(01-01-2024 01:58 PM)Pounce FTW Wrote:  

(01-01-2024 01:45 PM)wkuhilltopperfan Wrote:  Liberty don’t looked over matched in this game, things can change quickly, but they look like they belong in this game

This is true. Based upon the precedents we now have for what to expect from a NY6 bowl, I'd say Liberty is practically in the clear as far as looking like a "mistake."

I think Oregon initially looked like they hadn't played football in a month, which was true. After they got their legs under them they starting playing Oregon football. Oregon is a REALLY stout football team who was only a few points away from being in the CFP, and is one of the toughest opponents a G5 has ever faced in an NY6 setting. Looking at it from that perspective, this doesn't really surprise me.

Knee touch on catch?

It would have taken an extraordinary day for a really good G5 team to win this game. Not certain there was a G5 that showed it this year.

(01-01-2024 03:14 PM)Yosef Himself Wrote:  It would have taken an extraordinary day for a really good G5 team to win this game. Not certain there was a G5 that showed it this year.

That's not a knock on Liberty. The gulf between a good G5 and the mid P5 this year was just a lot bigger than normal.

(01-01-2024 03:16 PM)Yosef Himself Wrote:  

(01-01-2024 03:14 PM)Yosef Himself Wrote:  It would have taken an extraordinary day for a really good G5 team to win this game. Not certain there was a G5 that showed it this year.

That's not a knock on Liberty. The gulf between a good G5 and the mid P5 this year was just a lot bigger than normal.

Agreed. Some years the G5 just doesn't have that one team. Some years it feels like there's 2 or 3 teams that could go toe to toe and win a NY6. We see the same thing at the P5 level. This year was insanely crowded at the top. Other years you don't have such a tough race for the top 4 spots.

It's entirely possible Liberty was still the right choice for this year, or one of a few that would've been equally as right.

(01-01-2024 03:25 PM)space orange Wrote:  

(01-01-2024 03:16 PM)Yosef Himself Wrote:  

(01-01-2024 03:14 PM)Yosef Himself Wrote:  It would have taken an extraordinary day for a really good G5 team to win this game. Not certain there was a G5 that showed it this year.

That's not a knock on Liberty. The gulf between a good G5 and the mid P5 this year was just a lot bigger than normal.

Agreed. Some years the G5 just doesn't have that one team. Some years it feels like there's 2 or 3 teams that could go toe to toe and win a NY6. We see the same thing at the P5 level. This year was insanely crowded at the top. Other years you don't have such a tough race for the top 4 spots.

It's entirely possible Liberty was still the right choice for this year, or one of a few that would've been equally as right.

Well said

(01-01-2024 03:16 PM)Yosef Himself Wrote:  

(01-01-2024 03:14 PM)Yosef Himself Wrote:  It would have taken an extraordinary day for a really good G5 team to win this game. Not certain there was a G5 that showed it this year.

That's not a knock on Liberty. The gulf between a good G5 and the mid P5 this year was just a lot bigger than normal.

Not really. The Sun Belt got 4 P5 wins for a second season in a row and could've easily got a couple more. NMSU also beat Auburn in November.

(01-01-2024 03:25 PM)space orange Wrote:  

(01-01-2024 03:16 PM)Yosef Himself Wrote:  

(01-01-2024 03:14 PM)Yosef Himself Wrote:  It would have taken an extraordinary day for a really good G5 team to win this game. Not certain there was a G5 that showed it this year.

That's not a knock on Liberty. The gulf between a good G5 and the mid P5 this year was just a lot bigger than normal.

Agreed. Some years the G5 just doesn't have that one team. Some years it feels like there's 2 or 3 teams that could go toe to toe and win a NY6. We see the same thing at the P5 level. This year was insanely crowded at the top. Other years you don't have such a tough race for the top 4 spots.

It's entirely possible Liberty was still the right choice for this year, or one of a few that would've been equally as right.

I don’t think Liberty was the best G5 team but I do believe they were AMONG the best.. I’m not confident any G5 team would have faired well against Oregon.

Quite the debut in the NY6 for Conference USA.

We can still come back. Just need a quick TD, then recover and run back 5 onside kicks for TDs and score 2 point conversions, and bing bang boom. We win!

(01-01-2024 03:30 PM)EigenEagle Wrote:  

(01-01-2024 03:16 PM)Yosef Himself Wrote:  

(01-01-2024 03:14 PM)Yosef Himself Wrote:  It would have taken an extraordinary day for a really good G5 team to win this game. Not certain there was a G5 that showed it this year.

That's not a knock on Liberty. The gulf between a good G5 and the mid P5 this year was just a lot bigger than normal.

Not really. The Sun Belt got 4 P5 wins for a second season in a row and could've easily got a couple more. NMSU also beat Auburn in November.

Congratulations.. I do not think a single one of those P5 teams y’all beat this year were ranked in the top 25. Definitely not anywhere near the top 10.

90% of P5 teams would struggle against Oregon.

(01-01-2024 03:49 PM)army56mike Wrote:  We can still come back. Just need a quick TD, then recover and run back 5 onside kicks for TDs and score 2 point conversions, and bing bang boom. We win!

That’s the spirit! Haha. Keep your head up.

Nearly all of the good G5 teams lost their bowls this year and would have gotten rolled by Oregon as well.

(01-01-2024 03:58 PM)ah59396 Wrote:  

(01-01-2024 03:49 PM)army56mike Wrote:  We can still come back. Just need a quick TD, then recover and run back 5 onside kicks for TDs and score 2 point conversions, and bing bang boom. We win!

That’s the spirit! Haha. Keep your head up.

Nearly all of the good G5 teams lost their bowls this year and would have gotten rolled by Oregon as well.

True. Oregon had too many guys willing to play in their bowl game. Needed them to come out looking like FSU.

Congrats to Oregon, their players and coaches. Just a great effort today and they clearly outclassed the Flames. They were dominant on both sides of the ball.

Congrats Flames on an absolutely incredible year! Not many teams have undefeated seasons and make a NY5 bowl. I am very proud of my alma matre and and all they accomplished this year.

I hope we can build off the momentum of this season and this loss leaves the Flames hungry for more success next season.

Anytime someone who supported the losing team mentions the refs, it comes across as sour grapes and excuse-mongering. So, I will start by saying this: Oregon was the better team, and NO WAY did Liberty ever stand a chance of winning this game, unless the zebras and the Ducks helped them...a lot! Neither of those happened. First, Oregon showed up and brought their "A" game, and secondly the refs favored Oregon all game long.

IF the refs had called the game fairly Oregon would have still won the game, but it would have been a lot more competitive. Just ask the Detroit Lions about the refs...

It's a shame Liberty didn't get a fair shot at being able to compete. The plethora of bogus calls and mostly the numerous NO CALLS favoring Oregon had an impact on the outcome. The score could have been/should have been more like 35-20. That if the game was called correctly/fairly. That said, Liberty also has itself to blame for the final score. They did not play their best game. Too many dropped passes...like the one that led to the INT, that actually wasn't.

Liberty had a great season, so congrats on that and for playing in a NY6 bowl game. That is not a small deal.

(01-01-2024 04:54 PM)Tech80 Wrote:  Anytime someone who supported the losing team mentions the refs, it comes across as sour grapes and excuse-mongering. So, I will start by saying this: Oregon was the better team, and NO WAY did Liberty ever stand a chance of winning this game, unless the zebras and the Ducks helped them...a lot! Neither of those happened. First, Oregon showed up and brought their "A" game, and secondly the refs favored Oregon all game long.

IF the refs had called the game fairly Oregon would have still won the game, but it would have been a lot more competitive. Just ask the Detroit Lions about the refs...

It's a shame Liberty didn't get a fair shot at being able to compete. The plethora of bogus calls and mostly the numerous NO CALLS favoring Oregon had an impact on the outcome. The score could have been/should have been more like 35-20. That if the game was called correctly/fairly. That said, Liberty also has itself to blame for the final score. They did not play their best game. Too many dropped passes...like the one that led to the INT, that actually wasn't.

Liberty had a great season, so congrats on that and for playing in a NY6 bowl game. That is not a small deal.

The face mask call then no call was the biggest joke. But you are right it would not have changed the outcome but it sure changed the momentum

(01-01-2024 04:14 PM)army56mike Wrote:  Congrats to Oregon, their players and coaches. Just a great effort today and they clearly outclassed the Flames. They were dominant on both sides of the ball.

Congrats Flames on an absolutely incredible year! Not many teams have undefeated seasons and make a NY5 bowl. I am very proud of my alma matre and and all they accomplished this year.

I hope we can build off the momentum of this season and this loss leaves the Flames hungry for more success next season.

Well said. GO FLAMES!

(01-01-2024 02:46 PM)PojoaquePosse Wrote:  

(01-01-2024 01:58 PM)Pounce FTW Wrote:  

(01-01-2024 01:45 PM)wkuhilltopperfan Wrote:  Liberty don’t looked over matched in this game, things can change quickly, but they look like they belong in this game

This is true. Based upon the precedents we now have for what to expect from a NY6 bowl, I'd say Liberty is practically in the clear as far as looking like a "mistake."

This didn’t age well.

Yeah, it did go south a little more quickly than I expected. I'm with some others on here, though, in thinking there may not have been a G5 team this year that would have fared any better.

At any rate, congrats on a great season, Flames.

The refs didn’t do us any favors; Face mask, interception that hit the ground, the Non PI that lead to the Oregon TD. I’m not blaming the refs because Oregon would’ve still beaten us by double digits. We dropped so many passes too that killed drives. We did a lot to shoot ourselves in the foot. It’s funny seeing everyone clown us but Oregon would trash every G5 team and most P2 schools.