[jcmanson]

As some of you may have seen on FlamesNation, we just kicked off "Expectations for 2014." Vote and let us know who you think will win each game of Liberty's 2014 season. Once we've completed all 12 games, we will tabulate the votes and let you know what FlamesNation predicts Liberty's season record to be.

Here's the first game, North Carolina - http://www.libertyflamesnation.com/expe ... -unc-game/

The poll is on the right towards the bottom of the page.

Current results:
UNC beating LU 75%
LU beating Norfolk St 92%
LU beating Brevard 90%
LU beating Bryant 97%
LU beating Indiana State 88%
LU beating Richmond 68%
LU beating App State 55%
LU beating Gardner-Webb 87%
LU beating Presbyterian 88%
LU beating Monmouth 91%
LU beating CSU 94%
CCU beating LU 51%

[BJWilliams]

I voted UNC, but one thing that ive noticed is we havent been really "blown out" in our FBS games since 2006. even against NC State and West Virginia, both of them we were competitive into the second half. while iI'm aware that they destroyed ODU (who we lost to), I wouldn't be surprised if we kept it within that 2-3 score range. I mean the last time we got truly "destroyed" was the UConn game in 05

[jcmanson]

You can now vote on the Norfolk State game - http://www.libertyflamesnation.com/expe ... olk-state/

[BJWilliams]

THat one has to be a win for us. I cover the Spartans much more closely thanks to my new job and they have a lot of issues to work out on offense, especially at the QB position. THey do have three LBs on the CFPA watch list but I think that this is a game we can win and win solidly

[jcmanson]

The home opener against Brevard is now live, vote and let us know who you think wins. http://www.libertyflamesnation.com/expe ... 4-brevard/

I've also updated the first post with the current results of the first 3 games, and will continue to update this throughout the summer.

[BJWilliams]

We will win that one...its more about 1) by how much and 2) will the single game scoring record be threatened

[-army56mike-]

L @ UNC
W @ Norfolk St.
W vs. Brevard
W vs. Bryant
W @ Indiana St. (a game I plan on being at, only a 3 hr. drive for me)
W vs. Richmond
W @ Appalachian St.
W vs. GW
W @ Presbyterian
W vs. Monmouth
W vs. Char. So.
L @ Coastal

10-2

[jcmanson]

Vote for the Bryant game here http://www.libertyflamesnation.com/expe ... 14-bryant/

[jcmanson]

Forgot to update this the other day, but you can now vote for the Indiana State game http://www.libertyflamesnation.com/expe ... ana-state/

[R i]

Making the playoffs, and winning a game in the playoffs, would be a great way to send out Roccos last recruiting class. Oh and beating Richmond will be the highlight of the season no matter what happens in the end.

[bluejacket]

Expectations: 10-2 (regular season); 1-1 (postseason)

Reality: 8-4; miss the playoffs

[SuperJon]

Am I the only one not really excited about football season?

[bluejacket]

There are some fundamental weaknesses in the team, some due to injuries while others are structural.

Expectations have never been fully reached in the past, so why expect more? Everyone knows that its playoffs or bust for the current staff; there will be big changes if they don't make it. The pressure is starting to mount.

[olldflame]

There are some fundamental weaknesses in the team, some due to injuries while others are structural.

Expectations have never been fully reached in the past, so why expect more? Everyone knows that its playoffs or bust for the current staff; there will be big changes if they don't make it. The pressure is starting to mount.

Pretty strong statements there regarding the coaching staff. Any facts to back them up?

We are thin at RB due to the injury to Rice and the 5 star flop of Richardson. Abner has talent, but is too small to carry 20 plus times a game, so we need R-Freshmen Macon and/or Smith to step up. If not, I see us getting creative and utilizing our abundance of talent at WR, going with 4 and 5 receiver sets and utilizing short passes instead of running the ball.

[flamehunter]

One thing that may help our running game is the fact that our O-line is pretty experienced and deep.

[R i]

Am I the only one not really excited about football season?

We have the best out of conferece schedule I can remember. A good QB returning with High Powered WR, and our best players on defense. Weve never made the playoffs and this year we have a decent chance.

Did that help ?

[SuperJon]

Nope. I hate that I've become cynical about the whole thing. I don't want to be. I'm just tired of shared championships and sitting at home the weekend after Thanksgiving.

[R i]

Nope. I hate that I've become cynical about the whole thing. I don't want to be. I'm just tired of shared championships and sitting at home the weekend after Thanksgiving.

I may be tricking mysel into being excited. Something I am genuinely excited about, Football gives me the excuse to go and see all the new things on campus.

[BJWilliams]

There are some fundamental weaknesses in the team, some due to injuries while others are structural.

Expectations have never been fully reached in the past, so why expect more? Everyone knows that its playoffs or bust for the current staff; there will be big changes if they don't make it. The pressure is starting to mount.

Pretty strong statements there regarding the coaching staff. Any facts to back them up?

We are thin at RB due to the injury to Rice and the 5 star flop of Richardson. Abner has talent, but is too small to carry 20 plus times a game, so we need R-Freshmen Macon and/or Smith to step up. If not, I see us getting creative and utilizing our abundance of talent at WR, going with 4 and 5 receiver sets and utilizing short passes instead of running the ball.

I was previewing the RBs in the Big South and mentioned the importance of Macon and even Kaigler and Carrington Mosley (remember him?) to give us some real contributions at the position

[thepostman]

Nope. I hate that I've become cynical about the whole thing. I don't want to be. I'm just tired of shared championships and sitting at home the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Sadly, I am right there with you. I want to be excited but I just can't be. I am really trying hard.

[BJWilliams]

Im excited, but I'm more than ready to bump off all this shared championship, almost winning b***s***

[thepostman]

wow beej you're so serious

[bluejacket]

Pretty strong statements there regarding the coaching staff. Any facts to back them up?

The most self evident facts are that we can't make the FCS playoffs with the highest salaried coaches (and have been for close to 10 years) at our level, excellent facilities, and huge department expenditures in one of the weakest conferences in the nation with regularly poor OOC scheduling (apparently for the program's benefit). Everything is handed on a silver platter and we still can't make it. The FBS push adds even more pressure to win (whether you think it affects our ability to the move or not).

Picture this: my 8-4 prediction includes losses to UNC, Richmond, Appalachian State, and Coastal. UNC is an acceptable loss (I think that we should be within 10-14 points every time we take the field regardless of the team we play, but this is arguably the best team we have faced in program history). Losing to Richmond on homecoming in front of 20,000+ with Jerry, Jr. and Jeff Barber watching our old coach/coaches celebrate on our field will NOT be OK. App State is likely another loss. Hopes get raised after beating Charleston Southern and then they get dashed in Conway. Expectations crushed once again.

[BJWilliams]

wow beej you're so serious

Your sarcasm is duly noted...but I am ready to see us retake the place as the alpha male in the pack that is the Big South

[bluejacket]

We have the best out of conferece schedule I can remember.

2012 was better any way you slice it. Wake Forest, Norfolk State, Montana, and Lehigh with Concord as the stinker (W 21-13 ). If you were previewing, you have WFU coming off of a bowl game and the rest making playoff appearances. Montana and Lehigh made quarterfinal appearances in 2011-12 playoffs; NSU was eliminated in the first round by ODU. Concord made the D-II playoffs. With hindsight, we went 1-4 against that schedule.

Looking ahead: UNC made a bowl game and won. App State was ineligible for playoffs and finished 4-8. No playoff appearances for the rest of them, even though the playoffs were expanded.

UNC, Richmond, App State, and Norfolk State are quality OOC and should be regularly scheduled if given the opportunity. Indiana State and Bryant are poor. Brevard is a joke that makes it look like we are dodging opponents.