just our PR campaigns. Style over substance leadership from the department comes crashing down last year in Burlington, NC and this year in Clinton, SC. "Unfinshed business" can remain the slogan.

But like I said earlier maybe the students who don't know better will rally around a conference championship.

Our schedule was just fine for us to be able to make the playoffs even with YSU having such a bad year. If we would have finished 11-1 we would have made the playoffs.

Also, your last statement is stupid, every fan should rally around a conference championship. Ask anyone on the team including the coach and that is our first goal every year. Yes it's dissapointing to not make the playoffs, but a conference championship is still A goal of the team's.

[truedrewdawg87]

It's one thing to have expected to make the playoffs with the schedule the Flames played this year. It's an entirely different thing to have expected to win once in the postseason. If Liberty can't beat a team with 23 less scholarships what in the world do we think would have happened against JMU or heaven forbid an Appalachian team that hung 70 with relative ease on a pretty good Wofford team? I'm all about seeing Liberty football do well, I just think more often than not a lot of followers of this football program, not all but a lot, get waaaaaaaay ahead of themselves with their expectations.

[flameshaw]

It's one thing to have expected to make the playoffs with the schedule the Flames played this year. It's an entirely different thing to have expected to win once in the postseason. If Liberty can't beat a team with 23 less scholarships what in the world do we think would have happened against JMU or heaven forbid an Appalachian team that hung 70 with relative ease on a pretty good Wofford team? I'm all about seeing Liberty football do well, I just think more often than not a lot of followers of this football program, not all but a lot, get waaaaaaaay ahead of themselves with their expectations.

True for the most part, but with good intentions I believe. Just looking for another first for the program. I expected to make the playoffs this year and we should have. Didn't expect much after that, don't have the D.

Hope I don't get blasted for this, but I do not think we will be as good a team next year based on the current roster/level of play. I hope I am wrong, but we have 12 seniors to replace and don't see where the guys are to fill those holes.

That being said, the coaching staff is doing a good job and the team deserves 100% support. I hope Mike Brown is going to be as good as I think he will be next year. He may be VERY special before he completes his career at LU.

[SuperJon]

Hope I don't get blasted for this, but I do not think we will be as good a team next year based on the current roster/level of play. I hope I am wrong, but we have 12 seniors to replace and don't see where the guys are to fill those holes.

The only position I'm worried about next year is center. Everyone else I trust to step in and fill their roles. There may very well be a drop off but that's expected after losing as many starters as we do (Seven offensively, eight defensively, one special teams) but I think the guys at the other positions will be able to step in and play. They may already have more talent than the guys in front of them but lack the mental side of it and the experience side of it which is common in freshmen and sophomores.


And RocketFan, you're absolutely right about those times being before they got banged up. I still wouldn't call those guys slow though.

[Stevev]

I think that a lot of the high expectations come from "Old Schoolers" like myself who remember the early division 1AA LU teams of the late 80's and 90's teams, and although not great, were able to knock off ranked teams and other teams of perceived much higher calibre than the current Big South teams. And back then we did it with half of what we have today as far as facilities and attendence at games. As if LU joining the Big South automatically lowered our expectations where winning the BSC is a big deal and 1AA quality wins are a thing of the past. I could be wrong but I think that is what is happening. That is certainly not what I expected back in 1988 when we became Division 1.


As far as next year is concerned we definately need some help if we are to improve. We need some big time transfers, a great recruiting class, and some of the younger players who are now freshmen and redshirts to step it up. I have not seen this with the current underclassmen yet. The seniors this year consist of Rashad, Hicks and the old Karcher holdovers so hopefully the underclassmen have more as far as talent is concerned (and I think that they do) so they could step in and things improve over time.

[SuperJon]

Two things bug me about this post. They are this:

I think that a lot of the high expectations come from "Old Schoolers" like myself who remember the early division 1AA LU teams of the late 80's and 90's teams, and although not great, were able to knock off ranked teams and other teams of perceived much higher calibre than the current Big South teams. And back then we did it with half of what we have today as far as facilities and attendence at games. As if LU joining the Big South automatically lowered our expectations where winning the BSC is a big deal and 1AA quality wins are a thing of the past. I could be wrong but I think that is what is happening. That is certainly not what I expected back in 1988 when we became Division 1.

Division I-AA was half as large now as it was in the time you're talking about. The quality of the teams that you're saying were a big deal (the 15-25 range) aren't the same level as they are now. They were good, yes, but you have to look at the fact that there are more teams that are better now.

As far as next year is concerned we definately need some help if we are to improve. We need some big time transfers, a great recruiting class, and some of the younger players who are now freshmen and redshirts to step it up. I have not seen this with the current underclassmen yet. The seniors this year consist of Rashad, Hicks and the old Karcher holdovers so hopefully the underclassmen have more as far as talent is concerned (and I think that they do) so they could step in and things improve over time.

Why are you so hooked on transfers? I'm asking seriously. The types of players we're bringing in as freshmen are at the same level as the 3rd and 4th string FBS players that would transfer here. Yes, they can help, but why are they definitely needed?

[adam42381]

Mel Kiper has Jennings as his number 4 senior RB in his latest rankings.

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/insider/ ... id=3673264

[coolhandluke]

I didn't mean that this one game would keep him from getting drafted. I meant that because we won't be going to the playoffs he may not be selected as highly as he could have been. But I can also see the point that if we got smashed in the first round and Rashad got shut down then it would have hurt his draft stock.

[coolhandluke]

and that was my 500th post. I'm catching up to you SJ! haha.

["R" i "]

Now I have a legitimate reason to have a competative hatred for the blue Ho bags.


THE ONLY THING POSOTIVE I COULD THINK OF!

[Kolzilla41]

So....... any chance we still might make the playoffs????

[Schfourteenteen]

Rod Fluellen ran for a TD in Winston-Salem's win over Hampton

[Hold My Own]

wow! if it was up to some you guys we should pack up the gear, put away the grilles and sell the rest of our season tickets! stuff like " i cant wait till hoops", or "this hurts rashad's draft stock" are you kidding me?? we still have a big south championship to defend. yes this is a horrible loss, probably the worst of the rocco era, but we still have lots to play for. we really need work on defense and special teams for sure, but cmon guys wait a bit before you post. we are all passionate about our flames and we want to be in the playoffs sooo bad, and next year the automatic bid will be there. the team needs evryone to come to VMI next week so not unless you are just flat broke or have no vehicle be there!! GO FLAMES!!

I'm with you smooth...all to often we want to run before we walk...guys this has been a GREAT run and there is no way this season is a disappointment if we ONLY win the Big South...that's a great season. I think it's also important to realize I just dont think this is our time. Look at what Elon has done against some of the teams they've played, and then how we've faired. We'll put up a fight against Elon but I just dont think we're at that level yet.


Our time is coming, and it's when the auto bid for the BSC happens...then it'll take about 2 or 3 trips to the playoffs before we should be expecting to walk away with a first round victory. This is a process....

[phoenix]

I'm with you smooth...all to often we want to run before we walk...guys this has been a GREAT run and there is no way this season is a disappointment if we ONLY win the Big South...that's a great season. I think it's also important to realize I just dont think this is our time. Look at what Elon has done against some of the teams they've played, and then how we've faired. We'll put up a fight against Elon but I just dont think we're at that level yet.


Our time is coming, and it's when the auto bid for the BSC happens...then it'll take about 2 or 3 trips to the playoffs before we should be expecting to walk away with a first round victory. This is a process....

How DARE you have a little perspective?!! Can't you see we're all trying to get mad and complain here?!

[Hold My Own]

Sorry, I didnt know...


FIRE ROCCO FIRE ROCCO FIRE ROCCO!!!!




Better?

[LCA&LU Mom Original]

if you look back at the threads over the past week, there were 30ish posts re: the presby prediction and the presby game preview. but during that same time there were over 80 posts re: staying for the Elon game. i think we as a group of fans (me included) overlooked this game as much as the team did. focus on the next step. not the step three steps ahead.

this loss was a heartbreaking dose of reality. but i'll be at the vmi game with 10 others in tow. and the next. and the next. cheering on the Flames no matter what. and if ppl start saying bad things about coach or brock or any of the guys, i will fight you.

go LU! go Flames!

[Hold My Own]

i think we as a group of fans (me included) overlooked this game as much as the team did. focus on the next step. not the step three steps ahead.

I agree, and that was another reason why getting a message on the phone from Coach Rocco about the VMI game 2 weeks early seemed a little odd, I understand you need to plan ahead for something like that but maybe a message from Jeff would have been better? Or maybe no message at all, I'm not sure...I understand having Rocco do a 30 second recording isnt the reason we lost but it did seem a little weird hearing a coach talk about something a game early.