Anything and everything about Liberty Flames football. Your comments on games, recruiting and the direction of the program as we move into new era.

Moderators: jcmanson, Sly Fox, BuryYourDuke, Class of 20Something

User avatar
By Sly Fox
Registration Days Posts
#610339
Image
Florida International University
Miami, Florida



FIU Official Site



Image
Butch Davis
4th Season as FIU Head Coach
6-7 Record in 2019



2020 Schedule

SEP 26 - @ LIBERTY
OCT 10 - MIDDLE TENNESSEE*
OCT 17 - @ CHARLOTTE*
OCT 23 - JACKSONVILLE STATE
OCT 30 - MARSHALL*
NOV 07 - @ UTEP*
NOV 13 - FLORIDA ATLANTIC*
NOV 21 - @ WKU*
NOV 28 - LOUISIANA TECH*



Key Players

Image
#7 Kaylan Wiggins
6' 2" 200 lbs Junior Quarterback
2019 Stats: 15-of-27 for 172 Yds + 49 Carries for 323 Yds (6.6 YPC) for 3 Rushing TDs
*** Replaces James Morgan now with NY Jets - Maryland Transfer Max Bortenschalger also in mix to start ***


Image
#24 D'Vonte Price
5' 11" 223 lbs Junior Running Back
2019 Stats: 50 Carries for 249 Yds + 10 Catches for 49 Yds


Image
#19 Shemar Thornton
5' 11" 182 lbs Senior Receiver
2019 Stats: 51 Catches for 668 Yds with 5 TDs


Image
#9 Jamal Gates
6' 2" 225 lbs Senior Linebacker
2019 Stats: 56 Solo & 29 Assists for 85 Tackles including 4 TFLs + 1 Sack + 1 INT
cruzan_flame13 liked this
User avatar
By Sly Fox
Registration Days Posts
#610366
Season openers are always a puzzle. And FIU is a bit of an enigma. Butch Davis teams are typically strong defensively. But this past season they were mediocre at best. And yet they somehow managed a late seaosn upset of Butch's old team across town.

The Panthers offense is a HUGE question mark. Their QB situation is even more questionable than ours was coming into the season. Their receiver corps was decimated after this past season. And there is practically no experience among their running backs. But they always tend to find South Florida talent at the skill positions.

While we should have significant confidence coming out of the WKU game, we have no idea what we will be encountering this weekend at Williams Stadium.
By thepostman
#610368
Yeah, FIU is a big unknown for me. From what I have read, it appears we should win but like you said Sly, season openers are tough to predict. We weren't given much of shot at WKU and look what we did.

It'll be a challenge that I trust our staff will be up to.
User avatar
By BJWilliams
Registration Days Posts
#610375
The quarterback situation was the first and biggest question mark for me with Morgan heading off to the NFL. We would have very little film on Wiggins and the film on Bortenschlager would be from UMD which I reckon runs a different offense than FIU with him under center so how to prepare for either of them is the question I have as the coaches set up the game plan.
User avatar
By ASOR Forums Admin
Posts Custom
#610399
LIBERTY RELEASES DEPTH CHART FOR WEEK 2 VS FIU
By: Jon Manson

Liberty took care of business on the road Saturday to kick start the 2020 season, upsetting Western Kentucky, 30-24, behind a huge debut performance from new quarterback Malik Willis. Now, the Flames turn their attention to Florida International who visits Williams Stadium. Kickoff on Saturday is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN3.

The Flames have released its week 2 depth chart for this game.
User avatar
By Sly Fox
Registration Days Posts
#610429
I like the red with blue sleeve combo even if the stripes on the shoulder don't do much for me. New look!

jk37 - No clue but I feel confident they wouldn't have been caught with just skivvies to wear. Shoutout to ballcoach.
User avatar
By jinxy
Registration Days Posts
#610430
This game will not be easy. The first 2 games of the season were/are the swing games. Win both and were way ahead in the game.
User avatar
By Sly Fox
Registration Days Posts
#610452
Miami Herald wrote:FIU’s football team draws a tough season-opening opponent in the Liberty Flames

BY WALTER VILLA
SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 02:53 PM , UPDATED SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 03:48 PM


There are a couple of potential layups on FIU’s nine-game football schedule this year, but Saturday’s season opener at the Liberty Flames isn’t one of them.

Besides being at home, the Flames (1-0) own the added advantage of having already played a game, defeating host Western Kentucky 30-24 on Saturday.

Western Kentucky beat FIU 20-14 last year in a Conference USA game. Translation: Liberty has FIU’s attention.
Click Here for Full Story
User avatar
By Sly Fox
Registration Days Posts
#610453
Underdog Dynasty wrote:FIU Football: Five Players to Watch in 2020
With the Panthers’ regular season quickly approaching, here are five players to keep an eye on.

By Eric C. Henry Sep 14, 2020, 10:10am EDT


Less than two weeks remain until the FIU Panthers open their 2020 campaign against Liberty University. For Butch Davis, one of the top tasks will be replacing the production of last season’s leading passer, top-two rushers, top-four receivers and top tackler. Here’s a look at five Panthers who will play a major factor in whether the program can make its fourth consecutive bowl appearance.
Click Here for Full Story
User avatar
By ASOR Forums Admin
Posts Custom
#610500
A Sea of Red has had a lot of coverage this week leading up to FIU.

Some highlights:

CRASH COURSE: FIU PANTHERS

FIU opened their 2019 season with back-to-back losses against Tulane and Western Kentucky. The Panthers defeated FCS New Hampshire in week three and lost to Louisiana Tech in week four before two blowout wins over UMass and Charlotte. From there, the Panthers defeated UTEP, got blown out by Middle Tennessee, defeated ODU, lost to Lane Kiffin and FAU, defeated the Miami Hurricanes, and lost by a field goal against Marshall to end the regular season. Arkansas State defeated FIU in the Camellia Bowl, which put FIU’s record at 6-7 to end 2019.
FIU TRANSFERS LOOK TO MAKE BIG IMPACT WEEK 1

The Panthers will be opening the season on Saturday, and have a lot of offseason questions that they will have to answer. Part of the uncertainty comes from the Panthers having a plethora of transfers coming in, many from big name schools. FIU has a total of 21 players on their roster that have at some point transferred into the program, nine of which transferred from power five programs.
All of those articles and more can be found at the game week hub.

GAME WEEK HUB: LIBERTY VS FIU
By LUDad
Registration Days Posts
#610503
ASOR Forums Admin wrote: September 23rd, 2020, 4:19 pm A Sea of Red has had a lot of coverage this week leading up to FIU.

Some highlights:

CRASH COURSE: FIU PANTHERS

FIU opened their 2019 season with back-to-back losses against Tulane and Western Kentucky. The Panthers defeated FCS New Hampshire in week three and lost to Louisiana Tech in week four before two blowout wins over UMass and Charlotte. From there, the Panthers defeated UTEP, got blown out by Middle Tennessee, defeated ODU, lost to Lane Kiffin and FAU, defeated the Miami Hurricanes, and lost by a field goal against Marshall to end the regular season. Arkansas State defeated FIU in the Camellia Bowl, which put FIU’s record at 6-7 to end 2019.
FIU TRANSFERS LOOK TO MAKE BIG IMPACT WEEK 1

The Panthers will be opening the season on Saturday, and have a lot of offseason questions that they will have to answer. Part of the uncertainty comes from the Panthers having a plethora of transfers coming in, many from big name schools. FIU has a total of 21 players on their roster that have at some point transferred into the program, nine of which transferred from power five programs.
All of those articles and more can be found at the game week hub.

GAME WEEK HUB: LIBERTY VS FIU
Nice work! I do have a question. It was mentioned that we have a nice two years to look forward to with Willis at QB. Doesn't he have the opportunity to play 3 years (including this year) if he so desires due to this Covid year not counting against eligibility?
User avatar
By Jonathan Carone
Posts
#610504
I asked that question on Twitter this week. They said they’re assuming stated eligibility until a player says they’re going to use the extra year.
User avatar
By Cider Jim
Registration Days Posts
#610505
I'm loving the American flag on the uniform, and I'm sure that Ballcoach does too. :usa
flameshaw, ballcoach15, TH Spangler and 1 others liked this
By LUDad
Registration Days Posts
#610506
Jonathan Carone wrote: September 23rd, 2020, 5:56 pm I asked that question on Twitter this week. They said they’re assuming stated eligibility until a player says they’re going to use the extra year.
If this coaching staff has Willis for two years after this one I could envision them developing him into a Russell Wilson type play who could play at the next level.
User avatar
By flamesfilmguy
Registration Days Posts
#610526
Jonathan Carone wrote: September 22nd, 2020, 8:34 pm Probably just name patches and/or the new flag patch. I don’t know if we do those in house or not.
Typically everyone sends out their unis to get nameplates and patches redone every year. My guess on the lateness? one of two things: They have a new Red coming and because of COVID the Nike Factories are really behind on shipping and turning new unis out. (We are dealing with the same issue at my employer.) So they had to send off the old reds from last year to get nameplates and patches redone. Equally as likely we weren't planning on wearing Red this weekend and Coach called an audible and gave the equipment staff short notice so they had to get the patches and nameplates done faster than planned.
User avatar
By CCWMichael
Posts
#610577
gerb wrote: September 21st, 2020, 6:43 pm
I want to buy 3.
I called from PA to the bookstore (many years ago). They did not have the jerseys in stock. They contacted TG and he requested our sizes and sold us 3. I wonder if HF would do the same?
25/26 Season

You are upset because you can’t handle the t[…]

Shoutout to all the LU armchair coach wannabes o[…]

Dayton

This old LU armchair coach was in the building for[…]

Bowl Season

Welcome to the new world of college football. It's[…]