[Pilotguy24]

I am planning to go to this game. Anyone else making the trip?

I will be there! First visit to Land of Enchantment = first Liberty football game in over 2 years. If New Mexico scored 42 against the Aggies, I'm sure our offense can too.

[A Sea of Red]

5 things to know: NMSU

http://www.aseaofred.com/5-things-to-kn ... ico-state/

[Class of 20Something]

5 things to know: NMSU

http://www.aseaofred.com/5-things-to-kn ... ico-state/

So there is effectively very little film available on their QB. I imagine we may struggle for a quarter defensively then crack down on them.

I wonder if the team could have practices over at Apple Orchard Mountain to get used to altitude.

[Damien Sordelett]

5 things to know: NMSU

http://www.aseaofred.com/5-things-to-kn ... ico-state/

So there is effectively very little film available on their QB. I imagine we may struggle for a quarter defensively then crack down on them.

I wonder if the team could have practices over at Apple Orchard Mountain to get used to altitude.

Josh Adkins played the entire game against UTEP and the majority of the game against New Mexico. There is enough film on the QB to see his tendencies, strengths and weaknesses.

[A Sea of Red]

Flames face what Coach Gill calls his biggest challenge as a head coach, travelling cross-country in consecutive weeks

http://www.aseaofred.com/flames-travel- ... tive-week/

[flameshaw]

Flames face what Coach Gill calls his biggest challenge as a head coach, travelling cross-country in consecutive weeks

http://www.aseaofred.com/flames-travel- ... tive-week/

Obviously TG hasn't had many big challenges if two cross-country trips, on a chartered plane is his biggest. (I would have guessed it was playing defense, especially against the option).
Not sure why he would make that comment. Obviously the players hear him say that and consider it a big challenge themselves. Why verbalize, focus on something, that subconsciously gives the players an excuse to perform less than their best? So many times you see good coaches minimize the things they can't control, weather, travel, schedule. etc.

[Neo]

Every game is the toughest ever for college football coaches.

[thepostman]

Gotta put the excuses out their early and often just in case you lose so you can justify the loss later.

[A Sea of Red]

Q&A with NMSU Round Up

http://www.aseaofred.com/qa-with-nmsu-round-up/

[Jonathan Carone]

Gotta put the excuses out their early and often just in case you lose so you can justify the loss later.

That and blaming players for our mistakes are what we're best at.

[jinxy]

I have directtv and the game was not showing on 24 as of this morning.

[TH Spangler]

https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/sports ... 501824002/

[LUDad]

LU going on the road and being favored against another BCS team in their first year in the BCS right after winning their first ever BCS road game. Who would have thunk it...thus far LU is exceeding all expectations.

[jinxy]

Funny that some are so gloomy about our status yet when you hear other coaches talk they are almost jealous at some of these schools. Again, i think TG better keep winning to keep the seat cool.

[Jonathan Carone]

Funny that some are so gloomy about our status yet when you hear other coaches talk they are almost jealous at some of these schools.

I think they're jealous of the facilities and the budget for sure. They don't know the culture of the school though or the past heartbreaks. That's what makes us gloomy.

[jinxy]

I know what your saying but i dont get the gloom about our future. I think the future looks really bright. Facilities and scheduling have come together. Talent wise we have not been overmatched yet which i have to say ive been surprised. I just dont think our future is tied to our past failures. Ive heard more than one person say the freshman class the best “fit” for lu class weve ever had. That along with the talent should increase.

I obviously dont think gill is the guy to get us to our ultimate goal but if he can keep doing what hes done so far i wouldnt mind having him in 19 and getting another recruiting class in the program.

[Jonathan Carone]

I think we can have success in the future under the right guy. I don’t know if that right guy would want to come here given the current political climate.

I also would agree our future isn’t tied to our past. My biggest concerns are more question marks than doom and gloom:

Is independent football sustainable?

Will the fan base stick around when all we are playing for is a random bowl game and not a conference championship?

Can we avoid month long road trips in late October/November?

Can we consistently recruit at a high level without the fulfillment of a conference championship opportunity?

I view these more as question marks than insurmountable challenges. I could argue both sides of those questions. I just don’t know what side will ultimately prove to be right.

[TH Spangler]

That's what makes us gloomy.

Jonathan only you could spin that one negative!

"They have made a tremendous commitment to football there. They are going to be a good FBS program and it's not going to take them long."

"They play football in a stadium that would rival most Sun Belt Conference schools with plans for $50 million in upgrades, along with a $29 million indoor facility."

"I have a lot of respect for (Gill), not only as a coach, but as a man," Martin said. "I think he is a great role model for coaches and for players." .... "He (Gill) does a great job putting players in a position to make plays," Martin said.

"Liberty has completed its independent football schedule through 2022, and due to a better geographical location, has Power 5 home games against Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Duke, Wake Forest and Army over the next two years."

[A Sea of Red]

Final Thoughts & Prediction

http://www.aseaofred.com/final-thoughts ... ico-state/

[ballcoach15]

I think that college football has reached the point to where conference championships are not what they used to be.

Example: Alabama has last season's National Championship Trophy. The Tide did not win their division within the conference

[alabama24]

I think that college football has reached the point to where conference championships are not what they used to be.

Example: Alabama has last season's National Championship Trophy. The Tide did not win their division within the conference

Coach... You Crazy!

BAMA is a unique case (thankfully). Also, Nick Saban would disagree with you.

[TH Spangler]

I think that college football has reached the point to where conference championships are not what they used to be.

Example: Alabama has last season's National Championship Trophy. The Tide did not win their division within the conference

That trophy belongs to UCF, it should be turn over immediately!

[LUDad]

Two things.

1. It helps some teams to play with a chip on their shoulders. Being favored for the first time negates that. Will we come out of the blocks hunger and maintain focus? Cannot be looking forward to Troy.
2. On a postitive note, Army gave teams the blueprint on stoping our offense by using extensive press coverage, especially on AGG. To the team's credit they have made adjustments, just ask NM.

[Pilotguy24]

This is almost seems like a trap game for Liberty. Just won a hard fought, close, emotional game at New Mexico and have to travel to face a team they are favored to win against. Hopefully, they just come out swinging and get the game wide open and then finish it in the 2nd half without giving up 4 TDs.

Btw, I didn't introduce myself to y'all. I'm a 2016 band alum living in FL. I've followed this board for a while, but just now created an account. Hopefully, I'll see y'all around at a game sometime soon!

[PojoPops]

NMSU fan here. Since we play you 27 times over the next few years (all numbers approximate), I thought I would jump on to join in the fray.

NMSU is the only FBS team this year to lose their leading passer, leading rusher, leading receiver and leading tackler from last season. And those losses weren't minor. Our former QB was the second all-time leading passer at NMSU and was the 8th leading passer in the nation last year despite missing a game. Our RB was the second all-time leading rusher at NMSU and an all-american his junior season. Our wide receiver was a 4th round NFL draft pick. So on and so forth. You get the picture.

That being said, we returned 17 starters from last year, mostly on the defensive side of the ball. We will be without our best defensive player (LB Terrell Hanks) against you. But will be healthy aside from him. We like to rush the QB and had 43 sacks last year, good for 5th in the nation. We have 13 this year and started slowly with only one combined in our first 2 games.

On offense, we are really struggling. Our coach prefers to run an "air raid", but we just don't have the personnel this year for that. We have 2 speedy RB's in Huntley and Caldwell, but they have not been able to produce running between the tackles. We have a bigger back, Gibson, that went for over 100 yards in our last game. I suspect he will be our primary ball handler in this game.

Lastly, our forum is Aggie Alert (https://247sports.com/college/new-mexic ... gh-103615/), not the link listed elsewhere (Crimson Country, althought that still has good info). Feel free to come over and discuss the game. Our posters are very friendly to the opposition, I promise.