[LCA&LU Mom]

Liberty, Spiders prep for Robins Stadium reunion

Posted: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 12:00 am | Updated: 3:35 am, Tue Sep 17, 2013.
BY JOHN O’CONNOR Richmond Times-Dispatch

No malice flows from the Liberty University athletic director’s office regarding the move of football coach Danny Rocco to the University of Richmond in December 2011. One of the Flames’ captains doesn’t seem bothered, either.

The programs meet on Saturday night at UR’s Robins Stadium. Jeff Barber, the Liberty AD since 2006, said he continues to regularly communicate with Rocco, and roots for Richmond to win — but not this weekend.

Liberty senior cornerback Kevin Fogg, a team captain, said, “There were no hard feelings towards (Rocco). I really can’t wait to see him face-to-face, and shake his hand.”

Click Here for Full Story

[Kolzilla41]

So I just listened to his CAA conference call. John O' Connor asks a question at the 8:21 mark of the call. He asked" Apart from the quality of the opposition, would this be a game you prefer not to play or are you anxiously awaiting Saturday night due to your familiarity with Liberty?"

He stated If you ask me that question 6 months ago, I prefer we not play. It is the next game on our schedule and we get to play at home but he doesn't really look at it like a "big" game. (paraphrase)

Huh,it's interesting he doesn't seem to want to validate his time at Liberty. When Duke asked the question about the pressure to make the playoffs, Rocco doesn't want to focus on that. Rocco also goes on to note his "body of work" and how he only focuses on the conference championship. I think it might be that attitude that caused some head scratching losses at Liberty and now has continued at Richmond. Saturday should be fun, for sure.

[R i]

Barber says in that article that he was "somewhat surprised". You are not somewhat surprised if you are forcing someone out. That could just be the preception they want us to have, that Rocco left on good terms. I thought we would find out this week. It doesnt look like we will ever know.

[jcmanson]

The Heat: A Chance for Some Closure

Posted: Tuesday, September 17, 2013.
BY DUKE CUNEO

Coaches come. Coaches go. That’s life at all levels of athletics, and certainly at the NCAA FCS level, where FBS programs are always lurking to scoop up the next big name in college football. That fact is what makes December 6, 2011 interesting. That day almost two years ago, Liberty lost its Head Coach, not to a big time FBS school but to an in-state FCS program. After six seasons at the helm for the Flames, Danny Rocco packed his bags and headed to the University of Richmond.

Danny Rocco never promised he would be at Liberty forever. He is not Ritchie McKay. Most insightful fans expected him to be lured to the FBS level after an ultimately successful season. Perhaps after a deep playoff run or even a National Championship appearance. That of course, is not what transpired. It is this fact that leaves many Liberty fans feeling less than warm and fuzzy about Rocco. After successfully turning Liberty football into a consistent competitor, some feel the Flames plateaued under Rocco. Liberty never made the playoffs with Rocco in charge, and he left after yet another hollow and disappointing share of the Big South Championship. His offense had become stale, and his defenses had consistently underperformed when it mattered most. With many key players graduating the program, it would be necessary to perform a minor rebuild in 2012.

Click Here for Full Story

[R i]

Another good bit from you guys. Well done.

[phoenix]

Reading the UR fans' reaction to the GW game (http://richmond.rivals.com/showmsg.asp? ... =166702222) reminds me SO much of so many of the game threads on here just a few years ago. Sounds like nothing much has changed in Rocco Town.

[rogers3]

Barber says in that article that he was "somewhat surprised". You are not somewhat surprised if you are forcing someone out. That could just be the preception they want us to have, that Rocco left on good terms. I thought we would find out this week. It doesnt look like we will ever know.

... or it could be that Rocco surprised some by choosing an alternative that most didn't think he would choose.

[Chris Lang]

Tuesday news and notes on the blog, plus a new poll question:

http://www.newsadvance.com/sports/liber ... f6878.html

[GillsHill2013]

Looks like i'll be making the trip to the game. I convinced my girlfriend to go shopping in Richmond and slid the o by the way we have to go to a LU-Richmond game at 6 cause I bought tickets.

[BJWilliams]

Well played my friend

[jcmanson]

Liberty hoping to make a statement

Posted: Wednesday, September 18, 2013.
BY JON MANSON

When Liberty and Richmond square off this Saturday, the Flames will be looking to do something they haven’t done in a long time. Since 2000, Liberty is 1-12 against in-state Division I opponents not named VMI, and 1-13 against CAA opponents.

The Flames have dropped 9 consecutive games to in-state Division I opponents sans VMI. You have to go all the way back to 2003 for the last time Liberty beat an in-state opponent other than VMI when they dispatched Norfolk State 69-21. Of these 12 losses, 2 have come against Norfolk State, 4 against William & Mary, and 6 against JMU.

Click Here for Full Story

[jcmanson]

Player Spotlight Week 4: Kevin Fogg

Posted: Wednesday, September 18, 2013.
BY TROY MOORE

After a season ending injury in 2012, Kevin Fogg was made available for the 2013 season, giving the Flames a huge boost to an already stout defense. The fifth year senior has already jumped back into his old play-making habits, tallying the second most all-purpose yards against Monmouth on his two interception performance, along with some very nice tackles against Morgan-State this past weekend.

The All-American kick returner and 2nd team Big South cornerback expressed what approach he and the rest of the team have going into Richmond to face his former coach of three years.

“Yes, it’s going to be emotional, but at the same time it’s going to be a football game. You can’t let emotions get in the way of how you prepare,” he told us Tuesday afternoon. “That just plays with your mind on game day, we’ve got to go in focused, and take it one game at a time, it’s just another game on our schedule, it happens to be our ex-coach, but we still have to take care of business.”

Click Here for Full Story

[Chris Lang]

Tomorrow's print story on the coaching staff ties between the two schools:

http://www.newsadvance.com/sports/liber ... f6878.html

[Chris Lang]

And more on the blog from today's press availability at Richmond:

http://www.newsadvance.com/sports/liber ... f6878.html

[jcmanson]

Opponent Player Spotlight: Michael Strauss

Posted: Thursday, September 19, 2013.
BY AARON CASE

This week the Flames head off to take on the University of Richmond Spiders. Liberty’s defense, currently allowing only 138.3 passing yards a game, will be handed the difficult task of limiting highly motivated Spiders quarterback Michael Strauss.

Strauss saw his first NCAA playing time last season with Richmond, after transferring from the University of Virginia. He started the season as a backup, before starting the last 4 games of the season in place of injured starter John Laub. Strauss led the Spiders to wins in all 4 of those games, putting up big numbers against James Madison in his first start: 27-of-43 for 271 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 35-29 win.

Click Here for Full Story

[BJWilliams]

Reading that part about the lack of interceptions reminds me of the run up to the Stony Brook game last year

[jcmanson]

Red Letter Game

Posted: Thursday, September 19, 2013.
BY JON MANSON

It’s easy to understand the Richmond/Liberty game this weekend means a lot to FlamesNation, but how much does it mean to Liberty’s players? Danny Rocco had a hand in recruiting all of Liberty’s players except for the true freshman class and a handful of Coach Gill’s first recruiting class in 2012 that are now sophomores/redshirt freshman. These are kids who spent countless hours working their tails off for Rocco, he leaves, and not even 2 years later they have to face him from the other side.

“I think it’s going to be awesome, it’s going to be a pretty emotional game for the guys who were coached under him,” explained cornerback Kevin Fogg. ”Just being able to play against him, it’s going to be crazy.”

Click Here for Full Story

[jcmanson]

University of Richmond Preview & Prediction

Posted: Friday, September 20, 2013.
BY DUKE CUNEO

It is now one day until the Flames square off against Danny Rocco and the Richmond Spiders. The much anticipated game will feature a strong Liberty defense looking to lead the Flames to their third consecutive win against a talented Spiders squad that has lost two straight. While Richmond has dropped in the polls since their loss to Gardner-Webb, the Spiders remain in the top 25 of both major polls, at numbers 20 and 23 respectively. Liberty has not pulled off a road victory against an in-state school not named VMI since 1997, and has never beaten a CAA team since the football league came into existence. Needless to say, a lot is on the line for both teams this Saturday, and it should be an emotional game from start to finish.

Click Here for Full Story

[PAmedic]

good stuff MANSON/BYD keep it coming

[BJWilliams]

With rain possibly in the forecast, this game could turn into a similar one to the JMU deluge in 09 and it will be a question of who can establish their running game better, with passing probably neutralized.

[jcmanson]

umm what is this - http://www.libertyflamesnation.com/hello-richmond-fans/

[Chris Lang]

Dude, they're calling for a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms, not torrential downpours like the day of that JMU game.

[TH Spangler]

60 to 70 percent chance of rain. Highest chance 7 pm to 9 pm.

[BJWilliams]

Dude, they're calling for a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms, not torrential downpours like the day of that JMU game.

Thanks Lang...my point is if its raining that could make the running game of even greater importance

[Yacht Rock]

umm what is this - http://www.libertyflamesnation.com/hello-richmond-fans/

Comedy gold...