- August 28th, 2012, 11:23 am
#400135
As we have reached our first game week of the season (and I have returned from a wonderful trip to Pigeon Forge, TN), I thought Id break down the schedule game by game. Now I will say I did post some predictions earlier in the summer but after some research and following the goings on leading up to the season, I have had some changes in my outlook on the team:
09/01 @ Wake Forest
Liberty last played down in Winston Salem in 2006 and they were led by a first year coach (in his first head coaching gig) named Danny Rocco. Though they lost 34-14 that day, Coach Rocco and the Flames served notice that this was a different group of Flames than the ones that went 1-10 the previous year. Once again, Liberty takes a first year head coach into Groves Stadium, this time in Turner Gill. This is a team that knows how to win after posting +.500 seasons every year under Rocco (and only losing more than four games once in his tenure). I dont see the Flames winning this one, but as I said in the game prediction thread, I see us hanging with them for about 2 1/2 quarters before the Deacs pull out the win
Wake Forest 35
Liberty 24
09/08 vs. Norfolk State
The Flames kick off the home schedule with their first meeting in Lynchburg with the Spartans since 2003. Norfolk State was a playoff team last year under head coach Pete Adrian, winning their first ever MEAC title. The last time NSU came to the mountain, LU put up 69 points (which now ranks as the third most points in school history) and King Leonidas was nowhere in sight that day. Liberty hasnt lost a home opener since 2002 and I dont expect that streak to end this year
Liberty 35
Norfolk State 14
09/15 @ Montana
This is probably the biggest game of the season, if not the biggest game in LU's history as a I-AA/FCS school. Montana last lost a non-conference game at home on September 6, 2003 against North Dakota State (who was not a Division I program at the time if Im not mistaken). There has been some turmoil in Billings with the scandal that put the Griz in the headlines much of the summer, but when the lights come on, they have shown that Washington-Grizzly Stadium has been one of if not the toughest place to play at the FCS level. Montana pulls away in the second half and keeps their non-conference streak alive
Montana 49
Liberty 14
09/22 vs. Lehigh
The string of 2011 playoff teams continues as the Mountain Hawks make their first trip to Liberty Mountain since 2004. The Flames lost a close one on the road last year and are looking to finally break through with a win and some payback. Walter Payton finalist Chris Lum is gone, but one of his favorite targets is back in Ryan Spadola. I wont call for a shootout here but definitely look for offense to be the order of the day
Liberty (the good LU) 34
Lehigh (the "bad" LU) 27
10/06 vs. Gardner-Webb
Liberty kicks off Big South play against the Runnin Bulldogs for the second consecutive year and the sixth time since 2002. After losing four of the first five meetings, the FLames have won the last five matchups, outscoring Gardner-Webb 197-35 in those five games (including 35-3 last year in Boiling Springs). Gardner Webb will lean heavily on ther running game to get through this one, and if Liberty can keep All-Big South honoree Kenny Little in check, they should win this one easily as well
Liberty 28
Gardner-Webb 7
10/13 @ Presbyterian
To borrow a phrase, "this time it counts". After not being eligible for the conference championship the last five seasons, the Blue Hose finally get their first chance to add a Big South trophy to their collection. Liberty gutted out a ten-point win two years ago in Clinton, and had to go to double overtime to beat PC in Lynchburg last year, so expect another knock-em-down slugfest between the two.
Liberty 21
PC 17
10/20 vs. Concord
A welcome break for Liberty kicks off the second half as D2 COncord makes their first trip to Lynchburg since 2005. Liberty wins in a rout
Liberty 56
Concord 7
10/27 @ Coastal Carolina
Itll be a battle of first year head coaches in Conway when Turner Gill and Liberty face off with Joe Moglia and the Chants. CCU spoiled Liberty's quest for the first ever conference autobid in 2010, knocking off the Flames 45-31. Liberty returned the favor by scoring the first 42 points last year and serving up some southern fried revenge to the tune of 63-27. Liberty has only won once at Brooks Stadium, but I think theyll pull one out just like they did in 2008
Liberty 42
CCU 38
11/03 vs. Charleston Southern
There are two teams that Liberty has counted on beating the last few years, and they come up in two of the last three weeks of the season. CSU is coming off an 0-11 season in 2011 but has never won in Lynchburg. Flames hold court and set up a big showdown next week
Liberty 31
CSU 3
11/10 vs. Stony Brook
This will probably be the game of the year in the conference. Neither team has won in each other's stadium and Stony Brook is coming off a season where they won their last eight regular season games, got the conference's first ever playoff victory, and took the eventual national runner-up to the wire. In their two trips to Lynchburg however, they have been outscored 83-28, with all of their points coming in the last trip in 2010. Liberty had a lot of questions coming in on offense, but I think most if not all of them should be in focus by the time this game rolls around, and though it wont be as one-sided as the last two games, the Flames will not be shaking in their boots (unlike some of the fans) when the SBU bus rolls into town and they send their seniors out as Big South Champs
Liberty 31
Stony Brook 20
11/17 @ VMI
This is a game that would leave Admiral Akbar once again shouting, "IT'S A TRAP!" After likely clinching the Big South and the school's first autobid the week before, one would think that the Flames could take it easy here, but after a major breakout performance from QB Eric Kordenbrock, the Roos are looking to get something that hasnt come but twice in the last 11 seasons: a win over Liberty. Liberty wins here and goes into their first FCS playoffs on a roll
Liberty 38
VMI 17
THough I have Liberty finishing 9-2, this will be a battle tested team every week. Im looking forward to following the Flames all year, and I hope everyone else is too. 5 days til the opener!
FAN THE FLAMES
09/01 @ Wake Forest
Liberty last played down in Winston Salem in 2006 and they were led by a first year coach (in his first head coaching gig) named Danny Rocco. Though they lost 34-14 that day, Coach Rocco and the Flames served notice that this was a different group of Flames than the ones that went 1-10 the previous year. Once again, Liberty takes a first year head coach into Groves Stadium, this time in Turner Gill. This is a team that knows how to win after posting +.500 seasons every year under Rocco (and only losing more than four games once in his tenure). I dont see the Flames winning this one, but as I said in the game prediction thread, I see us hanging with them for about 2 1/2 quarters before the Deacs pull out the win
Wake Forest 35
Liberty 24
09/08 vs. Norfolk State
The Flames kick off the home schedule with their first meeting in Lynchburg with the Spartans since 2003. Norfolk State was a playoff team last year under head coach Pete Adrian, winning their first ever MEAC title. The last time NSU came to the mountain, LU put up 69 points (which now ranks as the third most points in school history) and King Leonidas was nowhere in sight that day. Liberty hasnt lost a home opener since 2002 and I dont expect that streak to end this year
Liberty 35
Norfolk State 14
09/15 @ Montana
This is probably the biggest game of the season, if not the biggest game in LU's history as a I-AA/FCS school. Montana last lost a non-conference game at home on September 6, 2003 against North Dakota State (who was not a Division I program at the time if Im not mistaken). There has been some turmoil in Billings with the scandal that put the Griz in the headlines much of the summer, but when the lights come on, they have shown that Washington-Grizzly Stadium has been one of if not the toughest place to play at the FCS level. Montana pulls away in the second half and keeps their non-conference streak alive
Montana 49
Liberty 14
09/22 vs. Lehigh
The string of 2011 playoff teams continues as the Mountain Hawks make their first trip to Liberty Mountain since 2004. The Flames lost a close one on the road last year and are looking to finally break through with a win and some payback. Walter Payton finalist Chris Lum is gone, but one of his favorite targets is back in Ryan Spadola. I wont call for a shootout here but definitely look for offense to be the order of the day
Liberty (the good LU) 34
Lehigh (the "bad" LU) 27
10/06 vs. Gardner-Webb
Liberty kicks off Big South play against the Runnin Bulldogs for the second consecutive year and the sixth time since 2002. After losing four of the first five meetings, the FLames have won the last five matchups, outscoring Gardner-Webb 197-35 in those five games (including 35-3 last year in Boiling Springs). Gardner Webb will lean heavily on ther running game to get through this one, and if Liberty can keep All-Big South honoree Kenny Little in check, they should win this one easily as well
Liberty 28
Gardner-Webb 7
10/13 @ Presbyterian
To borrow a phrase, "this time it counts". After not being eligible for the conference championship the last five seasons, the Blue Hose finally get their first chance to add a Big South trophy to their collection. Liberty gutted out a ten-point win two years ago in Clinton, and had to go to double overtime to beat PC in Lynchburg last year, so expect another knock-em-down slugfest between the two.
Liberty 21
PC 17
10/20 vs. Concord
A welcome break for Liberty kicks off the second half as D2 COncord makes their first trip to Lynchburg since 2005. Liberty wins in a rout
Liberty 56
Concord 7
10/27 @ Coastal Carolina
Itll be a battle of first year head coaches in Conway when Turner Gill and Liberty face off with Joe Moglia and the Chants. CCU spoiled Liberty's quest for the first ever conference autobid in 2010, knocking off the Flames 45-31. Liberty returned the favor by scoring the first 42 points last year and serving up some southern fried revenge to the tune of 63-27. Liberty has only won once at Brooks Stadium, but I think theyll pull one out just like they did in 2008
Liberty 42
CCU 38
11/03 vs. Charleston Southern
There are two teams that Liberty has counted on beating the last few years, and they come up in two of the last three weeks of the season. CSU is coming off an 0-11 season in 2011 but has never won in Lynchburg. Flames hold court and set up a big showdown next week
Liberty 31
CSU 3
11/10 vs. Stony Brook
This will probably be the game of the year in the conference. Neither team has won in each other's stadium and Stony Brook is coming off a season where they won their last eight regular season games, got the conference's first ever playoff victory, and took the eventual national runner-up to the wire. In their two trips to Lynchburg however, they have been outscored 83-28, with all of their points coming in the last trip in 2010. Liberty had a lot of questions coming in on offense, but I think most if not all of them should be in focus by the time this game rolls around, and though it wont be as one-sided as the last two games, the Flames will not be shaking in their boots (unlike some of the fans) when the SBU bus rolls into town and they send their seniors out as Big South Champs
Liberty 31
Stony Brook 20
11/17 @ VMI
This is a game that would leave Admiral Akbar once again shouting, "IT'S A TRAP!" After likely clinching the Big South and the school's first autobid the week before, one would think that the Flames could take it easy here, but after a major breakout performance from QB Eric Kordenbrock, the Roos are looking to get something that hasnt come but twice in the last 11 seasons: a win over Liberty. Liberty wins here and goes into their first FCS playoffs on a roll
Liberty 38
VMI 17
THough I have Liberty finishing 9-2, this will be a battle tested team every week. Im looking forward to following the Flames all year, and I hope everyone else is too. 5 days til the opener!
FAN THE FLAMES
Liberty Class of 2009
2007 AND 2008 Big South Football Champions
2014 FCS Playoff Qualifier
2007 AND 2008 Big South Football Champions
2014 FCS Playoff Qualifier
- By Sly Fox
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