[Sly Fox]

As someone who has made more than a few move sin my career, I hesitate to blame anyone for their decisions. Sure, this doesn't make much sense from our perspective. But Coach Rocco feels the situation is better for him. So be it.

Let's just say there were a number of factors at play in this move. But the Asa fallout played a significant role based on what I am hearing from tons of folks today.

[R i]

I would feel alot better if it was because he did not fire Clark as opposed to how he handled ASA or some other issue.

[flamesfan30]

isnt the court date for him tommorrow

[RVAparks]

As someone who has made more than a few move sin my career, I hesitate to blame anyone for their decisions. Sure, this doesn't make much sense from our perspective. But Coach Rocco feels the situation is better for him. So be it.

Let's just say there were a number of factors at play in this move. But the Asa fallout played a significant role based on what I am hearing from tons of folks today.

Exactly Sly, I think people are thinking about this too much. If someone gave you more money, at a job with more resources, in a nicer area, and the job has a proven track record of promotion...then wouldn't you take it?

[Sly Fox]

But you are making some strong assumptions about better pay & resources, RVAparks. That is why this was so baffling initially. As more details filter out, it is beginning to make more sense.

[Liberty22]

This is where the Big South hurt us, yes it is a lateral move but it is a better position for him, because 7 wins in the colonial gets you into the playoffs with at large bids, where as the big south only gets the champ in.. if rocco were in the CAA the past 4 years he would have been in the playoffs...

[bballfan84]

More money is not likely an enticement at UR. Neither are resources or FBS potential. This makes no sense at face value which is why I remain cynical at this point.

They did recently win the FCS National Championship. Yes it sucks hes leaving but lets be realistic this is better than a lateral move..congrats to the guy.

[bluedevilflame]

This is where the Big South hurt us, yes it is a lateral move but it is a better position for him, because 7 wins in the colonial gets you into the playoffs with at large bids, where as the big south only gets the champ in.. if rocco were in the CAA the past 4 years he would have been in the playoffs...

Agreed. I don't see this as a lateral move, they have a recent national title and are in a much better FCS conference. Sure facilities are a big downgrade from us, but Richmond gets a lot more attention, especially if he wins there.

[Sly Fox]

The Big South played practically no role in this decision. It was other aspects of who we are that impacting him more than most of us care to admit.

[From the class of 09]

More money is not likely an enticement at UR. Neither are resources or FBS potential. This makes no sense at face value which is why I remain cynical at this point.

They did recently win the FCS National Championship. Yes it sucks hes leaving but lets be realistic this is better than a lateral move..congrats to the guy.

Not if you weigh in the future realignment.

[rogers3]

It makes our games against Richmond a little more interesting.

I'd bet money that it gets taken off the schedule... and that several of our players will get taken off of our roster, as well. Sad day for LU, IMHO.

[RVAparks]

But you are making some strong assumptions about better pay & resources, RVAparks. That is why this was so baffling initially. As more details filter out, it is beginning to make more sense.

I'm assuming on the pay, but not about the resources (and I'm pretty sure my assumption on the pay would be correct). If you want to compete for an FCS title then which school would you go to? Richmond or Liberty? It's not even close in my opinion.

I think instead of taking this as a "sky is falling" moment, people need to look at it as a opportunity. I like Rocco, but I also think he had reached his ceiling or was close to it here. Can he recruit? Yes. But I wasn't a big fan of his x's and o's why. Liberty now has a chance to make a splash, a splash that could make them more attractive to some conferences and splash that could help benefit the school more long term.

[R i]

I just sent my sister to the FOC with a football to be signed by ROCCO as a christmas present for my dad. Someone stop her.

[RVAparks]

More money is not likely an enticement at UR. Neither are resources or FBS potential. This makes no sense at face value which is why I remain cynical at this point.

They did recently win the FCS National Championship. Yes it sucks hes leaving but lets be realistic this is better than a lateral move..congrats to the guy.

Exactly, some need to take off their Liberty Red and Blue shaded glasses here. Richmond is a better football program, it's a better school, and it's a better area. Truth hurts, but it's the truth.

[flamesfan30]

....who we are?


meaning what exactly? that he wasn't the perfect fit we all thought he was? didnt like having to answer to jerry and the administration? letting asa play cost him the job? not sharing our vision? Not a christian?

what are you saying exactly sly?

[BJWilliams]

If youre really that bitter about the decision (and that goes for everybody here), then maybe you ought to re-examine yourself. I mean Im bummed out as much as anybody (having met Coach Rocco and developed a deep respect for him through our interaction), but at the end of the day, he left quite a legacy here on the mountain. Is it perfect? No, but still this place has been impacted by his having been here and THAT is what Im left with.

[bluedevilflame]

If youre really that bitter about the decision (and that goes for everybody here), then maybe you ought to re-examine yourself. I mean Im bummed out as much as anybody (having met Coach Rocco and developed a deep respect for him through our interaction), but at the end of the day, he left quite a legacy here on the mountain. Is it perfect? No, but still this place has been impacted by his having been here and THAT is what Im left with.

+1,000
Great coach, helped get us to where we are now. Good luck to him at Richmond and I hope we can land someone that can take our program to the next level.

[Schfourteenteen]

If youre really that bitter about the decision (and that goes for everybody here), then maybe you ought to re-examine yourself. I mean Im bummed out as much as anybody (having met Coach Rocco and developed a deep respect for him through our interaction), but at the end of the day, he left quite a legacy here on the mountain. Is it perfect? No, but still this place has been impacted by his having been here and THAT is what Im left with.

Enter SuperJon with a good ole girlfriend analogy. That is, if Donna lets him post.

[flamesfan30]

i hope that wasnt pointed at me. im far from bitter. i love that we had rocco while we did and only wish him the best.

[olldflame]

I really don't see mass player defections coming. Keep in mind, this not a FBS to FCS situation. They would have to sit a year, and a lot of our best players have already redshirted (including Woodrum and Henderson) so they would lose a year of actual eligibility if they transferred

[RVAparks]

Shocking that RVAparks would be the one to tell us the tough truth about our program.

So we have a better football program than Richmond? Was I wrong? Troll much?

[IMBach]

But you are making some strong assumptions about better pay & resources, RVAparks. That is why this was so baffling initially. As more details filter out, it is beginning to make more sense.

I'm assuming on the pay, but not about the resources (and I'm pretty sure my assumption on the pay would be correct). If you want to compete for an FCS title then which school would you go to? Richmond or Liberty? It's not even close in my opinion.

I think instead of taking this as a "sky is falling" moment, people need to look at it as a opportunity. I like Rocco, but I also think he had reached his ceiling or was close to it here. Can he recruit? Yes. But I wasn't a big fan of his x's and o's why. Liberty now has a chance to make a splash, a splash that could make them more attractive to some conferences and splash that could help benefit the school more long term.

The big splash could be out big ego AD screwing up another hire.

[flamesfilmguy]

I would say we do have better facilities and probably the same amount of $$ resources.... and they were terrible this past year in the CAA. so yes I think it might be a lateral at best move.

[RVAparks]

I would say we do have better facilities and probably the same amount of $$ resources.... and they were terrible this past year in the CAA. so yes I think it might be a lateral at best move.

I think it's a slightly northeast move, haha. Richmond has reached their ceiling and they don't want to go beyond it. I certainly do think Liberty will go far and beyond what Richmond will ever do on the field. But if you look at it in the here and now (not considering going to FBS) then I think it's a slight upgrade for Rocco. Hopefully we'll prove him (and myself) otherwise if we still get to play them in a couple of years.

[From the class of 09]

I would say we do have better facilities and probably the same amount of $$ resources.... and they were terrible this past year in the CAA. so yes I think it might be a lateral at best move.

I think it's a slightly northeast move, haha. Richmond has reached their ceiling and they don't want to go beyond it. I certainly do think Liberty will go far and beyond what Richmond will ever do on the field. But if you look at it in the here and now (not considering going to FBS) then I think it's a slight upgrade for Rocco. Hopefully we'll prove him (and myself) otherwise if we still get to play them in a couple of years.

But you do have to consider the potential for the FBS move, cuz that is reality.