[Helmickcd]

Coach Rocco leaving for better opportunities has always been somewhat of a given. There's an extremely high profile gig open that is currently a hot potato where he has deep ties and is most certainly in the discussion. And his name has been publicly floated for a number of other positions.

Losing Coach Rocco would be a huge loss. Let's not kid ourselves. But he has also built this program up to the point where this has become a much more attractive job.

Let's just hope that time is further down the road with us firmly in an FBS league.

I think losing Rocco in this off-season would be a huge loss. But, I think losing Rocco after next football season might not be as big of a loss. With all of these conference moves, coaches are going to be on the hot seat! Schools are taking huge chances by shifting to other conferences and, normally, the repercussions for not performing up to that school's specific standards are blamed on the head coach. After next football season I see many very talented coaches being available and I predict that, if Rocco does not move somewhere in this off-season, he will move to an FBS school after next football season. This is just a theory and I really have no facts to back it up.

If this happens, I think SLY is right when he says that it is an attractive job. The head coach at Liberty has nearly unlimited funding, a brand new stadium and facility, a well-known AD, one of the top ranked weight rooms and training staff, Christian atmosphere, powerful Chancellor, etc.

I said this in my post to another question but it implies here as well:

Patience will bring Excellence.

Liberty has to build a tradition of winning. Tradition of winning takes time. I would say that Liberty has to be competitive for 10+ years before credibility is given.

LU is moving in the right direction. It just takes time.

Go Flames!

[alabama24]

The head coach at Liberty has nearly unlimited funding

What are you smoking? I am sure it is not allowed in the Liberty Way.

[BJWilliams]

10+ years?!? Either you have REALLY high standards or...or...man I cant even find something to compare it to it sounds so crazy

[jcmanson]

Another great post helmick

[From the class of 09]

10+ years?!? Either you have REALLY high standards or...or...man I cant even find something to compare it to it sounds so crazy

It's been six years already so that doesn't sound so crazy.

[truthorconsequences]

I said this in my post to another question but it implies here as well:

Patience will bring Excellence.

Liberty has to build a tradition of winning. Tradition of winning takes time. I would say that Liberty has to be competitive for 10+ years before credibility is given.

LU is moving in the right direction. It just takes time.

Go Flames!

Do we fool ourselves? We are a good Big South program. Stony Brook is the top Big South program. In 6 years we have not made the playoffs nor beat a CAA opponent. DR had numerous transfers from his UVA connection and some VT as well. Do you replace Brown/Summers? Can we get a ground game? I say if Rocco has a chance to jump to a situation where he can duplicate the positives of establishing quality fb as he has done here for more $$$ then he is gone. The next steps here are going to be tougher. How do we classify the right direction?

[Helmickcd]

The goal is the same for all.. Reach the FBS and begin establishing a winning tradition that leads to bowls. But, defining success at our current level is tough. In order to define success at this level we have to define what it takes to reach our future goal: FBS play.

Success in the eyes of the FBS conferences is completely different then how we are defining success. Much more emphasis is put on average attendance, future growth, television market, and facilities. The lack of a good (or even mediocre) television market is keeping App St. out of the FBS right now. These are all things that LU is doing very well at. We are ahead of schedule in most of these areas and the FBS conferences see that.

I firmly believe that we have minimum 4 more years of this current level before we are ready to move up. Six years (under Rocco) of winning is NOT tradition. Tradition is built with time. The whole University is having these growing pains, not just athletics.

Back on subject... I would love to see Rocco carry LU into the FBS but I am not sold that LU will be able to hold on to him for a few more years. Not to worry... LU has an excellent staff that will find not only a great replacement but the coach to take LU into a new stage.

Patience.

Go Flames!

[bradyfan]

I completely agree with everything that you said. There is only one problem with it and that is that we are on a very short watch. The FBS realignment could be ready for some huge changes and that means many FCS schools are likely to receive offers. After next year, it's only a matter of time before the NCAA puts a ban on FCS teams moving to FBS. They did a few few years ago. That's why even though I agree with what you're saying, we have to move sooner rather than later, if we want in. These opportunities hardly ever come around and if this one presents itself to us, we would be stupid to reject it.

[SumItUp]

These opportunities hardly ever come around and if this one presents itself to us, we would be stupid to reject it.

If we only have one offer, we won't reject it.

[Liberty4Life]

Patience will bring Excellence.

Liberty has to build a tradition of winning. Tradition of winning takes time. I would say that Liberty has to be competitive for 10+ years before credibility is given.

LU is moving in the right direction. It just takes time.

Go Flames!

The fan base has been patient for 25 years (of Division I ball). That's patient enough. Meanwhile, we see schools like Old Dominion, who just started its program three years ago, leapfrog us. They just won a playoff game. We haven't even been to the playoffs.

I mean, our biggest victory in the last few years was getting a judge to delay our star defensive tackle's drug case until after the season.

[Helmickcd]

@Liberty4Life

That last comment was disrespectful. You, most likely, don't know that young man. I do not know him either. It is not our place to judge his life.

I want you to re-read my post. I said that LU needs to build a tradition of WINNING. We have to be competitive for a long stretch. ODU is a completely different monster than LU is right now because of their location. I grew up in Newport News, VA where I would go watch Michael Vick play every weekend. I would go watch Ronald Curry light it up for Hampton High School. Allen Iverson was one of the best football players I have ever seen and he played at the high school 5 miles from me. ODU has a HUGE market of talented kids to pick from. They are bound to go FBS quickly because that is an untapped market. I am still surprised to this day that there are no PRO teams in that area.

Back on subject, it looks like Coach Rocco may move quicker than I thought. I do not know any of the back story of this situation so I will not speak on that. What I will say is that Richmond University is a very prestigious school. It is ranked very high academically and it takes a HUGE effort to be accepted. Their recruiting base is very different than LU's.

I think Coach Rocco will be very successful at UR (if that is where he is going) because of two things:

1. Recruiting - Closer to the coast talent.

2. LU Experience - LU has provided him with many wonderful experiences. He has seen NFL ready players, most notably Jennings. He has worked with a University that is very high class.


LU has left Danny Rocco as a better person. Danny Rocco has left LU with a better Football Program.

Thank you Rocco!

Go Flames!!

[matshark]

I mean, our biggest victory in the last few years was getting a judge to delay our star defensive tackle's drug case until after the season.

Actually, Helmickcd, it wasn't disrespectful. That WAS our biggest win. I mean, besides SB, JMU, Lehigh and the playoffs of course... oh, right.

Two more thoughts: 1. knowing someone is not necessary to state the facts. 2. Whether or not we are to judge someone's life is debatable (ESPECIALLY if their christians) - however, no one is judging his life, merely stating that the biggest win was getting his drug case delayed until after the season. He has a drug case. It was delayed until after the season. True on both counts.