On one hand, Jim Fleming was obviously thrilled to play and win URI’s first playoff game since 1985 last weekend.

The Rams beat a very good CCSU team at home to advance to the second round of the FCS playoffs, earning a date down in Georgia with No. 7 seed Mercer this Saturday. On the other hand, Fleming knows his team will need to be a whole lot better than it was if this magical, historic season for the program is going to continue.

Fleming was one of just two remaining CAA coaches on the weekly Zoom call Monday and talked about how he felt after Saturday’s finale at Meade Stadium.

“I like that we won, No. 1…I thought there was a comedy of errors in the third quarter that I could certainly do without,” he said. “I kind of walked off the field feeling it was a sloppy game, or just an ugly victory. But, we went in and got stuffed offensively on a 4th-&-2. We then go ahead and miss a tackle and it becomes an explosion run. Then, they run a bootleg and we don’t pick that up right and it’s another explosion. And then, we give up an uncovered touchdown…then, there was a punt that we got our punt return going finally, we finally fielded a ball and we’ve got a short field and we end up with a go-ahead touchdown.

“So, we survived the third quarter malaise and then we went ahead and do what we normally do in the fourth quarter, which has been kind of representative of our squad. Just playing well in the fourth quarter and winning that component which was the difference in the game.”

While Fleming wasn’t necessarily pleased with his team’s performance, what it means to the program and URI community can’t be understated. Fleming was asked if any texts or congratulations messages stood out to him after the game and he did point to one in particular.

“I think probably the most significant text came from our president Mark Parlange,” he said. “It was in regards to the things we’ve been able to do on the football field has brought an incredible amount of school pride to URI that had not been at a level it is now. I think that’s the significant contribution football can make to an institution like this. For pride, for people to relish in what we do out there and how we play is something…it’s important to play for those people.

“The president giving me that text was a very sincere and validating statement.”

Now, all eyes are on Mercer as the Rams try to extend this incredible season for at least one more week.

“Very good. A 10-2 football team in the Southern Conference. Won their conference,” Fleming added when asked about what he sees from Mercer in some limited film watching so far. “Their coach is fairly new there. I listened to a couple of his press conferences just to get an idea what he’s all about….I’ve spent enough time down South to recognize that southern twang…what’s it gonna get you? It’s gonna get you some good old boys that are ready to play some football. But, the thing I see is a very, very good football team. They’re athletic, bit where they need to be big, fast where they need to be fast.

“I think they’re clean and sound in what they do and they have a very good identity. The front seven is extremely concerning. They’re very active up front. They’ve got good players there, but they’re good all the way across…this time of year, you’re not going to go face a team that doesn’t have good players. So, I think their statistics in terms of leading the nation in rush defense…that’s a…let’s see how that matches up. We need to run the ball and they need to stop it. We’re going to have to step up to that challenge and find ways to do both things, both run and pass.

“They’re a good football team and it’s going to take us a lot. We’ve got to get on a plane, go down to Georgia and play a very, very good game. We can’t expect to win that game if we make the same kind of mistakes we made last weekend. We need to tighten those things up and we will.”