Big South Championship: Liberty @ Stony Brook

[Keenan]

Liberty Flames (8-2)
vs.
Stony Brook Seawolves (5-5)

1:00 Kickoff
LaValle Stadium
Stony Brook,NY

At Stake: Big South Championship

Liberty has already clinched a share of the Big South Championship and with a win today would win the title outright. Who likes to share anyways? This will be Liberty's first ever trip to Stony Brook. Looking forward to a close game.

[Tod]

Better hope for a blowout. Might help your playoff chances if the dominoes fall right today. Good luck!

[TheValleyRaider]

Go Seawolves xwhistlex

[Keenan]

The Big South Championship is first and foremost in my eyes. This may not be the biggest game of the season, but it certainly will be the most important.

[Pard94]

Looking to add a little more quality to one of Lafayette's two losses. GO FLAMES!

[SumItUp]

Let's go Liberty! I expect SB will be in this game until the beginning of the 2nd half. It would be nice for the Flames to put it away early. I wish this game was televised.

[Keenan]

Better hope for a blowout. Might help your playoff chances if the dominoes fall right today. Good luck!

And to you as well. xthumbsupx

[Keenan]

Danny Rocco's pre-game remarks from earlier this week

http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm?PID=10869&newsID=4664&TeamID=

[knucklehead]

Go Seawolves xwhistlex

May you be thoroughly disappointed

[SDSUJacks]

I think Stony Brook gives you a good game, but Liberty should win it. I hope Liberty does, they deserve a playoff spot! Good luck!

[Keenan]

Courtesy of Chris Lang at the Lynchburg News & Advance

http://www.mynewsadvance.com/index.php/chris_lang/comments/liberty-stony_brook_game_blog/

[Keenan]

Also of note, Liberty is going for a 17th consecutive Big South win.

[knucklehead]

Big south football on Long Island still seems strange.

[Keenan]

I'm glad Stony Brook is in the Big South. For the next few years they will be our closest competitor. Their program has moved ahead of Coastal Carolina IMO.

[Keenan]

52 yard TD run for SBU.

LU 0
SBU 7
10:10 1st

[Keenan]

34 yard TD pass from Beecher to Quarles for Liberty!!!

LU 7
SBU 7
4:18 1st

[SumItUp]

I can't get the audio feed or the video feed to work.

[Keenan]

I can't get the audio feed or the video feed to work.

Me neither Sum! xmadx. Relying on Twitter at this point!

[Keenan]

LU 7
SBU 7
End 1st

[kirkblitz]

LIVE STATS

http://goseawolves.cstv.com/gametracker/launch/gt_mfootbl.html?event=786057&school=ston&sport=mfootbl&camefrom=&startschool=&

[Keenan]

Gowins running through Liberty's defense

LU 7
SBU 14
14:28 2nd

[Keenan]

Liberty drive stalls out at SBU 14. Bevins 31 yd FG Good.

LU 10
SBU 14
10:01 2nd

[knucklehead]

Bevins with a FG for LU.

SB 14
LU 10

[Keenan]

Can Liberty stop Stony Brook's rushing attack?

[Keenan]

SBU 143 yards rushing with over 5:00 left in first half! :o

[Keenan]

8 yard TD run for SBU

LU 10
SBU 21
4:28 2nd

SBU now with 173 yards rushing and 3 rushing TD's. Completely dominating the Flames here in the first half. Two personal foul penalties on the Flames as well. Very uncharacteristic. Liberty is obviously not with it.

Liberty returns kickoff for TD, but called back for holding. xsmhx

[knucklehead]

That holding call was cheap

[Keenan]

Again Liberty fails to put a TD on the board in the red zone. Bevins 35 yd FG to end the half.

LU 13
SBU 21
Halftime

[SumItUp]

Stony Brook came to play today. Liberty has been a second half team all year, but this is not the way we wanted it to go obviously.

[Keenan]

The story of the first half was the rushing attack for Stony Brook and Liberty's inability to stop it. 22 rushes for 173 yards and 3 TD's. Liberty is going to have to find some answers at halftime. Liberty on the other hand has been unable to run the ball (25 yards), but Beecher has been pretty effective through the air (12-17 119 yards). Liberty is definitely in some trouble.

[ToTheLeft]

Just need one more second half adjustment coach! Let's do this, get a score on this first drive, put the pressure back on, turn the D up, and we're back in the driver's seat. Let's go Flames!

[knucklehead]

Just need one more second half adjustment coach! Let's do this, get a score on this first drive, put the pressure back on, turn the D up, and we're back in the driver's seat. Let's go Flames!

Lets go boys

[Keenan]

Mike Brown gets hit out of bounds and no flag on SBU! xmadx

[Keenan]

Liberty at Stony Brook 28. Let's go Flames!!! 1st and 10

[Keenan]

3rd and 1 @ 19. Just short. 4th and inches. Going for it!

[Keenan]

Seawolves come up with big stop. Liberty leaves points off the board.

1st and 10 SBU from own 18

[Keenan]

Sir Chauncey with the TD run for Liberty. Two point conversion no good.

LU 19
SBU 21
5:01 3rd

[Keenan]

All Liberty in 3rd Qt. 3 and out for SBU.

[Keenan]

Liberty 19
Stony Brook 21
End 3rd

[Keenan]

Mike Brown 70 yard TD run!!!

LU 26
SB 21
11:28 4th

[knucklehead]

Mike Brown 70 yard TD run!!!

LU 26
SB 21
11:28 4th

NO WE"RE TALKIN!

You can tryt to stop him but he'll burn you soon enough.

[Keenan]

Fan the Flames!

xrotatehxxrotatehxxrotatehxxbowxxbowxxbowx

[Keenan]

Seawolves answer with another rushing TD by Gowins.

[Keenan]

Two point conversion is good.

Liberty 26
Stony Brook 29

[Keenan]

3 and out for Liberty on ensuing possession. Momentum back on the sidelines of Stony Brook.

[knucklehead]

CRAP

[Keenan]

Stony Brook 1st and 10 7:01 left.

[Keenan]

2:36 left. Liberty 1st and 10 from own 14. Going to be interesting.

[Keenan]

Now at SBU 40 1:23 to play

[Keenan]

2nd and Goal at SBU 7

1:01 Timeout SBU

[Keenan]

33-29 Liberty!!!!

:55 to play

[knucklehead]

TD LU to Dominic Jones.

[Keenan]

1st and Goal Seawolves! Unbelievable. 62 yard pass. :34 left. SBU with one timeout remaining.

[SDSUJacks]

Aww man, c'mon Liberty! Just hold on!

[4th and What?]

wow....just wow.....

[Keenan]

TD Stony Brook. :30 left. This is all but over.

[Keenan]

Liberty 33
Stony Brook 36
:30 4th

[furpal87]

I guess UNI and Liberty losing makes it pretty good for Elon. Elon up 3-0 in 2nd qtr at Samford.

[Keenan]

1st and 10 from our own 39

[knucklehead]

This is aweful

[Keenan]

Incomplete :21

[SDSUJacks]

Still a chance to make something happen.

[Keenan]

1st and 10 at SB 48

:13 Timeout LU

1 TO left.

[Keenan]

Incomplete
:06

One last play

[Tod]

What a game!

[Keenan]

Game over

Liberty 33
Stony Brook 36

Congratulations Seawolves on the upset. 16 game conference winning streak over and playoff hopes dashed. Stony Brook fans storm the field.

2009 Big South Chamions
Stony Brook Seawolves

[Tod]

Sorry, Liberty. :(

[SumItUp]

Stony Brook played a great game. Congratulations to the Sea Wolves.

[SDSUJacks]

Great game. Congrats to Stony Brook for the win and getting the Big South title. Gotta feel bad for Liberty though, so close to a playoff berth especially with UNI losing.

[knucklehead]

I'm leaving to rake leaves and puke!

[Redwyn]

Both teams played with some heart, and the Liberty cheerleaders set the tone using old fashioned loudspeaker cones, haha.

It was a great day for SBU. They put up 178 yards rushing in the FIRST HALF, absolutely stuffing the LU run defense with the "one two" of Cuttino and Gowins. LU responded by putting the pressure on CB Chris Richards, constantly hitting our right side and putting up good passing yards. SBU played through a few major injuries too. LB Santucci was down mid-second quarter and RB Gowins got taken out mid 4th right before our winning drive. Coulter was mind-boggling, though did show a few lapses in putting a bittt too much zip on passes. He'll have a deeper WR corps next year with a few of our prep redshirts taking the field.

The biggest perk for us is that we had over two dozen recruits watching that game. Several have I-A interest and seem to legitimately be taking us seriously. It's a great day for the Big South and for SBU football. Congrats on a great season Liberty, and I hope you feel a bit better about "only" being in the Big South. With SBU's OOC schedule (South Florida, U Mass, Hofstra, Brown, Lafayette), there's very legit chance there could be two ranked Big South teams meeting next year. Debating making a trip to Lynchburg for the rematch!

[Wildcat80]

Congrats Stony brook!! Nice win for the north!

[SDFS]

Game over

Liberty 33
Stony Brook 36

Congratulations Seawolves on the upset. 16 game conference winning streak over and playoff hopes dashed. Stony Brook fans storm the field.

2009 Big South Chamions
Stony Brook Seawolves

Congrats to Stony Brook with the Big South Championship.. many think this is an upset. I think Stony Brook is good football team - Great Season. Again, thanks for coming out to Grand Forks this year. I hope that UND make the return trip in the future.

[ElonPride]

Wow, great job Stony Brook! 1st year in the conference and win it!

[Phoenix87]

Glad Liberty is out of the picture

[Keenan]

Glad Liberty is out of the picture

We'll take that as a compliment!

[Redwyn]

We'll take that as a compliment!

You should. The team was scary to a LOT of people this year

[ElonAlum]

Gotta love all of the Liberty fans talking about maybe going to the playoffs......oops...guess not any more!

[ElonPride]

Gotta love all of the Liberty fans talking about maybe going to the playoffs......oops...guess not any more!


Come on now man......shut up.

[TheValleyRaider]

Congrats Stony Brook xnodx xnodx xnodx

[ElonAlum]

Why should I?? All of the Liberty fans were talking about Elon going down to Samford and them getting in.

Congrats to Stony Brooke for winning the Big South

[ElonPride]

Why should I?? All of the Liberty fans were talking about Elon going down to Samford and them getting in.

Congrats to Stony Brooke for winning the Big South

Because this is NOT the smack board. Show a little class.

[Seawolf97]

Congratulations to Liberty - they are great team and had a great season. I expect to see more of these heavy weight fights in the future. And congratulations to the Seawolves for hanging tough .
Next year should be fun !

[kirkblitz]

Liberty: 2010, The year of unfinished Business (3)

grats on winning SB, i still wanted lib in the playoffs though :(

[Seawolf97]

Congrats to Stony Brook with the Big South Championship.. many think this is an upset. I think Stony Brook is good football team - Great Season. Again, thanks for coming out to Grand Forks this year. I hope that UND make the return trip in the future.

Still love to see you guys come to Lond Island one of these daysxthumbsupx

[ElonAlum]

WOW.......ok sorry for "talking smack" and hurting your feelings. Didnt realize that you were a Liberty fan.

[ElonAlum]

watch out kirkblitz! You might upset ElonPride with your "smack talk"xrolleyesxxlolx

[bucman1]

man... liberty thanks for giving us 3rd place

[ASU_MBA]

Once again liberty shows they don't belong in the playoffs.

[bigSfan89]

congradulations SB on the win over a very good and ranked Liberty. For the Big South this season is history, but a new contender for future championships waits in the wings. Charleston Southern beat SB and lost to Liberty in a hard fought game by one td this year. GO BIG SOUTH, GO BUCS!!!

[knucklehead]

LU lost a tough one today, and trust me LU fans are sick to their stomach. We met a great team on their field, and didn't play our best for the whole game. We also faced a great running attack but then basically shut it down in the second half. We had 2 TDs called back for questionable penalties as well. But when it all comes down to it, SB did what it took to win and we didn't.

We don't belong in the playoffs this year by wirtue of this loss, true, But we will be there soon.

Congrats to SB on the shared Championship,

[knucklehead]

congradulations SB on the win over a very good and ranked Liberty. For the Big South this season is history, but a new contender for future championships waits in the wings. Charleston Southern beat SB and lost to Liberty in a hard fought game by one td this year. GO BIG SOUTH, GO BUCS!!!

Should be fun in the future.

[ASU_MBA]

At least now we don't have to live with the 1000 posts about how liberty got left out of the playoffs.

Better luck next year.

[SuperJon]

This was one of the best football games I've ever seen. Stony Brook had a great game plan. You could tell they worked on us during their off week. You threw something at us that we weren't ready for and it worked.

[WestCoastAggie]

For Shame Liberty! Allowing a team from above the Mason-Dixon line and take your division away from you. xnonox

[SuperJon]

We had 2 TDs called back for questionable penalties as well.

Just wanna get this out there, and not attacking you knuckle, but the penalty call on the touchdown Quarles scored was legit. That was the right call there

I don't know about the kickoff return penalty. There is holding on every play. I saw us get away with it sometimes and I saw SBU get away with it sometimes. It's one of those plays that sucks but wouldn't surprise me if it was the right call.

[BJuice]

I'm glad Stony Brook is in the Big South. For the next few years they will be our closest competitor. Their program has moved ahead of Coastal Carolina IMO.

Stony Brook, your closest competitor??? As Lee Corso would say, "not so fast my friend".

You are forgetting Charleston Southern. We were the only Big South team to beat Stony Brook this year. We narrowly lost to Liberty in the last minutes of the game. We ended the season on a four-game conference winning streak.

Coastal is not even in the conference conversation right now. They are behind Stony Brook, Liberty, Charleston Southern, and Gardner Webb.

[knucklehead]

Just wanna get this out there, and not attacking you knuckle, but the penalty call on the touchdown Quarles scored was legit. That was the right call there

I don't know about the kickoff return penalty. There is holding on every play. I saw us get away with it sometimes and I saw SBU get away with it sometimes. It's one of those plays that sucks but wouldn't surprise me if it was the right call.

Well said my friend. No offense taken. I just wish we could have one of those back. Or better yet had a fg or two as a td. Oh well.

[Uncle Buck]

Wow, just saw that SBU got the W, congrats Seawolves, this has to be the biggest victory for Chuck Priore and maybe SBU. Can't recall you ever beating another ranked opponent.

[CarolinaGirl]

Congratulations Stony Brook on the win yesterday and a good season. Way to make an entrance into the conference!

[EagleDawg]

Congrats to SBU on a big win yesterday. To some of the LU posters, and I do emphasize some, I posted several weeks ago that a loss in the Big South might happen sooner than you think and unfortunately for the Flames, it did happen yesterday on Long Island. This is not to pour salt in an open and hurtful wound because I really wanted to see if Liberty could pull at At Large bid into the playoffs.

With that said, yesterday's loss paired with last season's loss at PC should end for at least the next few seasons those comments such as Conference Win Streak, National Championship in 2011, 3 Straight outright Big South Crowns and so on. The Big South is extremely competitive and to run the table you have to be good on all 6 Saturday's, have favorable home field advantages, not overlook anyone and bring your best each conference game.

This season's conference results really produced some interesting outcomes. A shared conference championship, CSU beating Stony Brook, losing a close one to Liberty but losing to GW, Coastal beating GW but losing to CSU, and Liberty, still the team that everyone has to beat ending the season defensively giving up a lot of points and big plays the last two games. The coach at CSU gets more out of less than others and deserves all respect.

I'll wager that in 2010, Liberty will be picked pre-season 1st, SBU 2nd, CCU 3rd, GW 4th, CSU 5th, VMI 6th and PC 7th. I'll also wager that the final results will differ. PC will win in 2010 just don't know how many. With an Automatic Play-off Bid to the winner,it should be an interesting season. For discussions sake, what are the tie-breaker procedures to determine conference winner in a 2-way or 3-way tie? I would assume head to head breaks a two way tie but what about a 3-way tie?

And finally, congrats to my GW Runnin Bulldogs who survived a trap game at PC yesterday, especially the Seniors who go out with a win, something that the LU Seniors can't say. Couldn't resist but it's said in good natured ribbing, I really did want to see whether LU would get that At-Large Bid.

[The Gadfly]

I think I cried a little bit when I read through this thread from start to finish . . . with pure joy of course. :D

CONGRATS to the Seawolves: BIG SOUTH CHAMPS! You are truely the Shermans of the conference. Now the Flames understand what it's like to get all high and mighty, smelling the playoffs right in your face, with only one game to finish, then WHAMMY!!! Oh . . . how I feel for you. xoopsx

[ToTheLeft]

Well, technically, we still have the 3 straight Big South Championships. And next year will be the quest for 4.

The win streak is over, which is either killed momentum or taking pressure off of the shoulders, depending on how you look at it.

The National Champs 2011 stuff is maybe 3 LU fans, and is not the consensus. I think in 2011 we'll be in position to maybe win a first round game if we make it, but that's about it.

This was supposed to be a rebuilding year. We didn't return much and we lost our entire offense, along with some key peices on defense. This year we don't lose as much, and a lot of key players are still freshmen and sophmores. I had predicted 8-3 (5-1) for this team after spring ball, and so I'm not disappointed about the season, since it's exactly what I expected. I just wish we had lost earlier so the chances of the playoffs didn't make the loss sting so much.

Congrats to the Seawolves, I'm glad we have some compeition in the form of CSU with their up and coming coach and SBU with their up and coming running game and program committment to football (and scholarships). I'm just glad we have both of those teams in Lynchburg next year.

I think LU is on their way up, and SOME rumors of our demise have been greatly exaggerated. Next year will be a lot of fun, but like I said, I'm glad we have SBU and CSU at home. LU will be the favorites, and if we hold serve at home, we'll be in a good position to win the conference and make a trip to the big dance.

It'll be fun, I just wish we could get it started next week, and not 9 months from now.

[EagleDawg]

Technically speaking, I believe that 3 Straight Outright Championships means you don't share with anybody. As some wise LU posters have stated, even a share of this season's championship is a bit of a stretch since the tie-breaker should be broken on head to head competition, at least that will be the case in the future.

As for the Big South, those who say it isn't getting any better are just plain wrong. Each program is getting better. Better facilities, recruiting better players, playing better opponents and so on. The deal is, it's difficult to truly measure by the wins/losses on the field as supposedly every team, no matter the Division or Conference is trying to get better, even those that win conference and national championships. A play here or there and you have a W instead of a L, such is the nature of sports.

As painful as the loss to SBU was for the Flames yesterday, my Runnin Bulldogs experienced 3 straight weeks of it leading at halftime and into the 3rd quarter only to drop 3 straight to SBU, CCU and LU. You don't get a W by only leading at the halfway mark though so to all of the returning Bulldogs, get in the weight room, work that off-season conditioning, prepare your mind and work to learn to close the deal in those tight games against good teams even when adversity rears it's head. In the days and weeks ahead, the coaches will also conduct a self analysis of their program, themselves included. Where do we need to improve, what can we as coaches do better to improve the team, etc. What happens in 2010 in many ways, starts with the work over the next several weeks!

Go Runnin Bulldogsxthumbsupx

[kdinva]

.......my Runnin Bulldogs experienced 3 straight weeks of it leading at halftime and into the 3rd quarter only to drop 3 straight to SBU, CCU and LU. You don't get a W by only leading at the halfway mark.......
How about 4 of 5 Conf. losses; where we were in it until the last 4 minutes or closer to the endxbangx? Ask the knowledegable LU fan. If VMI doesn't have 8 turnovers, that could have been a contest going into the final 12 or so minutes.
On to our Winter programs, etc.xpeacex

[ToTheLeft]

Technically speaking, I believe that 3 Straight Outright Championships means you don't share with anybody. As some wise LU posters have stated, even a share of this season's championship is a bit of a stretch since the tie-breaker should be broken on head to head competition, at least that will be the case in the future.

As for the Big South, those who say it isn't getting any better are just plain wrong. Each program is getting better. Better facilities, recruiting better players, playing better opponents and so on. The deal is, it's difficult to truly measure by the wins/losses on the field as supposedly every team, no matter the Division or Conference is trying to get better, even those that win conference and national championships. A play here or there and you have a W instead of a L, such is the nature of sports.

As painful as the loss to SBU was for the Flames yesterday, my Runnin Bulldogs experienced 3 straight weeks of it leading at halftime and into the 3rd quarter only to drop 3 straight to SBU, CCU and LU. You don't get a W by only leading at the halfway mark though so to all of the returning Bulldogs, get in the weight room, work that off-season conditioning, prepare your mind and work to learn to close the deal in those tight games against good teams even when adversity rears it's head. In the days and weeks ahead, the coaches will also conduct a self analysis of their program, themselves included. Where do we need to improve, what can we as coaches do better to improve the team, etc. What happens in 2010 in many ways, starts with the work over the next several weeks!

Go Runnin Bulldogsxthumbsupx

I never said outright... we don't have three straight outright BSC titles. But to take away what these guys earned this year by saying we didn't win anything is robbery. Big South rules give no tiebreakers... we're Big South Champs. Those players won a Big South championship. This is the last year we'll have shared championship, but that's just how it is.

Who is still saying the Big South isn't getting better, except for our one Sagarin addicted LU fan who thinks Lafayette is better than Ball State? CSU, SBU both on the rise, and CCU and G-W always have the potential to do well.

And I agree. I look forward to how these guys respond, and how it translates into next year.

[ToTheLeft]

How about 4 of 5 Conf. losses; where we were in it until the last 4 minutes or closer to the endxbangx? Ask the knowledegable LU fan. If VMI doesn't have 8 turnovers, that could have been a contest going into the final 12 or so minutes.
On to our Winter programs, etc.xpeacex


That's always the case with VMI tho. If you guys held onto the ball you'd win the Big South. It's just a nature of the offense you run.

[Keenan]

Who is still saying the Big South isn't getting better, except for our one Sagarin addicted LU fan who thinks Lafayette is better than Ball State?

I'm so glad you want to take this to another board! xlolx Where on FF did I say the Big South wasn't getting better? xnonox Don't put words in my mouth. And I will debate all day long that Lafayette is better than Ball State.

[ToTheLeft]

I'm so glad you want to take this to another board! xlolx Where on FF did I say the Big South wasn't getting better? xnonox Don't put words in my mouth. And I will debate all day long that Lafayette is better than Ball State.

Name one team on Ball State's schedule that Lafayette could come within two scores of?

[Seawolf97]

I dont think you could have asked for a better game to decide a title. Plenty of
offense, tough defense and a few spectacular plays. Add in perfect weather it all fell into place.
Next year is well next year. The teams in the conference are getting stronger and competition will be tough. Once again hats off to Liberty for a fine season and we will mix it up in Virginia next fall.

[89Hen]

This game was akin to UC-Davis beating San Diego a couple years ago. Never have so many fans here who have no ties to Liberty, Stony Brook or the Big South been so pleased with an outcome. xsmiley_wix

[SumItUp]

As for the Big South, those who say it isn't getting any better are just plain wrong. Each program is getting better. Better facilities, recruiting better players, playing better opponents and so on. The deal is, it's difficult to truly measure by the wins/losses on the field as supposedly every team, no matter the Division or Conference is trying to get better, even those that win conference and national championships. A play here or there and you have a W instead of a L, such is the nature of sports.

I agree, but it will only be acknowledged with a pile of OOC wins. I enjoyed following the Big South this year and expect better things next year.

[IaaScribe]

Just FYI, the conference will still recognize co-regular season champs in the future in the event of a tie. But of course, head to head will determine who gets the automatic berth to the playoffs.