| Liberty Flames Football | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Current season
| |||
| |||
| First season | 1973 | ||
| Athletic director | Jeff Barber | ||
| Head coach | Turner Gill | ||
| Home stadium | Williams Stadium | ||
| Stadium capacity | 19,200 | ||
| Stadium surface | FieldTurf | ||
| Location | Lynchburg, Virginia | ||
| League | NCAA Division I (FCS) | ||
| Conference | Big South | ||
| All-time record | 198–198–4 | ||
| Postseason bowl record | 0–0 | ||
| Conference titles | 4 | ||
| Current uniform | |||
| Colors | Navy and Red | ||
| Fight song | Fan The Flames | ||
| Mascot | Sparky | ||
| Marching band | Spirit of the Mountain | ||
| Rivals | Coastal Carolina | ||
| Website | LibertyFlames.com | ||
The Liberty Flames is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FCS, in the Big South Conference.
History[]
Liberty Flames football in 2007
Liberty's football program is headed by Turner Gill who took over in December 2011 after previously being head coach at Kansas and Buffalo. Liberty plays their home games at Williams Stadium which has a capacity of 19,200.
Year-by-year results[]
- Statistics correct as of the end of the 2011-12 college football season
| NCAA Division I champions | NCAA Division I FCS champions | Conference Champions | Division Champions | Bowl Eligible | Undefeated Season |
| Year | NCAA Division | Conference | Conference Division | Overall | Conference | Coach | Final Ranking | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Win | Loss | Tie | Pct. | Games | Win | Loss | Tie | Pct. | Standing | ||||||
| 1973 | NAIA | NAIA Independent | N/A | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Lee Royer | - |
| 1974 | NAIA | NAIA Independent | N/A | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | John Cartwright | - |
| 1975 | NAIA | NAIA Independent | N/A | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | John Cartwright | - |
| 1976 | NAIA | NAIA Independent | N/A | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | .550 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | John Cartwright | - |
| 1977 | NAIA | NAIA Independent | N/A | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Tom Dowling | - |
| 1978 | NAIA | NAIA Independent | N/A | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | .450 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Tom Dowling | - |
| 1979 | NAIA | NAIA Independent | N/A | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | .864 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Tom Dowling | - |
| 1980 | NAIA | NAIA Independent | N/A | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Tom Dowling | - |
| 1981 | II | Division II Independent | N/A | 10 | 1 | 9 | 0 | .100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Tom Dowling | - |
| 1982 | II | Division II Independent | N/A | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Tom Dowling | - |
| 1983 | II | Division II Independent | N/A | 11 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Tom Dowling | - |
| 1984 | II | Division II Independent | N/A | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Morgan Hout | - |
| 1985 | II | Division II Independent | N/A | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | .438 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Morgan Hout | - |
| 1986 | II | Division II Independent | N/A | 10 | 1 | 9 | 0 | .100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Morgan Hout | - |
| 1987 | II | Division II Independent | N/A | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Morgan Hout | - |
| 1988 | II | Division II Independent | N/A | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Morgan Hout | - |
| 1989 | I-AA | Division I-AA Independent | N/A | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Sam Rutigliano | - |
| 1990 | I-AA | Division I-AA Independent | N/A | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Sam Rutigliano | - |
| 1991 | I-AA | Division I-AA Independent | N/A | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Sam Rutigliano | - |
| 1992 | I-AA | Division I-AA Independent | N/A | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Sam Rutigliano | - |
| 1993 | I-AA | Division I-AA Independent | N/A | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Sam Rutigliano | - |
| 1994 | I-AA | Division I-AA Independent | N/A | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Sam Rutigliano | - |
| 1995 | I-AA | Division I-AA Independent | N/A | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Sam Rutigliano | - |
| 1996 | I-AA | Division I-AA Independent | N/A | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Sam Rutigliano | - |
| 1997 | I-AA | Division I-AA Independent | N/A | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Sam Rutigliano | - |
| 1998 | I-AA | Division I-AA Independent | N/A | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Sam Rutigliano | - |
| 1999 | I-AA | Division I-AA Independent | N/A | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Sam Rutigliano | - |
| 2000 | I-AA | Division I-AA Independent | N/A | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Ken Karcher | - |
| 2001 | I-AA | Division I-AA Independent | N/A | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | N/A | Ken Karcher | - |
| 2002 | I-AA | Big South | N/A | 11 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .333 | 3rd | Ken Karcher | - |
| 2003 | I-AA | Big South | N/A | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 2nd | Ken Karcher | - |
| 2004 | I-AA | Big South | N/A | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 2nd | Ken Karcher | - |
| 2005 | I-AA | Big South | N/A | 11 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | .000 | 5th | Ken Karcher | - |
| 2006 | FCS | Big South | N/A | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | T-2nd | Danny Rocco | - |
| 2007 | FCS | Big South | N/A | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1st | Danny Rocco | - |
| 2008 | FCS | Big South | N/A | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1st | Danny Rocco | #14 |
| 2009 | FCS | Big South | N/A | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | .833 | T-1st | Danny Rocco | #22 |
| 2010 | FCS | Big South | N/A | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | .833 | T-1st | Danny Rocco | #21 |
| 2011 | FCS | Big South | N/A | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | .833 | 2nd | Danny Rocco | #25 |
| 2012 | FCS | Big South | N/A | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | .833 | T-1st | Turner Gill | |
| Totals | 402 | 203 | 199 | 4 | .505 | 50 | 36 | 14 | 0 | .720 | ||||||
[1] 2012 statistics not added to totals until end of season
Conference Championships[]
Liberty has won five Big South Conference championships.
Conference affiliations:
- 1973–80, NAIA Independent
- 1981–88, Division II Independent
- 1989–2001, Division I-AA Independent
- 2002–present, Big South Conference
| Year | Conference | Coach | Overall Record | Conference Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Big South Conference | Danny Rocco | 8-3 | 4–0 |
| 2008 | Big South Conference | Danny Rocco | 10-2 | 5–0 |
| 2009 | Big South Conference (Co-Championship) | Danny Rocco | 8-3 | 5–1 |
| 2010 | Big South Conference (Co-Championship) | Danny Rocco | 8-3 | 5–1 |
| 2012 | Big South Conference (Co-Championship) | Turner Gill | 6-5 | 5–1 |
| Total conference championships | 5 | |||
2007 Big South Conference Champions[]
The Liberty Flames captured their first Big South Conference Football championship with a commanding 31-0 victory over Gardner-Webb University. The Flames capped off their second year under head coach Danny Rocco with an 8-3 record and an unblemished 4-0 Big South record to claim the title. The same week, The Liberty University Men's Soccer team beat Radford University 2-1 to capture the Big South Conference soccer title and their first appearance in the national tournament. Also that same week, the Liberty Women's Volleyball team shutout Winthrop in the finals of the Big South Volleyball tournament. it was the first conference championship for the volleyball team since 2001. The Liberty Men's and Women's cross country teams also won the Big South Championship with Josh McDougal, Jordan McDougal and Jarvis Jelen sweeping the top 3 positions in the men's race for the third straight year.[2][3]
2008 Big South Conference Champions[]
Topping its 2007 performance, Liberty ran its unbeaten Big South streak to 11-straight games, finishing back-to-back conference championship seasons with a 30-10 victory over Gardner-Webb. The Flames finished with a 10-2 record on the year and finished the conference slate unbeaten at 5-0. Liberty’s victory allowed the Flames to become the first team in Big South history to win five conference games in a season and to join Gardner-Webb as the only two teams to post consecutive unbeaten seasons. Liberty finished ranked 15th in the FCS Coaches Poll and 14th in the Sports Network Poll.[4][5][6]
2009 Big South Conference Co-Champions[]
Undefeated in Big South play for 2009, the Flames just needed to capture a win over Stony Brook in the season finale to secure a 3rd straight Big South Conference Championship. Stony Brook who had only lost one game in Big South play (a 30-27 overtime loss to Charleston Southern the previous week) for 2009 could claim half of the Big South Championship with a win over Liberty. The Seawolves didn't back down from the challenge and won the game 36-33 to share the 2009 Big South Championship with the Liberty Flames.[7]
2010 Big South Conference Co-Champions[]
Liberty again became conference co-champions in 2010. They were looking to beat Stony Brook in the season finale to win the 2010 Big South Championship but they first had to beat rival Coastal Carolina. Coastal beat Liberty for the first time since 2006 then the Flames bounced back the next week to secure a win over Stony Brook and a share of the conference championship (3 way tie with Coastal Carolina and Stony Brook).
2012 Big South Conference Co-Champions[]
Liberty became the conference co-champion for the fifth time in 2012. After starting off 2-0 in conference play, Liberty traveled to Cosatl Carolina, where they lost to the Chanticleers 36-12, bringing their overall record to 3-5. Liberty would then play then ninth ranked Stony Brook, beating them 28-14, also extending their at home conference win streak which dates back to 2006. In order to win a share at the Big South title, they would have to beat the Virginia Military Institute Keydets. Liberty won the game 33-14, and won a share of the title along with Stony Brook and Costal Carolina with a record of 6-5 (5-1 in conference play).
Liberty vs Coastal Carolina Rivalry[]
Series tied 5-5
- 2012 - Liberty @ Coastal - L, 36-12
- 2011 - Coastal @ Liberty - W, 63-27
- 2010 - Liberty @ Coastal - L, 45-31
- 2009 - Coastal @ Liberty - W, 58-13
- 2008 - Liberty @ Coastal - W, 43-38
- 2007 - Coastal @ Liberty - W, 37-24
- 2006 - Liberty @ Coastal - L, 38-26
- 2005 - Coastal @ Liberty - L, 27-21 (3 OT)
- 2004 - Liberty @ Coastal - L, 33-6
- 2003 - Coastal @ Liberty - W, 38-21 (First Meeting)
Liberty vs FBS Schools[]
Former players[]
- Samkon Gado (Running back), former professional football player for the Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins and St. Louis Rams
- Eric Green (Tight end), former professional football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets
- Wayne Haddix (Cornerback, former professional football player for the New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals
- Rashad Jennings (Running back), professional football player currently playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars
- James McKnight (Wide receiver), former professional football player for the Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins
Current coaching staff[]
| Name | Title | Position Coach |
|---|---|---|
| Turner Gill | Head Coach | n/a |
| Dennis Wagner | Offensive Coordinator | Offensive Line |
| Aaron Stamn | Co-Offensive Coordinator | Tight Ends |
| Joe Dailey | Assistant Coach | Quarterbacks |
| Jamaal Fobbs | Assistant Coach | Running Backs |
| Juan Taylor | Assistant Coach | Wide Receivers |
| Robert Wimberly | Defensive Coordinator | Safeties |
| Carl Torbush | Assistant Head Coach | Linebackers |
| Vantz Singletary | Co-Defensive Coordinator | Defensive Line |
| Marshall Roberts | Recruiting Coordinator | Cornerbacks |
| Josh Bookbinder | Special Teams Coordinator | Special Teams |
| Charlie Skalaski IV | Defensive Quality Control | Defense |
| Kyle DeArmon | Offensive Quality Control | Offense |
| Paul Rutigliano | Assistant Athletics Director For Football Administ | Football Operations |
| Dr. Ed Gomes | Director of Spiritual Development | Football Operations |
| Chris Brown | Equipment Manager | Football Operations |
| Danny Wenger | Video Coordinator | Football Operations |
| Barry Finke | Senior Assistant Athletic Trainer | Football Operations |
| Bill Gillespie | Head Strength and Conditioning Coordinator | Football Operations |
| Dave Williams | Associate Strength and Conditioning Coordinator | Football Operations |
| Bev Cole | Administrative Assistant | Football Operations |
| Adam Godwin | Assistant Director of Operations and Recruiting | Football Operations |
Future non-conference opponents[]
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
| at Kent State | at Virginia | at West Virginia | at Virginia Tech |
| vs Monmouth | at Baylor[9] | ||
| vs Morgan State | |||
| at Richmond | |||
| vs Kentucky Wesleyan | |||
| at Old Dominion | |||
| vs Brevard |
References[]
- ↑ http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot2/teams/direct645.htm
- ↑ Football - News - LibertyFlames.com
- ↑ ESPN - Liberty 31, Gardner-Webb 0 - NCAA College Football Recap
- ↑ "Football - News". Liberty Flames. 2008-11-24. http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm?PID=10869&newsID=3287&TeamID=9. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ↑ [1][dead link]
- ↑ The Sports Network. "Football Championship Subdivision". The Sports Network. http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot2/misc/TSN-DIV-1AA-POLL.htm. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ↑ "BigSouthSports.com—Official Web Site of the Big South Conference". Bigsouthsports.com. http://www.bigsouthsports.com. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ↑ "Football 2012 Season Coaching Staff". libertyflames.com. http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm?PID=10868&TeamID=9. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
- ↑ http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/m-footbl/future-schedules.html
- ↑ "Game Day Central: James Madison". libertyflames.com. http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm?PID=10869&newsID=4343&TeamID=. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
- ↑ "Liberty Releases 2012 Football Schedule". libertyflames.com. http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm?PID=10869&NewsID=8501. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
External links[]
Template:Liberty Flames football navbox
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