West Virginia Game Day Central Released
9/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
West Virginia Game Day Central
Today's Game
Following their second-straight march to a Big South title and one of the most memorable seasons in program history, the Flames open the 2009 season on the road, Saturday afternoon, in Morgantown, W.Va., when they face the Mountaineers of West Virginia.
Noting the Series
Today's meeting marks the first in the series between the Flames and the Mountaineers and the inaugural match-up between Liberty head coach Danny Rocco and West Virginia head coach Bill Stewart.
The Flames against the BIG EAST
Liberty is meeting West Virginia on the gridiron for the first time in program history; however, the Flames do have some prior playing experience against one of the Mountaineers conference foes. In 2005, Liberty traveled to East Hartford, Conn., where they fell, 59-0, to Connecticut on Sept. 10 in the program's only previous matchup with a BIG EAST team.
Back Against the Best
The Flames 2008 schedule snapped a near-decade run against the nation's top level of collegiate football, as Liberty had faced a FBS opponent in nine-straight seasons in a row. Prior to 2008, the last time Liberty did not have a FBS opponent on its slate was in 1998.
During the nine-year run, Liberty faced programs such as South Florida, Marshall, UCF, Akron, Toledo, Bowling Green, Kent State, Connecticut and Wake Forest. Liberty has posted a victory over FBS opponent before, as the Flames shocked Eastern Michigan, 25-24, in Ypsilanti, Mich., on Oct. 14, 1989, for Liberty's only victory over a FBS program.
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 13-7 in games played during the day. Since 1976, Liberty is 115-114-1 in day games.
Natural Versus Artificial Surfaces
Under head coach Danny Rocco, the Flames are 18-7 on artificial turf and 6-3 on natural grass. Overall, Liberty is 97-108-4 on natural grass and 78-75 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 16-3 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.
Back in the Big South
Liberty is beginning its eighth season of competition in Big South Conference action, and is slated to open conference play against Coastal Carolina on Oct. 17. Since beginning league play in 2002, Liberty has posted an 18-10 Big South record, thanks to perfect championship seasons in 2007 (4-0) and 2008 (5-0), while posting 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 - 3-4
Stony Brook - 1-0
VMI - 5-1
Note: Elon was a member of the Big South in 2002 with Elon defeating Liberty.
Rocco Starts Off Strong
Today's game marks the beginning of the Flames fourth season under head coach Danny Rocco, and the head coach has helped Liberty quickly jumpstart his first three years at the helm of the program. Liberty won its first two games to open the 2006 and 2007 before suffering setbacks in Week 3, while reeling off six-straight wins under Rocco in 2008.
Rocco Takes on a New Challenge
For the first time in head coach Danny Rocco's time on Liberty Mountain, the Flames will be opening the year on the road. For the past three seasons, Liberty has played back-to-back home games to open the year, posting a perfect 6-0 during those half dozen games.
Rocco's Road Record
Head coach Danny Rocco put a strong emphasis on the importance of road victory since taking over the program in December 2005. During his first three years at Liberty, Rocco has guided the Flames to an 8-7 road record, including a 4-1 mark away from Williams Stadium in 2008.
One for the Record Books
Liberty's 2008 season will long be remembers as one of the greatest in program history, as Liberty reached the 10-win plateau for the first time since the program's inception in 1973. Prior to the 2008 season, Liberty had reached the nine-win mark just twice in nearly four-decades of football action (1997/9-2 and 1979/9-1-1).
Rocco Draws National Attention
Head coach Danny Rocco's efforts in 2008 did not go unnoticed on the national scene, as the three-time Big South Coach of the Year recipient saw his name listed among the nation's elite 2008. Besides picking up his third-straight conference coach of the year honor, Rocco was a Top 5 finalist in the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year contest in the I-AA category. Rocco also became the second coach in Big South history to be named to the Eddie Robinson Award list, as he was one of 20 coaches up for the top FCS coaching honor in the country.
Rocco Dominates the Big South
Since taking over the Flames program, head coach Danny Rocco has posted an 11-2 record against Big South opponents during his first three years at Liberty. The skipper dropped his first two Big South games by a combined five points, but has reeled off 11-straight wins to set a new Big South standard. Under Rocco, Liberty has outscored its Big South foes, 456-211, outscoring league competition by more than 18 points per game.
Nearly Keeping a Streak Alive
The Flames missed cracking the preseason Top 25 in the Sports Network and FCS Coaches poll by just a few votes, ending Liberty's run in the nation's top two FCS college football polls. In 2008, Liberty remained in the Top 25 for 10-straight weeks, finishing the year at No. 14 in the Sports Network poll and No. 15 in the FCS Coaches poll. The ranking in the Sports Network poll was Liberty's highest end-of-the-year ranking. In this year's preseason polls, Liberty was the first to be listed in the "Others Receiving Votes" category, garnering 330 votes in the Sports Network poll (No. 27) and 76 votes in the FCS Coaches poll (No. 26).
Even Steven
In the 36-year history of the Flames football program, Liberty has posted an even 18-18 record in season-opening games. The Flames have reeled off five-straight season-opening victories, with their last setback to open the year coming at the hands of James Madison, 48-6, in Harrisonburg, Va., on Aug. 30, 2003.
Looking to Create a Trend
The Flames snapped a 10-game losing streak in their first road game of the season, when Liberty knocked off Western Carolina, 19-16, in Cullowhee, N.C., on Sept. 13 of last year. Prior to the victory over the Catamounts, Liberty's previous victory during its first road game was a 17-10 victory over the same program in 1997. Overall, Liberty has posted a 10-25-1 record during its first road game of the year.
Twice as Nice
Liberty's victory over VMI on Nov. 8, 2008, coupled with Gardner-Webb's loss to Coastal Carolina the same weekend, gave the Flames the Big South Conference title for the second straight season. Liberty is one of three programs in league history to win consecutive titles. Gardner-Webb hoisted back-to-back trophies in 2002 and 2003, while Coastal Carolina reeled off three straight championship seasons in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Home Sweet Home
Next weekend, the Flames welcome North Carolina Central 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 72-38 record at the on-campus facility. In 2007, 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
Thanks to soaking rains in the greater Lynchburg area two days prior to Liberty's match-up with Gardner-Webb on Nov. 15, 2008, the Flames had their "sellout" streak snapped, as 10,636 saw Liberty seal up its second straight Big South title. Prior to the contest, Liberty had filled Williams Stadium beyond capacity 11 straight times. Since head coach Danny Rocco has arrived at Liberty, the Flames have filled Williams Stadium beyond capacity 13 out of 19 games. Liberty has posted a 16-3 record during those contests, averaging 12,838 fans per home game.
Third and Climbing
In just three seasons, head coach Danny Rocco has quickly moved into third place on the Flames all-time coaching ranks with 24 victories. 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).
Offensive Obsession
Over the final nine games of 2008 and 11 out of 12 times the Flames took to the field, Liberty racked up 400 or more total offensive yards. Liberty finished the year ranked No. 9 nationally among FCS program by averaging 446.67 total offensive yards per game. Liberty set a new program standard by tallying 5,360 total offensive yards in 2008, besting the previous school record of 4,856 yards set in 1994.
A Decisive Number
The Flames' prolific offense in 2008 allowed Liberty to finish the season ranked No. 17 in the nation in scoring offense (33.67 points per game). The 30-point mark seems to be the key number for a Flames victory, as Liberty is 19-2 under head coach Danny Rocco when Liberty scores more than 30 points in a game. The Flames are 5-8 under Rocco when Liberty fails to reach the 30-point threshold.
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 18.6 points per game, meaning Liberty is outscoring its opponents by more than two touchdowns per game (an average of 14.3 points per game) over the span.
Moving Those Chains
One of the busiest crews on the field during a Liberty football game in 2008 was the "chain gang." Liberty finished the campaign ranked No. 3 nationally in third-down conversion rate, moving the chains 50.98 percent of the time on third-down plays. The high conversion rate allowed Liberty to set a new program record with 258 first downs last season.
Stopping the Run
Liberty was one of the nation's top FCS programs in terms of rushing defense in 2008, finishing the year ranked No. 35 nationally in the statistical category by allowing 125.92 rushing yards per game. The figure was good enough to best a school record, bettering the 2002 squad who held opponents to 128.5 rushing yards per game.
Taking Better Care of the Ball
During the 2008 season, Liberty finished nine out of 12 games with a positive turnover margin, enabling the Flames to finish the year ranked No. 21 nationally in the statistical category (+0.67). Head coach Danny Rocco has tried to instill the importance of taking care of the ball on his youngsters, as Liberty ranked No. 7 in turnover margin in 2007 (1.27 per game) and No. 20 in 2006 (0.55 per game).
Racking it Up for Rocco
Head coach Danny Rocco has brought a high-powered offense to Liberty, as the Flames have scored an average of 33.3 points per game since Rocco took over the program. The figure ranks almost a full touchdown ahead of the next highest scoring coach in program annals, as Sam Rutigliano's crew was able to score 26.7 points per game during his 11-year tenure.
Coach Avg. Points/Games
Danny Rocco 33.3 1132/34
Sam Rutigliano 26.7 3205/120
Rock Royer 24.2 145/6
Tom Dowling 20.9 1524/73
Morgan Hout 20.8 1040/50
Ken Karcher 20.6 1382/67
John Cartwright 20.2 565/28
Running with the Flames
The Flames have been one of the nation's top FCS programs over the past seven seasons, as Liberty has ranked among the Top 30 rushing teams in the nation six out of the last seven years. During the time span, the Flames have surpassed the 2,000-yard mark six out of seven years and have averaged 2,167 rushing yards per season. In 2008, Liberty rushed for 2,562 yards and ranked No. 13 nationally in rushing yards per game (213.5).
Looking to Set a New Standard
Liberty finished the last four games of 2008 without throwing an interception, tying a program record. The Flames were one of the most careful passing teams in the country in 2008, ranking No. 7 nationally in passing efficiency (158.81).
Streeter Streamlines the Passers
Under quarterback coach and now offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter, Liberty has been one of the most effective passing units in the country of late. Since joining head coach Danny Rocco's staff, Streeter has seen his quarterbacks throw at a 61.7 completion percentage clip, completing 479-of-776 passing attempts for 6,579 yards and 45 touchdowns. During the span, Liberty averaged 205.6 passing yards per game and had a pass efficiency rating of 147.44 since 2006.
Big Shoes to Fill
The quarterbacking tandem of Tommy Beecher and Mike Brown have been tasked with the lofty goal of trying to replace one of Liberty's best quarterbacks. Brock Smith, who is a student assistant on this year's staff, finished his days in a Liberty uniform by ranking third in passing yards (7,036), second in passing touchdowns (50) and completion percentage (60.0). The left-handed hurler also finished his career as the program's all-time leader in passing efficiency (148.1), nearly 16 points higher than Robby Justino's mark of 132.6.
A QB's Best Friend
After allowing three sacks in its season opener against North Greenville, the Flames offensive line has banded together to allow just five sacks over the final 11 games in 2008. Liberty finished the year ranked No. 3 nationally in sacks allowed (.67). All in all, the Flames have allowed less than a sack per game (0.79/27 in 34 games) since head coach Danny Rocco took over the program in 2006.
Leaving Lofty Numbers
Rashad Jennings posted numbers in 2008 which many never be broken at Liberty, as the now NFL running back rushed his way into the record books in 2008. During his senior campaign, the bruising tailback rushed for a program and Big South record 1,500 yards and 17 touchdowns. In just three seasons with the program, he rushed for 3,633 yards and 42 touchdowns, with his touchdown total setting a new program mark. All in all, he rushed for 100 or more yards in 21 out of 33 games with the Flames.
Joining the Nation's Elite
Last April, running back Rashad Jennings heard something no Liberty Flames had heard in 20 years, as the running back was selected in the NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round. Prior to Jennings selection, the last Flame to be picked in the NFL draft came in 1990 when Eric Green was taken in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers (21st overall pick), followed by Donald Smith to the Minnesota Vikings in the 10th round later in the same draft.
Tough Tandem to Replace
Last year, Liberty had two of its better wide receivers in program history playing together. Dominic Bolden finished the year by tallying 1,056 receiving yards (second highest in program history), while Jonathan Crawford ended the year with 713 receiving yards. The tandem's combined 1,769 receiving yards was the second-highest pair in program history, ranking just behind Fred Banks (1,029) and Kelvin Edwards (763) combined yardage of 1,792 yards by the pair of eventual NFL wide receivers.
The Ideal Job
If you were looking for the "cushy" job on the Flames roster in 2008, you would have found it in the area of punting. Liberty finished the year ranking fourth in the country in fewest total punts. The Flames were forced to punt the ball away 33 times over 12 games (2.75 times per game). Fewer punts means Liberty's offense is successful, but it has hurt its punting game, as Liberty ranks second to last among FCS programs in net punting (averaging 25.64 yards gained by punting).
Mario Missed Out
For the first time in four years, the Flames will have a new starting center when they take to the field against West Virginia on Saturday. Honorable-mention All-America center Mike Godsil started every game of his career, pushing his run to 45 games by time his hung up the pads for the final time last fall. Godsil's understudy, Mario Cosby, is slated to get the start today against West Virginia and is still learning from Godsil, who is a student assistant on the Flames coaching staff.
Keeping Them Out of the Backfield
During the 2008 season, the Flames kept their opponents from recording three or more tackles for a loss in eight out of 12 games. Liberty finished the season ranked No. 4 nationally in fewest tackles for a loss allowed, as the Flames allowed just 3.58 TFLs per game en route to a 10-2 season.
For the eighth time in 11 games, Flames opponents failed to record more than three tackles for a loss against Liberty, as Gardner-Webb tallied three TFLs for a combined loss of 12 yards last weekend. The Flames currently rank No. 3 nationally in fewest tackles for a loss allowed per game (3.55), resulting in a loss of 14.1 average yards per game. Elon also has had some success in the statistical area, ranking No. 13 in tackles for a loss allowed (4.45/24.2 per game).
Needing to Repletion the Points
Head coach Danny Rocoo will certainly be looking for several younger players to step up in 2009 and try to fill holes left open by 22 graduated seasons from last season. All in all, five of the Flames top scorers from last year graduated and a total of 66.8 percent of the offensive production from last year's squad will not be on the field this weekend. Liberty's top two returning scorers are a pair of kickers, Matt Bevins (56 points) and Ben Shipps (33), followed by Mike Brown, who scored 18 points during his first year on the field.
Against the Nation's Best
The Flames have won their last three match-ups against Top 25 teams, defeating No. 23 Youngstown, 31-28, on Sept. 27, 2008, No. 12 Elon, 26-3, on Nov. 22, 2008 and No. 24 Charleston Southern, 34-20, on Nov. 11, 2006. All-time Liberty is 10-39 against nationally-ranked FCS programs.
Today's Game
Following their second-straight march to a Big South title and one of the most memorable seasons in program history, the Flames open the 2009 season on the road, Saturday afternoon, in Morgantown, W.Va., when they face the Mountaineers of West Virginia.
Noting the Series
Today's meeting marks the first in the series between the Flames and the Mountaineers and the inaugural match-up between Liberty head coach Danny Rocco and West Virginia head coach Bill Stewart.
The Flames against the BIG EAST
Liberty is meeting West Virginia on the gridiron for the first time in program history; however, the Flames do have some prior playing experience against one of the Mountaineers conference foes. In 2005, Liberty traveled to East Hartford, Conn., where they fell, 59-0, to Connecticut on Sept. 10 in the program's only previous matchup with a BIG EAST team.
Back Against the Best
The Flames 2008 schedule snapped a near-decade run against the nation's top level of collegiate football, as Liberty had faced a FBS opponent in nine-straight seasons in a row. Prior to 2008, the last time Liberty did not have a FBS opponent on its slate was in 1998.
During the nine-year run, Liberty faced programs such as South Florida, Marshall, UCF, Akron, Toledo, Bowling Green, Kent State, Connecticut and Wake Forest. Liberty has posted a victory over FBS opponent before, as the Flames shocked Eastern Michigan, 25-24, in Ypsilanti, Mich., on Oct. 14, 1989, for Liberty's only victory over a FBS program.
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 13-7 in games played during the day. Since 1976, Liberty is 115-114-1 in day games.
Natural Versus Artificial Surfaces
Under head coach Danny Rocco, the Flames are 18-7 on artificial turf and 6-3 on natural grass. Overall, Liberty is 97-108-4 on natural grass and 78-75 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 16-3 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.
Back in the Big South
Liberty is beginning its eighth season of competition in Big South Conference action, and is slated to open conference play against Coastal Carolina on Oct. 17. Since beginning league play in 2002, Liberty has posted an 18-10 Big South record, thanks to perfect championship seasons in 2007 (4-0) and 2008 (5-0), while posting 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 - 3-4
Stony Brook - 1-0
VMI - 5-1
Note: Elon was a member of the Big South in 2002 with Elon defeating Liberty.
Rocco Starts Off Strong
Today's game marks the beginning of the Flames fourth season under head coach Danny Rocco, and the head coach has helped Liberty quickly jumpstart his first three years at the helm of the program. Liberty won its first two games to open the 2006 and 2007 before suffering setbacks in Week 3, while reeling off six-straight wins under Rocco in 2008.
Rocco Takes on a New Challenge
For the first time in head coach Danny Rocco's time on Liberty Mountain, the Flames will be opening the year on the road. For the past three seasons, Liberty has played back-to-back home games to open the year, posting a perfect 6-0 during those half dozen games.
Rocco's Road Record
Head coach Danny Rocco put a strong emphasis on the importance of road victory since taking over the program in December 2005. During his first three years at Liberty, Rocco has guided the Flames to an 8-7 road record, including a 4-1 mark away from Williams Stadium in 2008.
One for the Record Books
Liberty's 2008 season will long be remembers as one of the greatest in program history, as Liberty reached the 10-win plateau for the first time since the program's inception in 1973. Prior to the 2008 season, Liberty had reached the nine-win mark just twice in nearly four-decades of football action (1997/9-2 and 1979/9-1-1).
Rocco Draws National Attention
Head coach Danny Rocco's efforts in 2008 did not go unnoticed on the national scene, as the three-time Big South Coach of the Year recipient saw his name listed among the nation's elite 2008. Besides picking up his third-straight conference coach of the year honor, Rocco was a Top 5 finalist in the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year contest in the I-AA category. Rocco also became the second coach in Big South history to be named to the Eddie Robinson Award list, as he was one of 20 coaches up for the top FCS coaching honor in the country.
Rocco Dominates the Big South
Since taking over the Flames program, head coach Danny Rocco has posted an 11-2 record against Big South opponents during his first three years at Liberty. The skipper dropped his first two Big South games by a combined five points, but has reeled off 11-straight wins to set a new Big South standard. Under Rocco, Liberty has outscored its Big South foes, 456-211, outscoring league competition by more than 18 points per game.
Nearly Keeping a Streak Alive
The Flames missed cracking the preseason Top 25 in the Sports Network and FCS Coaches poll by just a few votes, ending Liberty's run in the nation's top two FCS college football polls. In 2008, Liberty remained in the Top 25 for 10-straight weeks, finishing the year at No. 14 in the Sports Network poll and No. 15 in the FCS Coaches poll. The ranking in the Sports Network poll was Liberty's highest end-of-the-year ranking. In this year's preseason polls, Liberty was the first to be listed in the "Others Receiving Votes" category, garnering 330 votes in the Sports Network poll (No. 27) and 76 votes in the FCS Coaches poll (No. 26).
Even Steven
In the 36-year history of the Flames football program, Liberty has posted an even 18-18 record in season-opening games. The Flames have reeled off five-straight season-opening victories, with their last setback to open the year coming at the hands of James Madison, 48-6, in Harrisonburg, Va., on Aug. 30, 2003.
Looking to Create a Trend
The Flames snapped a 10-game losing streak in their first road game of the season, when Liberty knocked off Western Carolina, 19-16, in Cullowhee, N.C., on Sept. 13 of last year. Prior to the victory over the Catamounts, Liberty's previous victory during its first road game was a 17-10 victory over the same program in 1997. Overall, Liberty has posted a 10-25-1 record during its first road game of the year.
Twice as Nice
Liberty's victory over VMI on Nov. 8, 2008, coupled with Gardner-Webb's loss to Coastal Carolina the same weekend, gave the Flames the Big South Conference title for the second straight season. Liberty is one of three programs in league history to win consecutive titles. Gardner-Webb hoisted back-to-back trophies in 2002 and 2003, while Coastal Carolina reeled off three straight championship seasons in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Home Sweet Home
Next weekend, the Flames welcome North Carolina Central 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 72-38 record at the on-campus facility. In 2007, 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
Thanks to soaking rains in the greater Lynchburg area two days prior to Liberty's match-up with Gardner-Webb on Nov. 15, 2008, the Flames had their "sellout" streak snapped, as 10,636 saw Liberty seal up its second straight Big South title. Prior to the contest, Liberty had filled Williams Stadium beyond capacity 11 straight times. Since head coach Danny Rocco has arrived at Liberty, the Flames have filled Williams Stadium beyond capacity 13 out of 19 games. Liberty has posted a 16-3 record during those contests, averaging 12,838 fans per home game.
Third and Climbing
In just three seasons, head coach Danny Rocco has quickly moved into third place on the Flames all-time coaching ranks with 24 victories. 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).
Offensive Obsession
Over the final nine games of 2008 and 11 out of 12 times the Flames took to the field, Liberty racked up 400 or more total offensive yards. Liberty finished the year ranked No. 9 nationally among FCS program by averaging 446.67 total offensive yards per game. Liberty set a new program standard by tallying 5,360 total offensive yards in 2008, besting the previous school record of 4,856 yards set in 1994.
A Decisive Number
The Flames' prolific offense in 2008 allowed Liberty to finish the season ranked No. 17 in the nation in scoring offense (33.67 points per game). The 30-point mark seems to be the key number for a Flames victory, as Liberty is 19-2 under head coach Danny Rocco when Liberty scores more than 30 points in a game. The Flames are 5-8 under Rocco when Liberty fails to reach the 30-point threshold.
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 18.6 points per game, meaning Liberty is outscoring its opponents by more than two touchdowns per game (an average of 14.3 points per game) over the span.
Moving Those Chains
One of the busiest crews on the field during a Liberty football game in 2008 was the "chain gang." Liberty finished the campaign ranked No. 3 nationally in third-down conversion rate, moving the chains 50.98 percent of the time on third-down plays. The high conversion rate allowed Liberty to set a new program record with 258 first downs last season.
Stopping the Run
Liberty was one of the nation's top FCS programs in terms of rushing defense in 2008, finishing the year ranked No. 35 nationally in the statistical category by allowing 125.92 rushing yards per game. The figure was good enough to best a school record, bettering the 2002 squad who held opponents to 128.5 rushing yards per game.
Taking Better Care of the Ball
During the 2008 season, Liberty finished nine out of 12 games with a positive turnover margin, enabling the Flames to finish the year ranked No. 21 nationally in the statistical category (+0.67). Head coach Danny Rocco has tried to instill the importance of taking care of the ball on his youngsters, as Liberty ranked No. 7 in turnover margin in 2007 (1.27 per game) and No. 20 in 2006 (0.55 per game).
Racking it Up for Rocco
Head coach Danny Rocco has brought a high-powered offense to Liberty, as the Flames have scored an average of 33.3 points per game since Rocco took over the program. The figure ranks almost a full touchdown ahead of the next highest scoring coach in program annals, as Sam Rutigliano's crew was able to score 26.7 points per game during his 11-year tenure.
Coach Avg. Points/Games
Danny Rocco 33.3 1132/34
Sam Rutigliano 26.7 3205/120
Rock Royer 24.2 145/6
Tom Dowling 20.9 1524/73
Morgan Hout 20.8 1040/50
Ken Karcher 20.6 1382/67
John Cartwright 20.2 565/28
Running with the Flames
The Flames have been one of the nation's top FCS programs over the past seven seasons, as Liberty has ranked among the Top 30 rushing teams in the nation six out of the last seven years. During the time span, the Flames have surpassed the 2,000-yard mark six out of seven years and have averaged 2,167 rushing yards per season. In 2008, Liberty rushed for 2,562 yards and ranked No. 13 nationally in rushing yards per game (213.5).
Looking to Set a New Standard
Liberty finished the last four games of 2008 without throwing an interception, tying a program record. The Flames were one of the most careful passing teams in the country in 2008, ranking No. 7 nationally in passing efficiency (158.81).
Streeter Streamlines the Passers
Under quarterback coach and now offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter, Liberty has been one of the most effective passing units in the country of late. Since joining head coach Danny Rocco's staff, Streeter has seen his quarterbacks throw at a 61.7 completion percentage clip, completing 479-of-776 passing attempts for 6,579 yards and 45 touchdowns. During the span, Liberty averaged 205.6 passing yards per game and had a pass efficiency rating of 147.44 since 2006.
Big Shoes to Fill
The quarterbacking tandem of Tommy Beecher and Mike Brown have been tasked with the lofty goal of trying to replace one of Liberty's best quarterbacks. Brock Smith, who is a student assistant on this year's staff, finished his days in a Liberty uniform by ranking third in passing yards (7,036), second in passing touchdowns (50) and completion percentage (60.0). The left-handed hurler also finished his career as the program's all-time leader in passing efficiency (148.1), nearly 16 points higher than Robby Justino's mark of 132.6.
A QB's Best Friend
After allowing three sacks in its season opener against North Greenville, the Flames offensive line has banded together to allow just five sacks over the final 11 games in 2008. Liberty finished the year ranked No. 3 nationally in sacks allowed (.67). All in all, the Flames have allowed less than a sack per game (0.79/27 in 34 games) since head coach Danny Rocco took over the program in 2006.
Leaving Lofty Numbers
Rashad Jennings posted numbers in 2008 which many never be broken at Liberty, as the now NFL running back rushed his way into the record books in 2008. During his senior campaign, the bruising tailback rushed for a program and Big South record 1,500 yards and 17 touchdowns. In just three seasons with the program, he rushed for 3,633 yards and 42 touchdowns, with his touchdown total setting a new program mark. All in all, he rushed for 100 or more yards in 21 out of 33 games with the Flames.
Joining the Nation's Elite
Last April, running back Rashad Jennings heard something no Liberty Flames had heard in 20 years, as the running back was selected in the NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round. Prior to Jennings selection, the last Flame to be picked in the NFL draft came in 1990 when Eric Green was taken in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers (21st overall pick), followed by Donald Smith to the Minnesota Vikings in the 10th round later in the same draft.
Tough Tandem to Replace
Last year, Liberty had two of its better wide receivers in program history playing together. Dominic Bolden finished the year by tallying 1,056 receiving yards (second highest in program history), while Jonathan Crawford ended the year with 713 receiving yards. The tandem's combined 1,769 receiving yards was the second-highest pair in program history, ranking just behind Fred Banks (1,029) and Kelvin Edwards (763) combined yardage of 1,792 yards by the pair of eventual NFL wide receivers.
The Ideal Job
If you were looking for the "cushy" job on the Flames roster in 2008, you would have found it in the area of punting. Liberty finished the year ranking fourth in the country in fewest total punts. The Flames were forced to punt the ball away 33 times over 12 games (2.75 times per game). Fewer punts means Liberty's offense is successful, but it has hurt its punting game, as Liberty ranks second to last among FCS programs in net punting (averaging 25.64 yards gained by punting).
Mario Missed Out
For the first time in four years, the Flames will have a new starting center when they take to the field against West Virginia on Saturday. Honorable-mention All-America center Mike Godsil started every game of his career, pushing his run to 45 games by time his hung up the pads for the final time last fall. Godsil's understudy, Mario Cosby, is slated to get the start today against West Virginia and is still learning from Godsil, who is a student assistant on the Flames coaching staff.
Keeping Them Out of the Backfield
During the 2008 season, the Flames kept their opponents from recording three or more tackles for a loss in eight out of 12 games. Liberty finished the season ranked No. 4 nationally in fewest tackles for a loss allowed, as the Flames allowed just 3.58 TFLs per game en route to a 10-2 season.
For the eighth time in 11 games, Flames opponents failed to record more than three tackles for a loss against Liberty, as Gardner-Webb tallied three TFLs for a combined loss of 12 yards last weekend. The Flames currently rank No. 3 nationally in fewest tackles for a loss allowed per game (3.55), resulting in a loss of 14.1 average yards per game. Elon also has had some success in the statistical area, ranking No. 13 in tackles for a loss allowed (4.45/24.2 per game).
Needing to Repletion the Points
Head coach Danny Rocoo will certainly be looking for several younger players to step up in 2009 and try to fill holes left open by 22 graduated seasons from last season. All in all, five of the Flames top scorers from last year graduated and a total of 66.8 percent of the offensive production from last year's squad will not be on the field this weekend. Liberty's top two returning scorers are a pair of kickers, Matt Bevins (56 points) and Ben Shipps (33), followed by Mike Brown, who scored 18 points during his first year on the field.
Against the Nation's Best
The Flames have won their last three match-ups against Top 25 teams, defeating No. 23 Youngstown, 31-28, on Sept. 27, 2008, No. 12 Elon, 26-3, on Nov. 22, 2008 and No. 24 Charleston Southern, 34-20, on Nov. 11, 2006. All-time Liberty is 10-39 against nationally-ranked FCS programs.
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