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Post by PittLU on Dec 1, 2005 22:55:49 GMT -5
OK - since there are rumbles going on through PM and "inside information" - riddle me this:
"Did the "new" AD have a say in Rocco - or is Rocco going to be in the challenging dual role similar to coach and GM in the NFL?
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Post by Sly Fox on Dec 1, 2005 23:00:36 GMT -5
I honestly don't know the answer to that question. But I am very interested to hear it. I have to believe that Jerry consulted with our new AD (if in fact we have closed the deal on the AD) before the formal offer was made to Rocco. But I could be wrong. We just don't have all the facts. Perhaps one of our insiders up on the mountain will be able to fill in the details.
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Post by Chris Lang on Dec 2, 2005 1:31:18 GMT -5
LUPITT - Don't assume a decision hasn't already made on the AD position. I have a feeling you'll meet both choices tomorrow morning at the news conference. No AD has been named. Falwell expects the hire within 10 days.
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Post by bigsmooth on Dec 2, 2005 18:09:45 GMT -5
"for the record", sorry i can't be perfect like you sly!
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Post by Sly Fox on Dec 2, 2005 22:08:14 GMT -5
Thanks for noticing. ;D Although my wife would have other adjectives to describe me that wouldn't be as flattering.
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Post by eddantes on Dec 3, 2005 9:41:57 GMT -5
You know, the more I think about it, the less thrilled I am with the decision. Seriously. I'll give Rocco the benefit of the doubt -- I think that all new coaches should be given three years before you start to levy criticism -- but I just feel like this pick was rushed.
And for all the talk about the great recruiting class that Rocco brought in during 2001 and 2002, what has paid off for UVa? Those guys are now upperclassmen now, and UVA is sitting at 6 wins this year. Geez, Liberty is the king of "we have great recruiting classes but less performance of the field" (go look at basketball under the Hankinson era).
I was hoping for a "shock and awe" pick. I got a "awwww, all right."
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Post by eddantes on Dec 3, 2005 9:44:35 GMT -5
Editors note: I think that anyone compared to coach Karcher is going to look like stinkin' Vince Lombardi. I do wish Rocco the best of luck.
First step: Win the Big South. Second step: Winning season.
We are in position to get at least one of the two next year. Let's hope that we get those two steps swiftly, before they move to steps three and four.
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Post by Sly Fox on Dec 3, 2005 10:33:40 GMT -5
I don't think anyone is ballyhooing this selection as jawdropping. But it is a logical choice that has the potential to be genius ultimately. But that remains top be seen.
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Post by Chris Lang on Dec 3, 2005 11:41:18 GMT -5
Again, folks, be realistic here. What "shock and awe" hiring did you expect? Lou Holtz? Bud Foster? C'mon. Take a step back and look at what Liberty football is right now. It's one of, if not, the worst I-AA program in the country. It's harsh, but in its current state, that's the truth. No I-A head coach in his right mind would drop his current gig to come to Liberty. If Foster was going to leave Blacksburg, he would have done so a long time ago. He's waiting out Beamer and will very likely replace him when he retires. Hiring a "name" retread would do nothing but set the program back. That is not what the football program needed.
Rocco is a fabulous hire. Three other I-AAs were all over him the minute Virginia's season ended. He was a pretty hot coaching commodity. One guy I talked to last night who has seen a lot of this university's athletics over the years said it's the best football coaching hire the school has ever made. And it's not even close.
As for the hire being rushed, well, I feel comfortable talking about this a bit now since the process is over. Falwell started talking to Al Groh about Danny back in early November. Conversations were under way before Karcher was let go. So it's not like he just picked up the phone two weeks ago and starting thinking about this.
Getting a coach in now is very important because there are 16 days of recruiting left before the NCAA mandated dead period starts. Had the coach been hired in January, it would have been an immeasurable setback. The current assistants have continued to recruit the last two weeks, so Danny can hit the ground running.
As far as Karcher goes, he's a great guy and a great human being. I got to know him quite a bit and I was sad to see his professional life take a hit. At the same time, stuff is starting to leak out about how many players didn't connect with the guy. Check the Brock Smith quote in my story today. It speaks volumes about the problems in the last few weeks of the season. Half the team quit on the guy.
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A.G.
Junior Member
Posts: 62
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Post by A.G. on Dec 3, 2005 11:54:17 GMT -5
Great point, Chris:
"Getting a coach in now is very important because there are 16 days of recruiting left before the NCAA mandated dead period starts. Had the coach been hired in January, it would have been an immeasurable setback."
I think last year's recruiting was hurt as negociations with Karcher dragged on for so long. This is a great way to get rolling right now. Even more, I am sure Coach Rocco has a nice list of prospects who may not be UVA-level, but will fit in nicely at Liberty.
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Post by guest forever on Dec 3, 2005 14:57:03 GMT -5
I think some of the Liberty faithful need to take a more realistic look at where the program is on the football food chain...near the bottom. Honestly, I'm somewhat surprised that a coach like Danny Rocco would consider LU. But I am very glad he did. The answer is not in a big name that is looking for a retirement home. If landing Dany Rocco as the coach is the sign of further "recruits" to come...the program will get turned around and win. Danny Rocco had other options. Be very thankful LU that he picked you. Also, a word of thanks to Sam Rutiglano for helping to pull this off. I don't think Rocco's hiring would have happened if the Rutiglanos hadn't been involved.
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Post by krh44 on Dec 3, 2005 15:18:58 GMT -5
Here are some quotes from a UVA message board. Seems like they had a lot of respect for Rocco.
iCanefromVA Recruit Re: We could have 3 assistants accepting Head Coaching Job.. Posted: 12/2/05 9:22:15 am -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I work at Liberty and Danny Rocco is being announced as our new head coach right now. What can we expect from him?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posts: 1 CalvinHoo
HooNation Mod Squad
Re: We could have 3 assistants accepting Head Coaching Job.. Posted: 12/2/05 9:30:30 am -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A recruiter that the athletes like and respect.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posts: 2583 HoosinCharlotte
HooNation Mod Squad
We could have 3 assistants accepting Head Coaching Job... Posted: 12/2/05 1:22:32 pm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- and a quality person, from all accounts, he is a great individual and hard worker.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hoos in '05!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posts: 4873 IrishAnglerDan Waterboy
We could have 3 assistants accepting Head Coaching Job... Posted: 12/2/05 5:20:44 pm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And a former Deacon to boot. He's one hell of a recruiter.
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Post by HarrisburgFlame on Dec 3, 2005 15:30:25 GMT -5
Chris:
great points. The comment I made about Foster was a pure pipe comment quote and I hoped no one took me seriously. Bud is not leaving. Everything you said about the state of LU's program is correct. As for "shock and awe" I just let my hopes get the better of my head. The way Jerry moved on this led me to hope something had been in the works and he had something big had been lined up. I'm not a good guy to take a stance on this hire because I am extermely jaded - (smoothie you know you are my boy) I think Al Groh is a mediocre coach and Rocco is a Groh guy. I'll have to shake that off because now he is our guy. When Rocco and Bob Christmas were mentioned as candidates the reality hit me - LU will be lucky to get anyone to take this job. Some may see Rocco as a great hire and I hope he will be. As for me I am not getting my hopes up until I see reason to.
Many here slammed Karcher and at the end it was obvious he lost the team and a change needed to be made. I hoped we would go out and get someone significantly better. On paper, in my opinion, we did no better than Karcher with this hire. I want to be wrong guys and ridiculed on this board to no end over the next few years.
Who else interviewed? Why did Jerry call Al Groh for his input? That's like asking a taxi cab driver how to perform brain surgery. Jerry made the comment he liked Rocco's interview and the "loyalty" he showed after UVA's Boise Bowl loss to Fresno State last year. That's insane! UVA was picked by some to contend for a national title last year and that staff took them to Boise and a 6-5 record this year. Why didn't Jery jump on the phone with Pat Hill and see if any of the Fresno assistants were interested in the job :>)?
Time will tell. I was the biggest Karcher homer on this board until it was obvious change was needed. I am sure Coach Rocco is a great guy and was probably the best candidate for the LU job. that still doesn't mean I'm drinking red, white and blue Kool Aid regarding the hire. I was so angry I considered taking my Flames Club donation that sends 100% to the football program - and moving it to men's basketball. But I didn't. Football needs us in the worst way right now.
I need to stop. No more coffee today. We are all in this together and I'll support our guys no matter who is driving the bus. As smoothie said in his welcome - the doubters will be won over. That's all any of us want. Medic knows the only hire that would have made me happy is Morgan Hout!
I apologize in advance to everyone here for my negativity but I am very disappointed we are where we are right now in football.
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tallyw
Junior Member
Posts: 53
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Post by tallyw on Dec 3, 2005 15:42:06 GMT -5
No problem on dropping your thoughts H'burg... that's what this support group is for... Just a quick correction, Jerry was talking about the October 22 game against UNC when UVA went down 7-5. Remember, it was November (as Chris Lang pointed out) that Jerry contacted Al Groh.
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Post by HarrisburgFlame on Dec 3, 2005 15:57:02 GMT -5
I had my facts wrong - I could have sworn it was after the Potato Bowl last year. That said - the fact Jerry talked to him after UNC makes it even worse! Well the one good thing I can say about Coach Rocco and all of his defensive experience and special teams coordinator experience at Texas - we may win a bunch of games by a score of 2-0 through great D and STs!....
On a lighter note - being on the defensive side of the ball coaching really helps when you move to the offensive side because you have a feeling for what defenses are going to do to shut you down.
I'm trying hard to be positive. It does seem Coach Rocco hit it off with the players.
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Post by PAmedic on Dec 3, 2005 19:13:01 GMT -5
Lets give the man a shot here, folks- at least let him assemble a STAFF before you get disappointed- that's half the battle right there: good Coordinators. Remember, this job involves a LOT of management, and he has a lot of experience in his various family members that we may see coming over as well.
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Post by givemethemic on Dec 3, 2005 19:27:52 GMT -5
I really think that some of you guys really need to wake up and actually look at where Coach Rocco has been and what he has done. Also about the 2001,2002 classes that were mentioned before, look at how many of those guys are playing on Sundays now. As mentioned above why on earth would we want a shock in awe name, my thoughts are that if they where so good they would still be at the top. This is a great hire and we are in alot better shape now than what we where 3 weeks ago. It's now time for everybody to get behind Coach Rocco and stop your whining.
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Post by PAmedic on Dec 3, 2005 19:32:48 GMT -5
yeah.
what he said. (anybody remember that UVa is a D1A school, going to a bowl game. There are a lot of people that woulda been happy w/ 6 wins at that level this year)
'nuff said.
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Post by BJ on Dec 3, 2005 19:47:11 GMT -5
Personally I like it. Rocco is a defensive minded coach (which I like). And obviously he knows how to get the most out of good players. Im lookin forward to next year already!
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Post by HarrisburgFlame on Dec 4, 2005 0:49:10 GMT -5
givemethemic:
Let me be frank - that 2001, 2002 talent you reference that's playing on Sunday's that's great - what have they won at UVA under the COACHES that recruited them? That is my point. It is one thing to get good players - it's another thing to COACH them. I agree - you will get no more whining from me - but the jury is out in my book and we'll just have to wait three or four years once Coach Rocco gets his program in place to see if this was the right hire. I hope he turns us around. I'm behind the man - but I am still scratching my head on what just went down.
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Post by Stevev on Dec 4, 2005 7:38:17 GMT -5
Some good points you brought up Harrisburg Flame. I guess we have to be lucky right now to have Dan Rocco considering what went down this season on the field. We can't do much worse. His credentials match some of the better 1AA coaches in the game right now as far as overall experience in 1A football I am trying to compare him to Mickey Matthews JMU's head man who turned JMU's program around and won a national championship last season. Good points concerning UVA's mediocrity this season but might not be fair to pin it on Rocco's excellent recruiting class. The 2 previous season were much better.
Right now I am hoping that Rocco assembles a capable coaching staff together and can bring in some recruits particularly offensive and defensive lineman would can make an immediate impact. The other positions have some potential due to last years good recruiting class in those areas and overall youth. I will try to take this one step at a time and it all starts with recruiting and coaching then I will worry about instant results.
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Post by thesportscritic on Dec 4, 2005 7:54:28 GMT -5
Harrisburgflame, UVA is at the DI-A level. UVA is a whole lot better than us.
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Post by ATrain on Dec 4, 2005 8:31:03 GMT -5
I honestly don't think we're the worst in DI-AA, I still believe Savannah State isn't as good as we are.
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Post by Sly Fox on Dec 4, 2005 9:02:13 GMT -5
Savie State isn't really I-AA. That's a farce. We won't be down long. In fact, let me go on record as saying we take the 2006 Big South title. That will be a great start in rebuilding our program.
Kudos to SJ for fixing ATrain's sig so quickly.
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A.G.
Junior Member
Posts: 62
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Post by A.G. on Dec 4, 2005 9:30:28 GMT -5
I wonder how the FSU crowd is feeling about their OC Bowden this morning??
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Post by bigsmooth on Dec 4, 2005 9:44:25 GMT -5
HF, i understand your frustration. i too would have wanted someone with head coaching experience, and i too would want to know how the process started and who actually interviewed. i also agree that the karcher/rocco bio is very comparable. i may go off on a small tangent here, and i hope i will reach to a point, but now i have to take up for al groh and his staff at UVA. groh is 36-26 after 5 seasons at UVA...george welsh was 25-29-2. they both have an average of a 4th place finish in the ACC after 5 years as well. groh has 4 straight bowls, welsh one bowl. i feel UVA's program is in better shape than it was when welsh left. frank beamer was 22-32 after 5 seasons at VT, and zero bowls. If i remember correctly hokie nation was not real happy and were ready to run him out of town, but now is the probably one of the top 5 coaches in the country. coaches need time, so anyone can say groh and his staff are mediocre, but i will look at the numbers and disagree. according to recruiting geeks UVA should be better. sure im a bit disapponited, but in comparison to other programs after 5 years, UVA is not that far away. i am not saying groh is better than beamer b/c we all know he is not. groh and his staff have very good recruiting skills, and i think that is why the assistants are in demand. groh has also changed the attitude of UVA football, and made it a real big time atmosphere, and also just really changed the culture in cville. i do think they are not performing to the standards they should, but im not going to panic. i also think groh is hard to work for, so that is why they move on. beamer has great continunity with his staff, and it shows. they too are very good recruiters but i think the difference is they are really loyal to beamer....it is all about continunity. with all of my rambling, rocco is our guy, he may have zero head coaching experience, but he comes from a good staff, is a proven recruiter,and it seems the players have taken to him. we are not in the team meetings nor were we in the interviews, so i think we need ease up a bit. let's see what kind of staff he assembles and see how much we improve in year one. quite frankly im honored that that a D-I asst. would even look at LU. it really does not look like an attractive job. what are you playing for other than A BSC title and no automatic bid, and a dream of playing I-A football and taking a beating. i think rocco sees a diamond in the rough, and i think we will deliver us a BSC title and a playoff berth in 2-3 years. we all want it now, but patience is the key. VT had patience with beamer and look what is happening now! why cant that happen at LU with rocco as our leader? GO FLAMES!!!
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Post by HarrisburgFlame on Dec 4, 2005 9:48:02 GMT -5
givemethemic:
"Harrisburgflame, UVA is at the DI-A level. UVA is a whole lot better than us."
What are you saying here? I know UVA is D-I and yes they are better than us. I don't recall any post I made saying that UVA wasn't D-I and I know I never said LU was better than UVA in football!
Maybe you are trying to say LU is a step down from UVA - I agree. But it is a step up for a position coach looking to be a head coach. The only points I was trying to make bringing UVA into the discussion is that they:
1. Have recruited very well according to the recruiting experts 2. Not won in accordance with the talent they have gotten (2 tire bowls and a Boise Bowl) 3. Even the UVA faithful are restless with Groh who has never won anywhere he has been (Wake - sub .500 record, Jets to a playoff team and crashed them in one year, 5 years at UVA)
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Post by madmat79 on Dec 4, 2005 9:56:10 GMT -5
Concerning player's response to the many issues facing them this fall. The young ones came in with great expectations and enthusiasm. They came to Liberty to win. If you check their backgrounds, they came from winning traditions, which shaped who they are and why they are playing college ball. They also choose this institution because of LU's stand of faith. Really, why come here if you are not buying in to the principles and belief system that everything is based on at LU. Most could have played elsewhere. The situation that they ran into was this: a leadership void in the senior/upper class. Manny Rojas, a junior, assumed the mantle of leadership and did his best, and established himself as the team leader. Where was a senior. Who was a captain? Why was there this void in the two upper classes? There is where the coaches have to assume responsibility. So you have many freshemen playing intregal parts on this team, and providing leadership "as freshmen!" This made for the 1-10 season. But the dues paid by the youngsters is an investment, that I believe will pay dividends shortly. They are hungry. They were busting tail the monday after thanksgiving. The ones I talked to wanted Coach Rocco. When they met, on Fri. afternoon, it was a hit. There was a room full of smiles and excitement. The message was essentially this from Coach Rocco. We are going to win, doing all that needs to be done in order to win. And all the personal development stuff, which is good, will take care of itself. The previous message was charachter development could be achieved through losing. The players called "baloney" on this. They are competitors, and they want to win, badly. And they are embracing this choice as the one who will LEAD them to that goal.
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Post by Stevev on Dec 4, 2005 10:08:13 GMT -5
When comparing the bios of Rocco and Karcher Rocco clearly has the edge in experience. Karcher was an assistant for some bad Pitt teams and had 1 year stints with some 1AA's and had some overseas experiences ( not sure of the significance of that). At least Rocco had some experience coaching some winning 1A programs as BC, TX, and UVA and got some recognition with his recruiting skills. Considering the UVA experience, he has coached some good UVA teams which made bowls even though this year they underachieved somewhat. At least the offensive and defensive coordinators under Groh took head coaching jobs with other 1A programs such as Kansas State. That kind of says something about the coaching staff Groh put together.
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Post by Stevev on Dec 4, 2005 10:12:10 GMT -5
Considering Karcher's recruiting class last year. It was a good one by 1AA standards with some of them starting or had significant starting experience. That will help Coach Rocco in knowing he doesn't have to completely start over but just to add or plug in some playmakers who are going to make a difference. I guess I will get more into that ounce he puts together his coaching staff and signing day rolls around.
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