VMI Game Notes Available
11/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
VMI Game Notes
Today's Game
Liberty will be looking to start a new road winning streak this weekend, when the Flames travel across the Blue Ridge Mountains to take on Big South rival VMI on Saturday in Lexington, Va. Both teams will be looking to get back on track, as the Flames fell to Presbyterian, 31-28, and VMI dropped a 31-21 decision to Charleston Southern, in last weekend's FCS action.
Coach's Corner
In just two seasons at Liberty, head coach Danny Rocco has taken the Flames from 1-10 (in 2005) to Big South champions. The third-year skipper has posted a 21-10 record since taking over the program, helping him garner Big South Coach of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons. Last year, the Flames were 8-3 and a perfect 4-0 against Big South foes.
Sparky Woods brought more than 30 years of FBS and FCS coaching experience to VMI when he was named the program's 30th head coach on Feb. 12, 2008. Prior to his days with the Keydets, he skippered the programs at Appalachian State and South Carolina, leading the Mountaineers to back-to-back Southern Conference championships and the NCAA I-AA playoff semifinal game in 1987.
Staying Close to Home
For the seventh-straight year, the Flames and the Keydets will square off in a gridiron battle of two Blue Ridge Mountain foes. Liberty has won the last two games in the series, including a 32-28 victory in the last match-up in Lexington, Va., on Nov. 18, 2006. Liberty holds a 4-3 overall series record, having won four out of six times since the series reopened in 2002. Liberty's first-ever match-up with VMI was on Sept. 9, 1995, when the Keydets handed the Flames a 51-30 setback at Foster Stadium.
Home Sweet Home
On Oct. 25, the Flames welcomed visiting Charleston Southern to Williams Stadium, a facility Liberty has called home for the past 20 seasons. Liberty rallied for a 37-19 victory over Towson State on Oct. 21, 1989, and has won 65 percent of its contests since, having posted a 70-38 record at the on-campus facility. Last year, the Flames went undefeated at home for the second time in program history, posting a school-record 6-0 mark, en route to their Big South title run.
Sensational Sellouts
For the 11th-straight home game, the Flames filled Williams Stadium beyond capacity, as 14,365 fans packed into the on-campus facility against Charleston Southern on Oct. 25. The attendance figure was the seventh largest in the 20-year history of the stadium. Since head coach Danny Rocco has arrived at Liberty, the Flames have filled Williams Stadium beyond capacity 13 out of 17 games. Liberty has posted a 14-3 record during those contests, averaging 13,267 fans per home game.
Attending to the National Numbers
Following its 11th-consecutive sellout crowd at Williams Stadium in the Flames' 42-0 shutout over Charleston Southern on Oct. 25, Liberty ranks as one of the nation's elite FCS programs in terms of home attendance figures. The Flames now rank No. 6 nationally in filling stadium capacity (122.73 percent), No. 9 in total home attendance (73,639) and No. 13 in average home attendance (14,728).
Saturday Night Lights
Under head coach Danny Rocco, the Flames are 11-3 in night games. Since 1976, Liberty has compiled a 53-65-3 record in night games.
In Broad Daylight
Under head coach Danny Rocco, the Flames are 10-7 in games played during the day. Since 1976, Liberty is 113-114-1 in day games.
Natural Versus Artificial Surfaces
Under head coach Danny Rocco, the Flames are 16-7 on artificial turf and 5-3 on natural grass. Overall, Liberty is 96-108-4 on natural grass and 76-75 on artificial turf. The Flames play their home games at Williams Stadium, which has an artificial surface, as new state-of-the-art FieldTurf was installed prior to the start of the 2006 season. Liberty has posted a 14-3 record at home since the new surface was installed.
Overtime Update
The Flames enter today's game having posted a 3-5 record in overtime games. Liberty's last overtime game came on Sept. 15, 2007, when the Flames dropped a 48-41 decision to William & Mary in double overtime in Williamsburg, Va.
Liberty has only played two of its eight overtime games away from Williams Stadium. Liberty's first extra-period game was a 34-28 road loss to Morgan State on Sept. 21, 1996. Liberty's last victory in an overtime contest came on Nov. 22, 2003, when it closed out the 2003 campaign with a 49-42 win over Hofstra.
Raising Up No. 71
Prior to the start of the Flames' contest against Tusculum on Sept. 1, 2007, Liberty ceremonially honored founder Dr. Jerry Falwell, who had passed away the previous May, by starting a new game day tradition. Members of the University Police force raised a No. 71 flag underneath the Liberty Flames flag above the South end zone, just prior to the team taking the field, bringing the 14,925 fans in attendance to their feet.
The new tradition has become a permanent part of the Flames' pregame ceremonies at all home football games. A different person/group will receive the honor of raising the flag at each game. Oct. 25th honorees were members of the Liberty University Alumni Office, as that weekend was Homecoming Weekend on campus.
This year's honorees:
Aug. 30 (North Greenville) – Jerry Falwell, Jr., LU President and Chancellor
Sept. 6 (Glenville State) – Josh McDougal, former LU cross country/track and field standout
Oct. 11 (Stony Brook) – SAAC, LU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
Oct. 18 (Lafayette) – Representative from the Parents' Club Foundation
Oct. 25 (Charleston Southern) - Representative from Alumni Office
Back in the Big South
Liberty is in the midst of its seventh season of competition in Big South Conference action today. Since beginning league play in 2002, Liberty has posted a 16-10 Big South record, thanks to a perfect 4-0 championship record in 2007 and back-to-back 3-1 records in 2003 and 2004.
Liberty series records against Big South schools since 2002
Charleston Southern 6-1
Coastal Carolina 3-3
Gardner-Webb 2-4
Stony Brook 1-0
VMI 4-1
Note: Elon was a member of the Big South in 2002 with Elon defeating Liberty.
From "Good2Great"
Liberty captured its first-ever Big South championship last year, sweeping through the conference with an unblemished 4-0 league record. Liberty was the fifth program in league history to finish a conference campaign undefeated, winning its Big South games by more than 30 points per game (47.8 average points scored to 17.0 average points allowed).
At the Top Again
For the second year in a row, the Flames were named the preseason favorites to hoist the Big South trophy at the end of the season. Liberty garnered 12 out of 13 first-place votes in the annual Big South coaches and media preseason poll and finished 19 points ahead of second-place Coastal Carolina in total votes.
Noting the Streak
Liberty had its 11-game winning streak snapped on Oct. 18 with a 35-21 loss to Patriot League contender Lafayette. Below is a breakdown of where the streak ranked on the program, conference and national scenes heading into the contest against the Leopards:
• It was the longest winning streak in program history (bettering a 10-game winning streak which spanned the 1988 and 1989 seasons)
• It was the second longest in Big South history (longest was 14-straight by Charleston Southern over the 2005 and 2006 seasons)
• It was the nation's longest active winning streak among FCS programs (ranking ahead of Sacred Heart, James Madison, San Diego and Elon, who all had won six-straight games)
Not Many in the NCAA Could Say the Same
Liberty's 11-game winning streak ranked as the longest active winning streak among FCS programs prior to its loss to Lafayette on Oct. 18. At the time of the loss, Liberty was one of six NCAA programs to own a double-digit winning streak out of 629 total NCAA programs (FBS – 120, FCS – 123, Division II – 150 and Division III – 236). The Flames were joined in the elite group by BYU (FBS, 16-straight), Tuskegee (Division II, 20-straight), Bloomsburg (Division II, 12-straight), American International (Division II, 10-straight) and Wisconsin-Whitewater (Division III, 18-straight).
Big South Barrage
Despite the Flames' 11-game winning streak coming to an end against Lafayette on Oct. 18, one streak remains alive for Liberty, as the Flames have reeled off nine-straight Big South victories dating back to the 2006 season. The last time the Flames dropped a Big South contest was on Oct. 21, when Liberty fell, 27-24, to Gardner-Webb. The league run is the longest in Big South history, bettering Coastal Carolina's eight-game conference winning streak that spanned three seasons (11/22/03—10/29/05).
Fierce In Front of Their Own Fans
Not only did the loss to Lafayette on Oct. 18 snap the nation's longest FCS winning streak, but it also halted an 11-game home winning streak for Liberty. The successful home victory run was the longest in program history and was the second longest in the nation at the time among FCS programs. San Diego holds the nation's longest FCS home winning streak at 28 games.
Still Hanging On
Despite dropping two out of its last three games, the Flames remained nationally ranked in both the Sports Network and FCS Coaches polls this week. Following its loss to Presbyterian, Liberty dropped eight spots in the pair of rankings to No. 25 in both polls. The Flames have been ranked among the nation's Top 25 programs for nine-straight weeks, setting a program record for consecutive weeks in the national polls.
More from the Polls
Speaking of votes, Liberty Head Coach Danny Rocco and Sparky, the program's mascot, are currently in the running for two national honors. In the fan portion of the poll for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year honor, Rocco ranked second in the Division I-AA listing, as of Wednesday, while Sparky is the second leading write-in candidate in the Capital One Mascot Challenge. Voting in both fan polls opened during the first week of the year and will conclude directly following the conclusion of the regular season.
Twice as Nice
For the second time under head coach Danny Rocco, the Flames recorded multiple shutouts in the same season. Earlier this year, the Flames have blanked Stony Brook, 33-0, in the Seawolves' first-ever Big South game. On Oct. 25, the Flames shut out Charleston Southern, 42-0, making Liberty the first-ever Big South team to shut out back-to-back opponents. The blanking was the sixth under head coach Danny Rocco and the 19th in program history.
Rocco Quickly Joins Elite
Liberty's 42-0 shutout victory over Charleston Southern on Oct. 25 gave head coach Danny Rocco his 21st career victory as the head coach of the Flames football program. In two-plus years, Rocco has matched his predecessor, Ken Karcher, who ranks third in program annals in terms of coaching victories (21-46). Ranking ahead of Rocco are Tom Dowling with 33 wins (33-38-2) and Sam Rutigliano, who is the winningest coach in program history (67-53).
Yardage Monsters
For the sixth-straight game and the eighth time this year, the Flames surpassed the 400 total offensive yard mark against Presbyterian last Saturday, finishing the game with 424 total offensive yards against the future Big South foe. The yardage run currently has Liberty ranked No. 7 nationally in the statistical category, averaging 454.11 total offensive yards per game.
By a Wide Margin
The Flames outgained Charleston Southern by 301 yards on Oct. 25, helping Liberty post its second-straight shutout victory. The total offensive yardage margin was the second largest under head coach Danny Rocco. Last year, the Flames outgained St. Francis, Pa., by 382 yards (591-209).
Frequent Flyer Miles
Prior to its match-up with Presbyterian, where the Flames threw for 204 yards, the Flames posted back-to-back 300-plus yard passing games against Lafayette and Charleston Southern. Against the Buccaneers, the Flames got 304 of their 492 total offensive yards via the passing game. Liberty passed for 344 yards against Lafayette, marking the most passing yards during head coach Danny Rocco's tenure. Prior to the Flames' last two games, Liberty's previous passing high under Rocco was 281 yards against Presbyterian last year.
The Flames currently rank third in the Big South in passing yards per game (226.9). VMI ranks last in the Big South and among all FCS programs, averaging 79.9 passing yards per contest to give the Flames a 147 average passing yard advantage heading into this contest.
Back Above the 200-Yard Threshold
After having back-to-back games where the Flames failed to pass the 200-yard rushing plateau, Liberty posted its third-highest rushing attempts total of the year (44) against Presbyterian, resulting in 220 rushing yards. Liberty currently ranks No. 9 nationally by averaging 227.22 rushing yards per game. Since head coach Danny Rocco's arrival in 2006, Liberty has averaged 208.2 rushing yards per game and has surpassed the 200-yard plateau in 15 out of 31 games.
Danny Remains Defense
The Flames held Charleston Southern to 191 total offensive yards on Oct. 25, helping guide Liberty to a 42-0 shutout victory. The figure marked a new season low for a Liberty opponent and was the third fewest yards allowed since head coach Danny Rocco took over the team in 2006. Liberty currently ranks No. 35 nationally in total defense, allowing an average of 327.89 total offensive yards per game.
A Decisive Number
The Flames' prolific offense is starting to catch the eye of the nation, as Liberty ranks No. 14 in scoring offense (34.44 points per game). The 30-point mark seems to be the key number for a Flames victory, as Liberty is 17-2 under head coach Danny Rocco when Liberty scores more than 30 points in a game. The Flames are 4-8 under Rocco when Liberty fails to reach the 30-point threshold.
Points a Plenty under Rocco
In six out of nine games this year, the Flames have scored 30 or more points, doing so again in a 42-0 victory over Charleston Southern on Oct. 25. Liberty currently ranks No. 14 nationally in scoring offense, as the Flames are averaging 34.44 points per game. Last year, the Flames were No. 3 in scoring offense, averaging a program and Big South-record 42.6 points per game. Since head coach Danny Rocco took over the program in 2006, Liberty has averaged 33.4 points scored per game, and Liberty is 17-2 in contests when the Flames roll up 30 or more points on the scoreboard.
Don't Forget About the "D"
Despite Liberty's gaudy offensive numbers over the past two-plus seasons, the Flames' defense has played a significant factor in the team's success, bringing a smile to head coach Danny Rocco's face, as he is a 20-plus year defensive coaching veteran. Since 2006, Liberty has held its opponents to an average of 19.2 points per game, meaning Liberty is outscoring its opponents by more than two touchdowns per game (an average of 14.2 points per game) over the span.
Run Stoppers
For the sixth time this year, the Flames held an opponent under the 100-yard team rushing mark, as Presbyterian finished with 89 team rushing yards. The Flames currently rank No. 24 nationally in rushing defense, allowing 106.67 team rushing yards per game.
Strength against Strength
This Saturday's match-up will pit two of the nation's top rushing attacks against each other. VMI enters the contest as the second best FCS rushing team in the nation, averaging 337.38 rushing yards per game. Liberty averages 110 less rushing yards per game (227.22), but ranks No. 9 nationally in the statistical category.
The Nation's Best
One of the busiest crews on the field during a Liberty football game is the "chain gang", as Liberty enters today's match-up with VMI as the nation's leader in third-down conversions. After converting on 7-of-13 third-down plays against Presbyterian last weekend, the Flames have now picked up a new set of downs 54.6 percent of the time in third-down situations (65-of-119). The Flames are averaging 7.2 third-down conversions per game.
Frequent First Downs
Liberty's potent offensive attack and high third-down conversion rate have the Flames ranked among the nation's elite in another statistical category. Liberty ranks No. 8 in first down offense, picking up an average of 22.44 first downs per game (202 total). Should the Flames continue to pick up first downs at the same rate, Liberty would break a school record. The Flames are on pace to pick up 269 total first downs this year, which would surpass the 1993 squad, who finished the year with 241 first downs.
First Down Frenzy
Liberty finished last weekend's game with 26 first downs, the second highest total by the Flames this year. On Oct. 11, the Flames finished the Stony Brook game with 28 first downs, marking the second most under head coach Danny Rocco. Liberty's highest first down total under head coach Danny Rocco came on Nov. 17, 2007, when the Flames picked up 29 first downs en route to a 31-0 shutout victory over Gardner-Webb to wrap up the program's first-ever Big South title. Liberty has picked up 20 or more first downs in all but one game this year (18 against Lafayette).
Fewer Infractions
During the first three games of the year, Liberty averaged 10.7 penalties per game for an average of 101 penalty yards (32 total penalties/303 total penalty yards). Over the last six games, Liberty totaled 26 infractions for 203 total yards (averaging 4.3 penalties and 33.8 penalty yards per contest). Despite the marked improvement, Liberty still ranks No. 69 nationally in penalties per game (6.44) and No. 68 in average penalty yards per game (56.22).
Trying to Take Better Care of the Ball
For the fourth time this year, the Flames finished a game without turning the ball over last weekend against Presbyterian. Liberty forced the Blue Hose to give the ball away on Patrick Calvary's eighth career interception, adding to the Flames' positive turnover margin in 2008. The Flames currently rank No. 45 nationally in turnover margin (0.22). During Liberty's first two years under head coach Danny Rocco, the Flames valued possession of the football, ranking No. 7 in turnover margin in 2007 (1.27 per game) and No. 20 in 2006 (0.55 per game).
The Ideal Job
If you are looking for the "cushy" job on the Flames roster, you'll find it in the area of punting. Liberty enters today's game as the team tied for the third fewest total punts among FCS programs so far in 2008. The Flames have been forced to punt the ball away 25 times over nine games (2.8 times per game). Fewer punts mean Liberty's offense is successful, but it has hurt its punting game, as Liberty ranks last among FCS programs in net punting (averaging 25.36 yards gained by punting).
Sensational Seven
The Flames enter the VMI contest winners in seven of the nine games in 2008. With the run of victories, Liberty is one of 12 FCS programs to have reached the seven-win plateau this year. Only four other FCS programs have more wins than Liberty in 2008, as Dayton, James Madison, Montana and Sacred Heart each enter this weekend with an 8-1 overall record.
Road Warriors
Prior to last weekend's loss at Presbyterian, the Flames had claimed victory in five-straight road games. The run was the longest road winning streak in Big South history and was the second-longest active winning streak among FCS programs. Lafayette, who entered the week with the nation's longest FCS winning streak, suffered a setback to Colgate on the road, leaving Cal Poly with the nation's longest current winning streak at five games.
Eight is Great
The 2008 squad will be looking to join an elite group of teams in program history, when the Flames square off against VMI on Saturday. Should the Flames be victorious over the Keydets, this year's team would pick up its eighth victory over the year. Only five other teams in the 37-year history of the program have reached the eight-win plateau. Three teams finished the season with eight wins (1988, 1995 and 2007) and two squads reached the nine-win mark (1979 and 1997).
Great Out of the Gate
For the second time in program history, the Flames started the season with a 6-0 record before falling to Lafayette on Oct. 18. Liberty also accomplished the feat in 1989; however, the Flames are hoping for a better finish than the previous 6-0 squad, as the 1989 team lost four out of its last five games to close out the year 7-4.
Protecting the Passer
After allowing three sacks in its season opener against North Greenville, the Flames offensive line has banded together to allow just four sacks over the last eight games. Liberty currently ranks No. 6 nationally, as the Flames are surrendering 0.75 sacks per game. Last year, Liberty finished the season ranked No. 4 in the country, as the Flames allowed 0.73 sacks per contest. All in all, the Flames have allowed less than a sack per game (0.84/26 in 31 games) since head coach Danny Rocco took over the program in 2006.
Picking Them Off
For the third time this year, the Flames finished a game with multiple interceptions, picking off Charleston Southern quarterback Tribble Reese twice on Oct. 25, accounting for a pair of the Buccaneers' turnovers. Last weekend, Patrick Calvary picked off his eighth career pass to push Liberty's team total to 10 interceptions in 2008. The Flames currently rank No. 39 nationally in passes intercepted.
Returning Rampage
Liberty finished the Presbyterian game with a season-high six kickoff returns for 124 total yards. The yardage total was the third highest this year, falling one yard shy of tying the team's mark of 125 yards against Western Carolina and Coastal Carolina. Liberty currently ranks No. 9 nationally in kickoff returns, averaging 23.00 yards per return. The Flames are one of 21 FCS programs to have returned a kickoff for a touchdown in 2008, recording a 76-yard return by Jonathan Crawford against North Greenville in its season opener.
Punt Return Power Down
After five games, the Flames were ranked as one of the top punt return teams in the nation, averaging 17.6 yards per punt return. However, Liberty's last four opponents have kept the Flames from returning punts, as the Flames have returned just five punts over the last four games for a total of one combined yard. Following the lower punt return numbers, Liberty now ranks No. 21 nationally in in punt returns, averaging 13.25 yards per return.
Kings of the Return Game
James Madison held onto its No. 1 ranking in FCS football following the weekend of Oct. 18, thanks to a last-second punt return for a touchdown, the Dukes' third such return of the season. Liberty and James Madison are among a select few in the nation at the FCS level, as the two programs are joined by five others who have returned at least one punt and one kickoff for a touchdown in 2008. The remaining five in the elite group are Florida A&M, Georgia Southern, Hampton, Northwestern State and Tennessee-Martin.
Keeping Them Out of the Backfield
For the seventh time in nine games this year, the Flames kept an opponent from recording more than three tackles for a loss. Presbyterian hit the number on the nose, resulting in 16 total yards lost. The Flames currently rank No. 4 nationally in fewest tackles for a loss allowed per game (3.56), resulting in a loss of 14.9 average yards per game.
Legends Enshrined
During Liberty's annual Homecoming game on Oct. 25, the Liberty University Athletics Department honored long-time head coach Sam Rutigliano and former AFC Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowler Eric Green. The pair of Liberty legends joined founder Dr. Jerry Falwell, as jerseys were retired in honor of their accomplishments. A "HC" jersey now hangs in honor of Rutigliano, while a No. 86 jersey rests next to Rutigliano's, paying tribute to Green's storied career at Liberty.
Coaches on the Field
At halftime of the Flames' annual Spring Football Game on April 19, head coach Danny Rocco tabbed six players for leadership roles in 2008, when the skipper named his team captains. Quarterback Brock Smith, running back Rashad Jennings and center Mike Godsil were named offensive team captains. Defensively, nose guard Colin Dugan, linebacker Nick Hursky and defensive back Ryan Greiser were recognized as this year's defensive team captains.
The League's Elite
Rashad Jennings was tabbed the Big South Preseason Offensive Player of the Year at the conference's annual media day on July 25. Jennings, last year's Big South Offensive Player of the Year, set new Big South records in rushing touchdowns (15), all-purpose yards (154.3 per game), total touchdowns scored (17) and points scored (104). Jennings, along with seven other Flames, was named to the Big South's preseason all-conference team, giving Liberty more preseason selects than any other program in the conference this year.
Duo Grabs All-America Honors
Rashad Jennings and Dominic Bolden were named to the Sports Network's Preseason All-America teams on Aug. 22. Jennings grabbed first-team honors as the nation's premium FCS running back, while Bolden was recognized for his stellar return abilities as a third-team honoree at kickoff return specialist. Both Jennings and Bolden were named to the Sports Network's honorable-mention All-America squad at their respective positions at the end of the 2007 campaign.
Sharing the Top Spot
Rashad Jennings led the Flames' rushing attack with 188 yards on 32 carries against Presbyterian last weekend. The performance was the 20th 100-yard rushing game of his three-year career, tying him for the program's all-time record held by Dre Barnes (2001-04). On Oct. 18 against Lafayette, Jennings passed the Big South's all-time record of 17 career 100-yards games, also posted by Barnes, who did so over the final three years of his career in the league.
Closing In on the Legends
With his 188 rushing yards against Presbyterian last weekend, Rashad Jennings continues to inch closer to first place on the Big South all-time rushing list. The senior has rushed for 3,321 yards since joining the Flames roster in 2006, which is 88 yards away from Dre Barnes' mark of 3,409 yards. Against the Blue Hose, Jennings overtook second place from VMI's Sean Mizzer, who finished his career with 3,233 rushing yards.
Standing at the Top
For the seventh-consecutive game, running back Rashad Jennings recorded a rushing touchdown, finding the end zone twice during the contest against Presbyterian last weekend. The pair of scores gave the senior 256 career points at Liberty, continuing to expand his career record as the Flames' all-time scoring leader among non-kicking players.
Mr. Consistency
With his 127 rushing yards against Charleston Southern on Oct. 25, Rashad Jennings hit the 1,000-yard mark on the nose for the season. Since joining the Flames roster in 2006, Jennings has reached the 1,000-yard plateau all three seasons to become the first running back in program and Big South history to accomplish the feat.
The New Standard
Rashad Jennings has rushed for 100 or more yards in nine-straight games, shattering program and Big South Conference records. The previous school and league record was held by Eugene Goodman, who rushed for 100 or more yards over seven-consecutive games before his senior year was cut short when he suffered an injury against Gardner-Webb on Oct. 2, 2004.
One of the Best
Rashad Jennings enters the game leading the Big South in rushing yards per game, scoring and all-purpose yards. The senior is averaging 148.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks No. 4 nationally in the statistical category. Jennings also ranks tied for No. 3 in the country in scoring (11.25 points per game) and No. 11 in average all-purpose yards (164.0).
Still One First for Jennings
Despite standing 88 yards away from becoming the Big South all-time leading rushing, Rashad Jennings has still yet to lead the league in rushing for a single season. Both years Jennings has finished just behind two different Keydets. In 2006, he finished two yards behind Sean Mizzer (1,022 to 1,020 yards). Last year, he finished eight yards behind Howard Abegesah (1,121 to 1,113), meaning Jennings has missed the mark by a combined 10 yards over his first two years at Liberty.
Streaking Quarterback Halted
After back-to-back games with 250 or more passing yards, Brock Smith failed to reach the mark against Presbyterian. He finished with his lowest completion percentage of the season at 50.0 percent (15-of-30), marking the first time this year the quarterback has failed to finish a game with a competition percentage above the 60 percent mark. The consecutive 250-yard passing performances gave Smith nine for his career, which ranks seventh in program history.
Playing with the Big Boys
Brock Smith's 269 passing yards against Charleston Southern on Oct. 25, which was his fourth best single-game passing performance in his career, gave the quarterback 6,097 career passing yards. The senior is now the fourth hurler in program and Big South history to surpass the 6,000 career passing yard mark (currently standing at 6,301 yards).
Near Perfect Passer
Brock Smith enters today's game as one of the most efficient passers in the nation. The senior currently ranks No. 12 nationally in passing efficiency, boasting a 154.56 passer ranking. Should the season end today, Smith would finish his career as the most proficient passer in Liberty and Big South history. The senior has a 144.9 career passer efficiency rating, ranking ahead of Charleston Southern's Collin Drafts (134.4) and Liberty's Robby Justino (132.6) in the respective rankings.
Twice as Nice
Against Lafayette and Charleston Southern, Jonathan Crawford and Dominic Bolden pulled off a feat no two other wide receivers have in program history. The pair became the 16th receiving duo to surpass the 100 yard receiving mark in the same game against Lafayette. The following weekend, they exceeded the century mark again to become the first pair to do so in consecutive games. Prior to the Lafayette game, the last time two receivers surpassed the 100 yard mark in the same game was against Charleston Southern on Nov. 10, 2001. Adrian Hall (133 yards) and Daniel Thomas (110 yards) did so, helping the Flames down the Buccaneers, 45-31.
The Third Time is the Charm
Dominic Bolden led the Flames against Presbyterian, catching four passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns. The 111-yard outing marked the third straight game the senior has surpassed the century mark, becoming the fourth receiver in program history to accomplish the feat. The last receiver to surpass the 100-yard mark in three consecutive games was Courtney Freeman in 1997. The program's all-time record for consecutive 100-yard receiving games was set by Pat Nelson at five games over the span of the 1990-91 seasons.
Dominic Demands Notice
Following his third straight 100-yard game and the fifth of his career, Dominic Bolden has put himself in the position to add his name to the program's record book. The senior now has 829 receiving yards to his credit, marking the most single-season receiving yards in the last 10 years and the sixth best single-season performance in program history. Bolden currently leads the Big South and ranks No. 18 nationally by averaging 92.1 receiving yards per game.
Career Day for Crawford
After posting his first 100-yard receiving game against Lafayette, Jonathan Crawford bettered his numbers against Charleston Southern. On Oct. 25, the senior led the Flames with six catches for 124 yards, while two of his six receptions went for touchdowns. The senior now has 538 receiving yards on the year, which is more four times his career total coming into the 2008 season (134 yards on 11 receptions).
The Over the Hill Gang
Celebrating the number 40 is often frowned upon, as the 40th birthday is known as moving "over the hill." However, for senior Mike Godsil it is a number of endearment. Against Lafayette, the senior started his 40th-consecutive career game, doing so at center for each game since he joined the roster as a freshman in 2005. Last weekend against Presbyterian, Godsil was joined in the elite club by Patrick Calvary, who started his 40th career game.
Touchdown Streak Halted
For the first time in 18 games, Zach Terrell failed to record a rushing touchdown in a game, as the senior finished the Western Carolina game on Sept. 13 with eight carries for 51 yards without finding the end zone. Prior to the game against the Catamounts, the last time Terrell played in a game without rushing for a touchdown was on Sept. 30, 2006, when the then sophomore carried the ball four times for 20 yards without finding the end zone against Wake Forest. Terrell currently ranks third in the Big South and fifth in Liberty's program history with 29 career rushing touchdowns.
The Purpose-Driven Pair
Liberty is the only team at the FCS level to have two players rank in the Top 20 individually in all-purpose running yards. Rashad Jennings leads the Flames, as he is averaging 164.0 all-purpose yards per game, which ranks No. 11 nationally. Dominic Bolden leads the team in total all-purpose yards (1,399), but ranks No. 18 in the country by averaging 155.4 yards per game.
Total Team Effort
The Flames enter today's game with the best scoring defense in the Big South, while ranking No. 24 nationally by allowing a stingy 20.56 points per game. Senior linebacker Nick Hursky leads Liberty's defensive effort and ranks sixth in the Big South, as he is averaging 7.4 tackles per game. Hursky is followed on the Flames' defensive listing by Ryan Greiser, as the defensive back is averaging 5.8 tackles per game. The pair are the lone two Liberty defenders in the conference's Top 25 individual tackles listing this year.
Defining the Word Student-Athlete
On Thursday, four Liberty starters were named to the ESPN the Magazine CoSIDA Academic District 3 All-District team. Colin Dugan, Ryan Greiser, Dan Pope and Kevin Richard each received the academic distinction, helped in part by having a 3.30 cumulative GPA. The quartet now will move onto the national ballot for voting, which will determine the CoSIDA Academic All-America team, the highest academic honor a NCAA student-athlete can receive.
Right on Rocco
For the second time in the last three games, Chris Rocco finished a game in double figures, leading the way for the Flames with 10 stops against Presbyterian last weekend. The increased defensive production from the junior over the last trio of games has elevated him to second on the team with 51 tackles in 2008. The 51 tackles nearly has doubled his career total coming into the season, as he entered his third year with the program with 28 career tackles.
Sensational Specialist
Liberty has two of the nation's best return specialists on its roster in seniors Dominic Bolden and Jonathan Crawford. Bolden, who currently ranks No. 2 nationally by averaging 16.93 yards per punt return, is the Big South's all-time leader with 1,303 career kickoff return yards and three kick offs returned for a touchdown. Bolden also ranks atop the program's listing with a 29.0 kickoff return yard average. Bolden's wideout partner Crawford currently ranks tied for No. 14 nationally, as the senior is averaging 26.69 yards per kickoff return. Both return specialists have returned a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown to account for two of three players in Big South history to accomplish the feat.
Today's Game
Liberty will be looking to start a new road winning streak this weekend, when the Flames travel across the Blue Ridge Mountains to take on Big South rival VMI on Saturday in Lexington, Va. Both teams will be looking to get back on track, as the Flames fell to Presbyterian, 31-28, and VMI dropped a 31-21 decision to Charleston Southern, in last weekend's FCS action.
Coach's Corner
In just two seasons at Liberty, head coach Danny Rocco has taken the Flames from 1-10 (in 2005) to Big South champions. The third-year skipper has posted a 21-10 record since taking over the program, helping him garner Big South Coach of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons. Last year, the Flames were 8-3 and a perfect 4-0 against Big South foes.
Sparky Woods brought more than 30 years of FBS and FCS coaching experience to VMI when he was named the program's 30th head coach on Feb. 12, 2008. Prior to his days with the Keydets, he skippered the programs at Appalachian State and South Carolina, leading the Mountaineers to back-to-back Southern Conference championships and the NCAA I-AA playoff semifinal game in 1987.
Staying Close to Home
For the seventh-straight year, the Flames and the Keydets will square off in a gridiron battle of two Blue Ridge Mountain foes. Liberty has won the last two games in the series, including a 32-28 victory in the last match-up in Lexington, Va., on Nov. 18, 2006. Liberty holds a 4-3 overall series record, having won four out of six times since the series reopened in 2002. Liberty's first-ever match-up with VMI was on Sept. 9, 1995, when the Keydets handed the Flames a 51-30 setback at Foster Stadium.
Home Sweet Home
On Oct. 25, the Flames welcomed visiting Charleston Southern to Williams Stadium, a facility Liberty has called home for the past 20 seasons. Liberty rallied for a 37-19 victory over Towson State on Oct. 21, 1989, and has won 65 percent of its contests since, having posted a 70-38 record at the on-campus facility. Last year, the Flames went undefeated at home for the second time in program history, posting a school-record 6-0 mark, en route to their Big South title run.
Sensational Sellouts
For the 11th-straight home game, the Flames filled Williams Stadium beyond capacity, as 14,365 fans packed into the on-campus facility against Charleston Southern on Oct. 25. The attendance figure was the seventh largest in the 20-year history of the stadium. Since head coach Danny Rocco has arrived at Liberty, the Flames have filled Williams Stadium beyond capacity 13 out of 17 games. Liberty has posted a 14-3 record during those contests, averaging 13,267 fans per home game.
Attending to the National Numbers
Following its 11th-consecutive sellout crowd at Williams Stadium in the Flames' 42-0 shutout over Charleston Southern on Oct. 25, Liberty ranks as one of the nation's elite FCS programs in terms of home attendance figures. The Flames now rank No. 6 nationally in filling stadium capacity (122.73 percent), No. 9 in total home attendance (73,639) and No. 13 in average home attendance (14,728).
Saturday Night Lights
Under head coach Danny Rocco, the Flames are 11-3 in night games. Since 1976, Liberty has compiled a 53-65-3 record in night games.
In Broad Daylight
Under head coach Danny Rocco, the Flames are 10-7 in games played during the day. Since 1976, Liberty is 113-114-1 in day games.
Natural Versus Artificial Surfaces
Under head coach Danny Rocco, the Flames are 16-7 on artificial turf and 5-3 on natural grass. Overall, Liberty is 96-108-4 on natural grass and 76-75 on artificial turf. The Flames play their home games at Williams Stadium, which has an artificial surface, as new state-of-the-art FieldTurf was installed prior to the start of the 2006 season. Liberty has posted a 14-3 record at home since the new surface was installed.
Overtime Update
The Flames enter today's game having posted a 3-5 record in overtime games. Liberty's last overtime game came on Sept. 15, 2007, when the Flames dropped a 48-41 decision to William & Mary in double overtime in Williamsburg, Va.
Liberty has only played two of its eight overtime games away from Williams Stadium. Liberty's first extra-period game was a 34-28 road loss to Morgan State on Sept. 21, 1996. Liberty's last victory in an overtime contest came on Nov. 22, 2003, when it closed out the 2003 campaign with a 49-42 win over Hofstra.
Raising Up No. 71
Prior to the start of the Flames' contest against Tusculum on Sept. 1, 2007, Liberty ceremonially honored founder Dr. Jerry Falwell, who had passed away the previous May, by starting a new game day tradition. Members of the University Police force raised a No. 71 flag underneath the Liberty Flames flag above the South end zone, just prior to the team taking the field, bringing the 14,925 fans in attendance to their feet.
The new tradition has become a permanent part of the Flames' pregame ceremonies at all home football games. A different person/group will receive the honor of raising the flag at each game. Oct. 25th honorees were members of the Liberty University Alumni Office, as that weekend was Homecoming Weekend on campus.
This year's honorees:
Aug. 30 (North Greenville) – Jerry Falwell, Jr., LU President and Chancellor
Sept. 6 (Glenville State) – Josh McDougal, former LU cross country/track and field standout
Oct. 11 (Stony Brook) – SAAC, LU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
Oct. 18 (Lafayette) – Representative from the Parents' Club Foundation
Oct. 25 (Charleston Southern) - Representative from Alumni Office
Back in the Big South
Liberty is in the midst of its seventh season of competition in Big South Conference action today. Since beginning league play in 2002, Liberty has posted a 16-10 Big South record, thanks to a perfect 4-0 championship record in 2007 and back-to-back 3-1 records in 2003 and 2004.
Liberty series records against Big South schools since 2002
Charleston Southern 6-1
Coastal Carolina 3-3
Gardner-Webb 2-4
Stony Brook 1-0
VMI 4-1
Note: Elon was a member of the Big South in 2002 with Elon defeating Liberty.
From "Good2Great"
Liberty captured its first-ever Big South championship last year, sweeping through the conference with an unblemished 4-0 league record. Liberty was the fifth program in league history to finish a conference campaign undefeated, winning its Big South games by more than 30 points per game (47.8 average points scored to 17.0 average points allowed).
At the Top Again
For the second year in a row, the Flames were named the preseason favorites to hoist the Big South trophy at the end of the season. Liberty garnered 12 out of 13 first-place votes in the annual Big South coaches and media preseason poll and finished 19 points ahead of second-place Coastal Carolina in total votes.
Noting the Streak
Liberty had its 11-game winning streak snapped on Oct. 18 with a 35-21 loss to Patriot League contender Lafayette. Below is a breakdown of where the streak ranked on the program, conference and national scenes heading into the contest against the Leopards:
• It was the longest winning streak in program history (bettering a 10-game winning streak which spanned the 1988 and 1989 seasons)
• It was the second longest in Big South history (longest was 14-straight by Charleston Southern over the 2005 and 2006 seasons)
• It was the nation's longest active winning streak among FCS programs (ranking ahead of Sacred Heart, James Madison, San Diego and Elon, who all had won six-straight games)
Not Many in the NCAA Could Say the Same
Liberty's 11-game winning streak ranked as the longest active winning streak among FCS programs prior to its loss to Lafayette on Oct. 18. At the time of the loss, Liberty was one of six NCAA programs to own a double-digit winning streak out of 629 total NCAA programs (FBS – 120, FCS – 123, Division II – 150 and Division III – 236). The Flames were joined in the elite group by BYU (FBS, 16-straight), Tuskegee (Division II, 20-straight), Bloomsburg (Division II, 12-straight), American International (Division II, 10-straight) and Wisconsin-Whitewater (Division III, 18-straight).
Big South Barrage
Despite the Flames' 11-game winning streak coming to an end against Lafayette on Oct. 18, one streak remains alive for Liberty, as the Flames have reeled off nine-straight Big South victories dating back to the 2006 season. The last time the Flames dropped a Big South contest was on Oct. 21, when Liberty fell, 27-24, to Gardner-Webb. The league run is the longest in Big South history, bettering Coastal Carolina's eight-game conference winning streak that spanned three seasons (11/22/03—10/29/05).
Fierce In Front of Their Own Fans
Not only did the loss to Lafayette on Oct. 18 snap the nation's longest FCS winning streak, but it also halted an 11-game home winning streak for Liberty. The successful home victory run was the longest in program history and was the second longest in the nation at the time among FCS programs. San Diego holds the nation's longest FCS home winning streak at 28 games.
Still Hanging On
Despite dropping two out of its last three games, the Flames remained nationally ranked in both the Sports Network and FCS Coaches polls this week. Following its loss to Presbyterian, Liberty dropped eight spots in the pair of rankings to No. 25 in both polls. The Flames have been ranked among the nation's Top 25 programs for nine-straight weeks, setting a program record for consecutive weeks in the national polls.
More from the Polls
Speaking of votes, Liberty Head Coach Danny Rocco and Sparky, the program's mascot, are currently in the running for two national honors. In the fan portion of the poll for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year honor, Rocco ranked second in the Division I-AA listing, as of Wednesday, while Sparky is the second leading write-in candidate in the Capital One Mascot Challenge. Voting in both fan polls opened during the first week of the year and will conclude directly following the conclusion of the regular season.
Twice as Nice
For the second time under head coach Danny Rocco, the Flames recorded multiple shutouts in the same season. Earlier this year, the Flames have blanked Stony Brook, 33-0, in the Seawolves' first-ever Big South game. On Oct. 25, the Flames shut out Charleston Southern, 42-0, making Liberty the first-ever Big South team to shut out back-to-back opponents. The blanking was the sixth under head coach Danny Rocco and the 19th in program history.
Rocco Quickly Joins Elite
Liberty's 42-0 shutout victory over Charleston Southern on Oct. 25 gave head coach Danny Rocco his 21st career victory as the head coach of the Flames football program. In two-plus years, Rocco has matched his predecessor, Ken Karcher, who ranks third in program annals in terms of coaching victories (21-46). Ranking ahead of Rocco are Tom Dowling with 33 wins (33-38-2) and Sam Rutigliano, who is the winningest coach in program history (67-53).
Yardage Monsters
For the sixth-straight game and the eighth time this year, the Flames surpassed the 400 total offensive yard mark against Presbyterian last Saturday, finishing the game with 424 total offensive yards against the future Big South foe. The yardage run currently has Liberty ranked No. 7 nationally in the statistical category, averaging 454.11 total offensive yards per game.
By a Wide Margin
The Flames outgained Charleston Southern by 301 yards on Oct. 25, helping Liberty post its second-straight shutout victory. The total offensive yardage margin was the second largest under head coach Danny Rocco. Last year, the Flames outgained St. Francis, Pa., by 382 yards (591-209).
Frequent Flyer Miles
Prior to its match-up with Presbyterian, where the Flames threw for 204 yards, the Flames posted back-to-back 300-plus yard passing games against Lafayette and Charleston Southern. Against the Buccaneers, the Flames got 304 of their 492 total offensive yards via the passing game. Liberty passed for 344 yards against Lafayette, marking the most passing yards during head coach Danny Rocco's tenure. Prior to the Flames' last two games, Liberty's previous passing high under Rocco was 281 yards against Presbyterian last year.
The Flames currently rank third in the Big South in passing yards per game (226.9). VMI ranks last in the Big South and among all FCS programs, averaging 79.9 passing yards per contest to give the Flames a 147 average passing yard advantage heading into this contest.
Back Above the 200-Yard Threshold
After having back-to-back games where the Flames failed to pass the 200-yard rushing plateau, Liberty posted its third-highest rushing attempts total of the year (44) against Presbyterian, resulting in 220 rushing yards. Liberty currently ranks No. 9 nationally by averaging 227.22 rushing yards per game. Since head coach Danny Rocco's arrival in 2006, Liberty has averaged 208.2 rushing yards per game and has surpassed the 200-yard plateau in 15 out of 31 games.
Danny Remains Defense
The Flames held Charleston Southern to 191 total offensive yards on Oct. 25, helping guide Liberty to a 42-0 shutout victory. The figure marked a new season low for a Liberty opponent and was the third fewest yards allowed since head coach Danny Rocco took over the team in 2006. Liberty currently ranks No. 35 nationally in total defense, allowing an average of 327.89 total offensive yards per game.
A Decisive Number
The Flames' prolific offense is starting to catch the eye of the nation, as Liberty ranks No. 14 in scoring offense (34.44 points per game). The 30-point mark seems to be the key number for a Flames victory, as Liberty is 17-2 under head coach Danny Rocco when Liberty scores more than 30 points in a game. The Flames are 4-8 under Rocco when Liberty fails to reach the 30-point threshold.
Points a Plenty under Rocco
In six out of nine games this year, the Flames have scored 30 or more points, doing so again in a 42-0 victory over Charleston Southern on Oct. 25. Liberty currently ranks No. 14 nationally in scoring offense, as the Flames are averaging 34.44 points per game. Last year, the Flames were No. 3 in scoring offense, averaging a program and Big South-record 42.6 points per game. Since head coach Danny Rocco took over the program in 2006, Liberty has averaged 33.4 points scored per game, and Liberty is 17-2 in contests when the Flames roll up 30 or more points on the scoreboard.
Don't Forget About the "D"
Despite Liberty's gaudy offensive numbers over the past two-plus seasons, the Flames' defense has played a significant factor in the team's success, bringing a smile to head coach Danny Rocco's face, as he is a 20-plus year defensive coaching veteran. Since 2006, Liberty has held its opponents to an average of 19.2 points per game, meaning Liberty is outscoring its opponents by more than two touchdowns per game (an average of 14.2 points per game) over the span.
Run Stoppers
For the sixth time this year, the Flames held an opponent under the 100-yard team rushing mark, as Presbyterian finished with 89 team rushing yards. The Flames currently rank No. 24 nationally in rushing defense, allowing 106.67 team rushing yards per game.
Strength against Strength
This Saturday's match-up will pit two of the nation's top rushing attacks against each other. VMI enters the contest as the second best FCS rushing team in the nation, averaging 337.38 rushing yards per game. Liberty averages 110 less rushing yards per game (227.22), but ranks No. 9 nationally in the statistical category.
The Nation's Best
One of the busiest crews on the field during a Liberty football game is the "chain gang", as Liberty enters today's match-up with VMI as the nation's leader in third-down conversions. After converting on 7-of-13 third-down plays against Presbyterian last weekend, the Flames have now picked up a new set of downs 54.6 percent of the time in third-down situations (65-of-119). The Flames are averaging 7.2 third-down conversions per game.
Frequent First Downs
Liberty's potent offensive attack and high third-down conversion rate have the Flames ranked among the nation's elite in another statistical category. Liberty ranks No. 8 in first down offense, picking up an average of 22.44 first downs per game (202 total). Should the Flames continue to pick up first downs at the same rate, Liberty would break a school record. The Flames are on pace to pick up 269 total first downs this year, which would surpass the 1993 squad, who finished the year with 241 first downs.
First Down Frenzy
Liberty finished last weekend's game with 26 first downs, the second highest total by the Flames this year. On Oct. 11, the Flames finished the Stony Brook game with 28 first downs, marking the second most under head coach Danny Rocco. Liberty's highest first down total under head coach Danny Rocco came on Nov. 17, 2007, when the Flames picked up 29 first downs en route to a 31-0 shutout victory over Gardner-Webb to wrap up the program's first-ever Big South title. Liberty has picked up 20 or more first downs in all but one game this year (18 against Lafayette).
Fewer Infractions
During the first three games of the year, Liberty averaged 10.7 penalties per game for an average of 101 penalty yards (32 total penalties/303 total penalty yards). Over the last six games, Liberty totaled 26 infractions for 203 total yards (averaging 4.3 penalties and 33.8 penalty yards per contest). Despite the marked improvement, Liberty still ranks No. 69 nationally in penalties per game (6.44) and No. 68 in average penalty yards per game (56.22).
Trying to Take Better Care of the Ball
For the fourth time this year, the Flames finished a game without turning the ball over last weekend against Presbyterian. Liberty forced the Blue Hose to give the ball away on Patrick Calvary's eighth career interception, adding to the Flames' positive turnover margin in 2008. The Flames currently rank No. 45 nationally in turnover margin (0.22). During Liberty's first two years under head coach Danny Rocco, the Flames valued possession of the football, ranking No. 7 in turnover margin in 2007 (1.27 per game) and No. 20 in 2006 (0.55 per game).
The Ideal Job
If you are looking for the "cushy" job on the Flames roster, you'll find it in the area of punting. Liberty enters today's game as the team tied for the third fewest total punts among FCS programs so far in 2008. The Flames have been forced to punt the ball away 25 times over nine games (2.8 times per game). Fewer punts mean Liberty's offense is successful, but it has hurt its punting game, as Liberty ranks last among FCS programs in net punting (averaging 25.36 yards gained by punting).
Sensational Seven
The Flames enter the VMI contest winners in seven of the nine games in 2008. With the run of victories, Liberty is one of 12 FCS programs to have reached the seven-win plateau this year. Only four other FCS programs have more wins than Liberty in 2008, as Dayton, James Madison, Montana and Sacred Heart each enter this weekend with an 8-1 overall record.
Road Warriors
Prior to last weekend's loss at Presbyterian, the Flames had claimed victory in five-straight road games. The run was the longest road winning streak in Big South history and was the second-longest active winning streak among FCS programs. Lafayette, who entered the week with the nation's longest FCS winning streak, suffered a setback to Colgate on the road, leaving Cal Poly with the nation's longest current winning streak at five games.
Eight is Great
The 2008 squad will be looking to join an elite group of teams in program history, when the Flames square off against VMI on Saturday. Should the Flames be victorious over the Keydets, this year's team would pick up its eighth victory over the year. Only five other teams in the 37-year history of the program have reached the eight-win plateau. Three teams finished the season with eight wins (1988, 1995 and 2007) and two squads reached the nine-win mark (1979 and 1997).
Great Out of the Gate
For the second time in program history, the Flames started the season with a 6-0 record before falling to Lafayette on Oct. 18. Liberty also accomplished the feat in 1989; however, the Flames are hoping for a better finish than the previous 6-0 squad, as the 1989 team lost four out of its last five games to close out the year 7-4.
Protecting the Passer
After allowing three sacks in its season opener against North Greenville, the Flames offensive line has banded together to allow just four sacks over the last eight games. Liberty currently ranks No. 6 nationally, as the Flames are surrendering 0.75 sacks per game. Last year, Liberty finished the season ranked No. 4 in the country, as the Flames allowed 0.73 sacks per contest. All in all, the Flames have allowed less than a sack per game (0.84/26 in 31 games) since head coach Danny Rocco took over the program in 2006.
Picking Them Off
For the third time this year, the Flames finished a game with multiple interceptions, picking off Charleston Southern quarterback Tribble Reese twice on Oct. 25, accounting for a pair of the Buccaneers' turnovers. Last weekend, Patrick Calvary picked off his eighth career pass to push Liberty's team total to 10 interceptions in 2008. The Flames currently rank No. 39 nationally in passes intercepted.
Returning Rampage
Liberty finished the Presbyterian game with a season-high six kickoff returns for 124 total yards. The yardage total was the third highest this year, falling one yard shy of tying the team's mark of 125 yards against Western Carolina and Coastal Carolina. Liberty currently ranks No. 9 nationally in kickoff returns, averaging 23.00 yards per return. The Flames are one of 21 FCS programs to have returned a kickoff for a touchdown in 2008, recording a 76-yard return by Jonathan Crawford against North Greenville in its season opener.
Punt Return Power Down
After five games, the Flames were ranked as one of the top punt return teams in the nation, averaging 17.6 yards per punt return. However, Liberty's last four opponents have kept the Flames from returning punts, as the Flames have returned just five punts over the last four games for a total of one combined yard. Following the lower punt return numbers, Liberty now ranks No. 21 nationally in in punt returns, averaging 13.25 yards per return.
Kings of the Return Game
James Madison held onto its No. 1 ranking in FCS football following the weekend of Oct. 18, thanks to a last-second punt return for a touchdown, the Dukes' third such return of the season. Liberty and James Madison are among a select few in the nation at the FCS level, as the two programs are joined by five others who have returned at least one punt and one kickoff for a touchdown in 2008. The remaining five in the elite group are Florida A&M, Georgia Southern, Hampton, Northwestern State and Tennessee-Martin.
Keeping Them Out of the Backfield
For the seventh time in nine games this year, the Flames kept an opponent from recording more than three tackles for a loss. Presbyterian hit the number on the nose, resulting in 16 total yards lost. The Flames currently rank No. 4 nationally in fewest tackles for a loss allowed per game (3.56), resulting in a loss of 14.9 average yards per game.
Legends Enshrined
During Liberty's annual Homecoming game on Oct. 25, the Liberty University Athletics Department honored long-time head coach Sam Rutigliano and former AFC Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowler Eric Green. The pair of Liberty legends joined founder Dr. Jerry Falwell, as jerseys were retired in honor of their accomplishments. A "HC" jersey now hangs in honor of Rutigliano, while a No. 86 jersey rests next to Rutigliano's, paying tribute to Green's storied career at Liberty.
Coaches on the Field
At halftime of the Flames' annual Spring Football Game on April 19, head coach Danny Rocco tabbed six players for leadership roles in 2008, when the skipper named his team captains. Quarterback Brock Smith, running back Rashad Jennings and center Mike Godsil were named offensive team captains. Defensively, nose guard Colin Dugan, linebacker Nick Hursky and defensive back Ryan Greiser were recognized as this year's defensive team captains.
The League's Elite
Rashad Jennings was tabbed the Big South Preseason Offensive Player of the Year at the conference's annual media day on July 25. Jennings, last year's Big South Offensive Player of the Year, set new Big South records in rushing touchdowns (15), all-purpose yards (154.3 per game), total touchdowns scored (17) and points scored (104). Jennings, along with seven other Flames, was named to the Big South's preseason all-conference team, giving Liberty more preseason selects than any other program in the conference this year.
Duo Grabs All-America Honors
Rashad Jennings and Dominic Bolden were named to the Sports Network's Preseason All-America teams on Aug. 22. Jennings grabbed first-team honors as the nation's premium FCS running back, while Bolden was recognized for his stellar return abilities as a third-team honoree at kickoff return specialist. Both Jennings and Bolden were named to the Sports Network's honorable-mention All-America squad at their respective positions at the end of the 2007 campaign.
Sharing the Top Spot
Rashad Jennings led the Flames' rushing attack with 188 yards on 32 carries against Presbyterian last weekend. The performance was the 20th 100-yard rushing game of his three-year career, tying him for the program's all-time record held by Dre Barnes (2001-04). On Oct. 18 against Lafayette, Jennings passed the Big South's all-time record of 17 career 100-yards games, also posted by Barnes, who did so over the final three years of his career in the league.
Closing In on the Legends
With his 188 rushing yards against Presbyterian last weekend, Rashad Jennings continues to inch closer to first place on the Big South all-time rushing list. The senior has rushed for 3,321 yards since joining the Flames roster in 2006, which is 88 yards away from Dre Barnes' mark of 3,409 yards. Against the Blue Hose, Jennings overtook second place from VMI's Sean Mizzer, who finished his career with 3,233 rushing yards.
Standing at the Top
For the seventh-consecutive game, running back Rashad Jennings recorded a rushing touchdown, finding the end zone twice during the contest against Presbyterian last weekend. The pair of scores gave the senior 256 career points at Liberty, continuing to expand his career record as the Flames' all-time scoring leader among non-kicking players.
Mr. Consistency
With his 127 rushing yards against Charleston Southern on Oct. 25, Rashad Jennings hit the 1,000-yard mark on the nose for the season. Since joining the Flames roster in 2006, Jennings has reached the 1,000-yard plateau all three seasons to become the first running back in program and Big South history to accomplish the feat.
The New Standard
Rashad Jennings has rushed for 100 or more yards in nine-straight games, shattering program and Big South Conference records. The previous school and league record was held by Eugene Goodman, who rushed for 100 or more yards over seven-consecutive games before his senior year was cut short when he suffered an injury against Gardner-Webb on Oct. 2, 2004.
One of the Best
Rashad Jennings enters the game leading the Big South in rushing yards per game, scoring and all-purpose yards. The senior is averaging 148.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks No. 4 nationally in the statistical category. Jennings also ranks tied for No. 3 in the country in scoring (11.25 points per game) and No. 11 in average all-purpose yards (164.0).
Still One First for Jennings
Despite standing 88 yards away from becoming the Big South all-time leading rushing, Rashad Jennings has still yet to lead the league in rushing for a single season. Both years Jennings has finished just behind two different Keydets. In 2006, he finished two yards behind Sean Mizzer (1,022 to 1,020 yards). Last year, he finished eight yards behind Howard Abegesah (1,121 to 1,113), meaning Jennings has missed the mark by a combined 10 yards over his first two years at Liberty.
Streaking Quarterback Halted
After back-to-back games with 250 or more passing yards, Brock Smith failed to reach the mark against Presbyterian. He finished with his lowest completion percentage of the season at 50.0 percent (15-of-30), marking the first time this year the quarterback has failed to finish a game with a competition percentage above the 60 percent mark. The consecutive 250-yard passing performances gave Smith nine for his career, which ranks seventh in program history.
Playing with the Big Boys
Brock Smith's 269 passing yards against Charleston Southern on Oct. 25, which was his fourth best single-game passing performance in his career, gave the quarterback 6,097 career passing yards. The senior is now the fourth hurler in program and Big South history to surpass the 6,000 career passing yard mark (currently standing at 6,301 yards).
Near Perfect Passer
Brock Smith enters today's game as one of the most efficient passers in the nation. The senior currently ranks No. 12 nationally in passing efficiency, boasting a 154.56 passer ranking. Should the season end today, Smith would finish his career as the most proficient passer in Liberty and Big South history. The senior has a 144.9 career passer efficiency rating, ranking ahead of Charleston Southern's Collin Drafts (134.4) and Liberty's Robby Justino (132.6) in the respective rankings.
Twice as Nice
Against Lafayette and Charleston Southern, Jonathan Crawford and Dominic Bolden pulled off a feat no two other wide receivers have in program history. The pair became the 16th receiving duo to surpass the 100 yard receiving mark in the same game against Lafayette. The following weekend, they exceeded the century mark again to become the first pair to do so in consecutive games. Prior to the Lafayette game, the last time two receivers surpassed the 100 yard mark in the same game was against Charleston Southern on Nov. 10, 2001. Adrian Hall (133 yards) and Daniel Thomas (110 yards) did so, helping the Flames down the Buccaneers, 45-31.
The Third Time is the Charm
Dominic Bolden led the Flames against Presbyterian, catching four passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns. The 111-yard outing marked the third straight game the senior has surpassed the century mark, becoming the fourth receiver in program history to accomplish the feat. The last receiver to surpass the 100-yard mark in three consecutive games was Courtney Freeman in 1997. The program's all-time record for consecutive 100-yard receiving games was set by Pat Nelson at five games over the span of the 1990-91 seasons.
Dominic Demands Notice
Following his third straight 100-yard game and the fifth of his career, Dominic Bolden has put himself in the position to add his name to the program's record book. The senior now has 829 receiving yards to his credit, marking the most single-season receiving yards in the last 10 years and the sixth best single-season performance in program history. Bolden currently leads the Big South and ranks No. 18 nationally by averaging 92.1 receiving yards per game.
Career Day for Crawford
After posting his first 100-yard receiving game against Lafayette, Jonathan Crawford bettered his numbers against Charleston Southern. On Oct. 25, the senior led the Flames with six catches for 124 yards, while two of his six receptions went for touchdowns. The senior now has 538 receiving yards on the year, which is more four times his career total coming into the 2008 season (134 yards on 11 receptions).
The Over the Hill Gang
Celebrating the number 40 is often frowned upon, as the 40th birthday is known as moving "over the hill." However, for senior Mike Godsil it is a number of endearment. Against Lafayette, the senior started his 40th-consecutive career game, doing so at center for each game since he joined the roster as a freshman in 2005. Last weekend against Presbyterian, Godsil was joined in the elite club by Patrick Calvary, who started his 40th career game.
Touchdown Streak Halted
For the first time in 18 games, Zach Terrell failed to record a rushing touchdown in a game, as the senior finished the Western Carolina game on Sept. 13 with eight carries for 51 yards without finding the end zone. Prior to the game against the Catamounts, the last time Terrell played in a game without rushing for a touchdown was on Sept. 30, 2006, when the then sophomore carried the ball four times for 20 yards without finding the end zone against Wake Forest. Terrell currently ranks third in the Big South and fifth in Liberty's program history with 29 career rushing touchdowns.
The Purpose-Driven Pair
Liberty is the only team at the FCS level to have two players rank in the Top 20 individually in all-purpose running yards. Rashad Jennings leads the Flames, as he is averaging 164.0 all-purpose yards per game, which ranks No. 11 nationally. Dominic Bolden leads the team in total all-purpose yards (1,399), but ranks No. 18 in the country by averaging 155.4 yards per game.
Total Team Effort
The Flames enter today's game with the best scoring defense in the Big South, while ranking No. 24 nationally by allowing a stingy 20.56 points per game. Senior linebacker Nick Hursky leads Liberty's defensive effort and ranks sixth in the Big South, as he is averaging 7.4 tackles per game. Hursky is followed on the Flames' defensive listing by Ryan Greiser, as the defensive back is averaging 5.8 tackles per game. The pair are the lone two Liberty defenders in the conference's Top 25 individual tackles listing this year.
Defining the Word Student-Athlete
On Thursday, four Liberty starters were named to the ESPN the Magazine CoSIDA Academic District 3 All-District team. Colin Dugan, Ryan Greiser, Dan Pope and Kevin Richard each received the academic distinction, helped in part by having a 3.30 cumulative GPA. The quartet now will move onto the national ballot for voting, which will determine the CoSIDA Academic All-America team, the highest academic honor a NCAA student-athlete can receive.
Right on Rocco
For the second time in the last three games, Chris Rocco finished a game in double figures, leading the way for the Flames with 10 stops against Presbyterian last weekend. The increased defensive production from the junior over the last trio of games has elevated him to second on the team with 51 tackles in 2008. The 51 tackles nearly has doubled his career total coming into the season, as he entered his third year with the program with 28 career tackles.
Sensational Specialist
Liberty has two of the nation's best return specialists on its roster in seniors Dominic Bolden and Jonathan Crawford. Bolden, who currently ranks No. 2 nationally by averaging 16.93 yards per punt return, is the Big South's all-time leader with 1,303 career kickoff return yards and three kick offs returned for a touchdown. Bolden also ranks atop the program's listing with a 29.0 kickoff return yard average. Bolden's wideout partner Crawford currently ranks tied for No. 14 nationally, as the senior is averaging 26.69 yards per kickoff return. Both return specialists have returned a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown to account for two of three players in Big South history to accomplish the feat.
Get To Know Liberty Quarterback Deshawn Purdie
Wednesday, May 13
Get To Know Liberty Running Back Jaylon Coleman
Thursday, May 07
Get To Know Liberty Defensive End Michael Floyde
Thursday, April 30
Get To Know Liberty Linebacker Deuce Spurlock
Friday, April 24