[Champion]

I agree with Manson' last statement. Also, a problem with comparing teams get's very difficult because of the different era's. What about the 1979 team that went 9-1-1? Would they have beaten this years team? Of course not, but they were a pretty good team for the era and the division they were in. The 1AA (FCS) division has changed dramaticaly over the years and the schedules are never comparable. Tough call as to who was the best, but this years team does have the opportunity to be the most successful.

[flameshaw]

This is probably a pretty unpopular view, but I think last year's team was better. Just my opinion though.

Unpopular or not, I agree with you

I started to say "YES, with the possible exception of last years team." It is a very valid argument. The reason I didn't was the Elon game last year. That being said, at the end of last year, we had a very stout team and would have loved to see how we would have done in the playoffs.

[Baldspot]

8-3

Wins over Edinboro, Tennessee Tech, Morehead St, Elon, Youngstown, UCF, Kutztown, and Towson. Losses to Eastern Illiois, JMU, and Western Illinois.

Just to add the three losses were by a total of 5 points. Going from memory on this one but I believe the both E and W Illinois' teams were top ten ranked at the time. Morgan Hout was VA SID Coach of the Year before being fired.

I'm sure how the 88 and 89 teams compare with the 07 and 08 teams. Both were pretty good. I wish the '08 competition was having better years.

[Ed Dantes]

Best Liberty teams:

1997 - 9-2, ranked #19 in the country
1989 - 7-3, ranked as high as #9, with two top 25 wins
1995 - 8-3, ranked as high as #19 in the country
1988 - 8-3, ranked as high as #20, featured a one point loss to the #2 team in the country
2007 - 8-3, conference champs for the first time.

The only way I would say we are better than the 2007 team is if we a) beat Elon and b) make the playoffs. In which case, I'd make us the #3 best team. I can't say the 2008 campaign is better than '07, because frankly, 2008 featured for the first time since the Karcher era that we lost a game we were supposed to win. The Presby game is inexcusable, sorry. The 2007 team was better.

Also, I know we went 9-1-1 in the late 70s / early 80s, but that was when we were NAIA. There is no way a really good NAIA team should beat us this year, therefore, the 9-1-1 record, while applaudable, does not deserve the recognition as much as more recent teams.

[Ed Dantes]

This team may not be the best, but if the beat Elon Saturday they will be the most succesful in school history.

The 1997 is, and was, the most successful. They're the only team we've had that *should* have made the playoffs. Last year, we had an outside chance, but we really should have made it in 1997.

If you're talking about 'success', though, the 2007 was our most successful. They are the only one we've had that's actually won something (the conference championship). Short of making the playoffs, that's really the only tangible way we can measure success.

[SuperJon]

This team may not be the best, but if the beat Elon Saturday they will be the most succesful in school history.

The 1997 is, and was, the most successful. They're the only team we've had that *should* have made the playoffs. Last year, we had an outside chance, but we really should have made it in 1997.

If you're talking about 'success', though, the 2007 was our most successful. They are the only one we've had that's actually won something (the conference championship). Short of making the playoffs, that's really the only tangible way we can measure success.

The team didn't have seven Division I wins in 97. If they were playing by today's standards, of the nine wins only five of them would've counted towards the playoffs.

[jcmanson]

2007: 8-3, 4-0 in conference, conference champs, 6-3 in DI games, no OOC wins other than St Francis and 2 D2's, did not make top 25
2008 (if we win Saturday): 10-2, 5-0 in conference, conference champs, 3 wins over teams from auto bid leagues (2 on the road), ranked in top 25 the entire year, most wins in school history, 8-2 in DI games

No way was 2007 more succesful than 2008 if we win Saturday.

[Schfourteenteen]

Agreed

Besides, a win over a team that trashed us should definitely override the egg we pulled down in Clinton