Football Program Vs UTEP

UTEP VS. LIBERTY

FLAMES GAME

PLAYER & TEAM INFORMATION

Editor: Ryan Bomberger

Associate Editor: Todd Wetmore

Contributors: Joe Carmany, Paul Carmany, Bill Smith, Mitzi Bible, Spencer Beeman, Liberty University Communications & Public Engagement, and FanWord.com

Contributing Editors: Liberty University Marketing, Kristin Conrad, Jessica Pandorf, and Lisa Iverson

Cover Photography: Liberty University Photography

Contributing Photographers: Liberty University and Liberty Athletics photography

Cover Design: Liberty University Marketing

Layout/Typesetting: Liberty University Marketing, Avery Patterson, and Abby Redding

Printing: Liberty University Printing

TEYLOR JACKSON, LB

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LIBERTY STORYLINES

• Liberty (2-0, 1-0 CUSA) will look to remain unbeaten as it hosts CUSA foe UTEP (0-2, 0-0 CUSA) for the Flames’ 50th Homecoming game today.

• In its only previous meeting with UTEP, Liberty won 42-28 at the Sun Bowl on Nov. 25, 2023. The Flames rushed for 441 yards to wrap up a 12-0 regular season.

• The Flames are coming off a 30-24 win at New Mexico State last Saturday. Liberty rallied from a 24-15 deficit with a pair of RB Quinton Cooley rushing TDs in the last 5:12 in the come-from-behind victory.

• Cooley has recorded back-to-back 100-yard rushing games to begin 2024, giving him nine in his first 16 contests as a Flame. He ran five carries for 91 yards and two TDs in the fourth quarter at New Mexico State.

• WR Treon Sibley caught five passes for a career-high 155 yards at New Mexico State last Saturday. He enters the weekend ranked No. 6 nationally with 264 receiving yards.

HALL OF FAME WEEKEND

The 16th class of inductees to the Liberty Athletics Hall of Fame will be recognized during tonight’s game. This year’s class includes Dre Barnes (Football), Kristal [Tharp] Bechtold (Women’s Basketball), Chuck Burch (Athletics Administrator/Athletics Director), Keith Butler (Baseball), Bill Gillespie (Men’s Track & Field/Football/Strength and Conditioning), Jennifer [Klugh] Margraff (Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field), and Holly Van Noord (Women’s Soccer). For more information, see page 105.

“4 DOWNS” WITH UTEP

1 – Liberty will host UTEP at Williams Stadium for the first time on Saturday. The Miners will be the first of back-to-back home contests against opponents who have never visited Lynchburg (also East Carolina on Sept. 21).

2 – Last week, Liberty and UTEP played tight games in the Mountain Time Zone. The Flames came from behind late to win at New Mexico State, while 40 miles away UTEP lost its home opener to Southern Utah, 27-24 in OT. Today’s game will be Liberty’s third

contest in the Eastern Time Zone in its last six outings, matching the number of games it has played in the Mountain Time Zone over that span.

3 – Each of Liberty’s first three games this season will be played against a team with a first-year head coach. Liberty is playing its second conference game within the first three weeks of a season for the first time in program history.

4 – Liberty trailed New Mexico State 24-15 with just over five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter last Saturday before rallying to win. It was the first time the Flames came back in the fourth quarter to win a game under Head Coach Jamey Chadwell and the Flames’ largest fourth-quarter comeback since overcoming a 28-3 deficit to beat VMI 31-28 on Oct. 4, 2003.

MILESTONE WATCH

13: RB Billy Lucas enters tonight’s game 13 rushing yards shy of 2,500 for his career. He posted 1,789 yards during three years at Duquesne (2020-22) and has added 698 more as a Flame.

100: RB Quinton Cooley has recorded backto-back 100-yard rushing efforts to start the year. If he does so today, Cooley will become the first Flame since Joshua Mack in 2020 to rush for 100+ yards in a season’s first three contests. Also, Cooley would join Rashad Jennings, Dre Barnes, and Stacy Nobles as the only Flames ever to post 10 or more career 100-yard games.

100: WR Treon Sibley is aiming for his third straight 100-yard receiving game this evening. Only Pat Nelson (1991 — four games) has posted 100 receiving yards in the first three games of a Liberty season.

TREON SIBLEY, WR

| WILLIAMS STADIUM CLEAR BAG POLICY

CLEAR BAG POLICY

In an effort to enhance fan safety and expedite entrance to Williams Stadium, Liberty University has implemented a security screening process that includes a clear bag policy. This initiative limits the size and types of bags that can be brought into the stadium by fans. Only clear tote bags that do not exceed 12”

x 6” x 12,” 1-gallon plastic freezer bags, and small handheld clutch purses (no larger than 4.5” x 6.5”) will be allowed into Williams Stadium. Liberty Athletics encourages guests to arrive at least 60 minutes prior to kickoff to avoid lines and enjoy the pregame, in-stadium activities.

ACCEPTABLE BAGS

IN PURSUIT BY BRYLAN GREEN

I’ll never forget the feeling of being on the field with my teammates last season. We were in sync.

One unit, one mission, no egos.

Together, we led Liberty to a 13-1 record, a conference title, and an NCAA-leading 21 interceptions.

I finished the season with five of those interceptions, tied for the sixth most in the country and was named an All-American.

Those accolades are cool, but they don’t tell the whole story.

There were a lot of guys on our line who did the dirty work every snap so we could make the flashy interceptions.

Our team had a breakout year because we fought together.

We put the world on notice.

This season, we’re ready to do it all over again.

STARTING OUT

Sports are kind of like a religion in my family.

When I was four years old, I started playing flag football.

I remember telling my dad I wanted to keep playing, and he did everything he could to make sure that happened.

I was having a blast, so I kept pushing forward. I kept meeting new coaches who took me to the next step or helped me get into the next league.

But it wasn’t until my sophomore year of high school that I thought I might be able to take my skills to the collegiate level.

I was focused on baseball at the time, but after my sophomore football season, I got a few offers and realized that I might have a future in football after all.

After everything I’d put into the game, I was thrilled by the possibility.

But I never thought I’d play at Liberty. Actually, I didn’t realize Liberty was even an option. It was a freezing cold day in February of my junior year.

| PLAYER FEATURE

I was just about to get out of my car to go to baseball practice when Liberty reached out to me.

I wasn’t super familiar with the school or their program, so I honestly thought it was a scam.

But I hadn’t gotten a lot of other offers I was interested in yet, so I gave them my number.

Who was I to play God?

The coach called me, and I really enjoyed our conversation, so I decided to visit campus.

It was 16 hours away from home, but I still fell in love with the place.

The coaches, the people, the atmosphere - everything about Liberty felt right.

After getting to know the people and seeing everything Liberty had to offer, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I committed to play football at Liberty, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

GROWING TOGETHER

My first season at Liberty took a rough start due to injuries.

I had two herniated discs from the Virginia Tech game, which led to several epidurals and missing most of my spring football season with a flare-up in my back.

But I tried not to let those injuries define my story. My coaching staff had my back, and I was able to start my sophomore season of football with a stronger mindset.

I was grateful to see a lot of success last fall.

I honestly just feel like the defense we run fits my style of play perfectly.

Our coaching staff always challenges us toward excellence too.

Our preparation for each game separated me from a lot of defensive backs in the country.

The more prepared I felt, the freer I played.

I felt more confident to take those risks to jump in front of receivers and break up passes.

And then, of course, when I intercepted a pass, it was fun to celebrate with our slightly scarylooking Joker mask.

The Joker mask was a fun tradition we started last year.

The Joker idea came from the “Jokers” Liberty students who sit by our opponents’ fans and tease them.

I didn’t even know we had a Joker mask until my teammate Kobe Singleton got the first pick of the season, and he put it on after the game.

After I put it on, it just blew up. I mean, everyone was talking about the Joker mask.

It was such a fun way to bond with my teammates, and it’s a great reminder that we’re all in this together.

KEEP MOVING FORWARD

Our team’s word of the year is “pursue.”

We’re not going to rest on what we accomplished last year.

We want to keep pushing - toward a conference championship and national championship run.

We just have to each fulfill our role.

For me, that means leading by example.

I believe in our potential.

It was an honor to be named to some preseason watch lists, but at the end of the day, that just means they’re all going to watch me, so I have to show up for my team.

We have everything we need to be successful. And we’re going to pursue our goals together.

OPPONENT ROSTER |

2024 UTEP MINERS

HS (North Texas)

5 Dunson, Tray

Ga. / Heard County HS (Gardner-Webb) 5 Thomas, Kam

6 Chapman, Kory

6 Odom, Kenny

7 Johnson, KD

7 Smith, Shay

8 Ray Jr., Michael

Birmingham, Ala. / Ramsay HS (Austin Peay)

Ala. / Hoover HS (Austin Peay)

Ga. / Savannah Country Day HS (Austin Peay)

/ Hightower HS (Kilgore College)

Taylor, Marquez

Allen, Josiah

(TCU)

N.M. / Cleveland HS

Tenn. / McKenzie HS (Austin Peay)

Grove, Calif. / Franklin

Dye, Josiah

Rayam, Jalen

45 Thomas, Victor

46 Ray, Christian

47 Do, Malachi

50 Smith, Brennan

50 Tafuna, Tevita

Calif. / Manteca HS (Modesto JC)

Pensacola, Fla. / Escambia HS (Austin Peay)

East Palo Alto, Calif. / Menlo-Atherton HS (College of San Mateo) 52 Whitehead,

Allan

56 Aranda, Luis Carlos

57 Wydra, Craig Fr.

58 Toney , Jaquan

59 Pitts III, Otis

Manvel, Texas / Manvel HS

El Paso, Texas / Franklin HS

El Paso, Texas / Andress HS

Huntsville, Ala. / Mae Jemison HS (NE Mississippi CC)

Grand Prairie, Texas / South Grand Prairie HS (Cisco College) 60 Immediato, Joseph

Riggs, Jake

63 Beltran, Rolando

65 Wright, Isaiah

Paso, Texas / Eastwood HS

Murfreesboro, Tenn. / Oakland HS

El Paso, Texas / Eastlake HS (NMHU)

Columbia, S.C. / Dutch Fork HS (Austin Peay) 69 Lightfoot, Joey

College Station, Texas / A&M Consolidated 70 Matamoros, Luka

Pflugerville, Texas / Hendrickson HS

McDuffie III, Tyrone D.

Texas / Parkland HS 74 Henry, Azizi

75 Camacho Jr., Juan

76 Carter, CK

77 Barton, AJ

78 Day, Christopher

79 Utley, Jake

80 Torres, Marcus

Wylie, Texas / Wylie HS

Paso, Texas / Bowie HS

Atlanta, Ga. / Mays HS (Georgia Southern)

Texas / Lakeview Centennial HS

Texas / Canutillo HS

Station, Texas / College Station HS

Texas / Pebble Hills 81 Phipps, Xavier

Vinson, Marcus

Flores, Lucas

Seib, Luke

Coker, Ashton..................................................Fr.

Warren, Quinzavious

Jaquez, Rafael

97 Bowman, Joe

Va’a, Logologo................................................R-So.

/ Dekaney HS

Texas / Duncanville HS (Kilgore College)

/ Pebble Hills

Calif. / La Costa Canyon HS (SEMO)

Calif. / Bishop Garcia HS

LIBERTY ROSTER |

2024 LIBERTY FLAMES

5.......... Elijah Hopkins................ So. ............ CB.........5-10 ...... 185 ........ Ocala, Fla./Vanguard HS (Coastal Carolina)

Reese Smith Jr. WR 5-10 190 Danville, Ky./Boyle County HS (West Virginia)

Teylor Jackson Sr. LB 6-1 225 Washington, D.C./H.D. Woodson HS (East Carolina)

Kaidon Salter Jr. QB 6-1 200 Cedar Hill, Texas/Cedar Hill HS (Tennessee)

.......... Devin Henderson......... Fr............... S ............5-10 ...... 190 ........ Cartersville, Ga./Cass HS 8 Tyson Mobley R-Jr. WR 6-0 180 Longwood, Fla./Master’s Academy (Coastal Carolina)

8 Joshua Wiggins So. CB 6-0 180 Spring, Texas/Klein Oak HS (Colorado) 9 Donte Lee Jr. R-So. WR 6-3 175 Baltimore, Md./Dunbar HS (Shaw) 9.......... Jahmar Brown .............. Sr............... LB .........6-1......... 210 ........ Miami, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas HS (Coastal Carolina)

Nate Hampton Jr. QB 6-5 225 Advance, N.C./Davie County HS

Ronald Moore Jr. Fr. S 5-11 190 Griffin, Ga./Spalding HS

Darius Copeland R-Fr. WR 6-0 190 Birmingham, Ala./Pelham HS

CJ Bazile Jr. Jr. DE 6-1 250 Miami, Fla./Miramar HS

Alex Oliver Sr. CB 6-0 180 Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee HS (VMI)

Victor Jones, Jr. So. WR 6-1 200 Orlando, Fla./Olympia HS (Nebraska)

Dominick Hill Sr. S 6-2 200 Orlando, Fla./Jones HS (Temple)

Kylen Austin Jr. WR 6-0 165 Baltimore, Md./St. Paul’s School

Elijah Auguste R-Jr. S 5-9 185 Everett, Mass./Everett HS 15 Bentley Hanshaw Sr. TE 6-4 245 Moorpark, Calif./Moorpark HS (BYU) 15 Brylan Green Jr. S 5-9 170 Opelousas, La./Lafayette Christian Academy 16 Eric Smith Fr. WR 5-9 175 Richmond, Va./Varina HS 16 Quinton Reese Sr. S 6-0 190 Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic HS 17 Bo Burklow R-Fr. TE 6-2 250 Brentwood, Tenn./Christ Presbyterian Academy 17 Bryson Jennings So. DE 6-4 230 Richmond, Va./Clover Hill HS (North Carolina)

18 Ryan Burger So. QB 6-4 205 Myrtle Beach, S.C./Myrtle Beach HS (Appalachian State)

18 Rod Daniels Jr. DL 6-2 250 Horn Lake, Miss./Horn Lake HS (Northwest Miss. CC)

19 Eli Sisson Fr. TE 6-4 230 Collierville, Tenn./Collierville HS

19 Marquis Bell Jr. S 5-11 200 Oceanside, Calif./El Camino HS (Palomar CC)

20 Quinton Cooley Sr. RB 5-7 210 Bailey, N.C./Southern Nash HS (Wake Forest)

20 ....... Dexter Ricks Jr.............. So. ............ CB.........5-11 ...... 175 ........ Milledgeville, Ga./Baldwin HS

21 Treon Sibley Sr. WR 6-1 210 Akron, Ohio/Coventry HS

22 Coleman Baker So. WR 5-11 175 Brentwood, Tenn. /David Lipscomb Academy

22 Jayden Sweeney So. CB 5-11 185 Birmingham, Ala./Clay-Chalkville HS

23 ....... Caden Williams ............ Fr............... RB.........5-10 ...... 210 ........ Calhoun, Ga./Calhoun HS

23 Charles Yates Jr. Sr. CB 5-11 200 Mobile, Ala./St. Luke’s Episcopal (Arizona)

24 Vaughn Blue R-Fr. RB 5-11 190 Mount Pleasant, S.C./Oceanside Collegiate Academy

24 Kaidon Whidby Fr. LB 6-0 200 McDonough, Ga./Jasper County HS

25 ....... Miles McEachin ............. R-Fr.......... QB ........6-0......... 200 ........ Newark, N.J./Malcolm X Shabazz HS

25 Joseph Carter Jr. LB 6-0 235 Jacksonville, Fla./University Christian HS

26 Jaylin Belford So. RB 5-8 160 Lynchburg, Va./Liberty Christian Academy

26 Amarian Williams Jr. CB 5-10 175 Cedar Hill, Texas/Cedar Hill HS

27 ....... Clayton Shepler............ Fr............... WR .......5-11 ...... 170 ........ Roswell, Ga./Fellowship Christian School

27 Brenton Williams R-Fr. DE 6-3 260 Opelika, Ala./Opelika (Auburn)

28 Jamal Miles R-Fr. CB 6-0 170 Pelham, Ala./Pelham HS

29 Cesar Carrasco Fr. WR 5-10 160 Pittsgrove, N.J./Schalick HS

29 ....... A’Khori Jones ................ Jr. .............. S ............5-10 ...... 195 ........ Macon, Ga./Mount De Sales Academy

30 Ethan Crisp R-Fr. LB 6-3 220 Mount Juliet, Tenn./Mount Juliet HS (Vanderbilt)

31 Christian Bodnar R-Fr. CB 5-11 175 Brandon, Fla./Bloomingdale Sr. HS

32 Jabin Ford So. S 5-11 170 Butler, Ga./Taylor County HS (Coffeyville CC)

33 Kyle Hanks So. RB 5-9 180 Salem, Va./Glenvar HS

33 Aidan Vaughan R-So. LB 6-3 225 Wixom, Mich./Walled Lake Western HS (Wisconsin)

34 Seneca Moore Fr. LB 6-2 215 Sumter, S.C./Crestwood HS

35 Dillano Glaud Fr. LB 6-3 215 Clearwater, Fla./ Clearwater International Academy

36 Damond Harmon Jr. S 6-0 180 Richmond, Va./Highland Spring HS (Oklahoma)

37 Tromontez Booker Jr. S 5-11 160 Appomattox, Va./Appomattox HS

37 Max Morgan Jr. P 6-2 220 Greenville, S.C./Christ Church Episcopal School

38 Tre Lawing So. S 6-0 200 Appomattox, Va./Appomattox County HS

39 Dylan Mullins So. S 5-11 180 Fayetteville, Ga./Eagles Landing Christian Academy

42 Nick Brown Jr. K 6-4 170 Frisco, Texas/Centennial HS

44 Barrett Newman R-Fr. LB 6-0 215 Bossier City, La./Parkway HS

45 Ryan Wilkins Jr. LS 6-0 200 Blairsville, Pa./Blairsville-Saltsburg HS (Elon)

47 Ryan Manis R-Fr. LS 6-1 205 Wilmington, N.C./E.A. Laney HS

48 Caleb Ryan So. TE 6-2 240 Bellingham, Wash./Lynden Christian HS

49 Grey Carroll Sr. DE 6-1 245 Maryville, Tenn./Alcoa HS (Georgia Tech)

49 Sam Crossan Fr. K/P 6-3 230 Bear, Del./Red Lion Christian Academy

50 ....... Esom Nnajiofor............. Fr............... OL.........6-4......... 310 ........ Lynchburg, Va./Liberty Christian Academy

51 D.J. Geth R-Fr. OL 6-3 305 Spartanburg, S.C./Dorman HS (North Carolina)

52 Jacob Taylor Fr. OL 6-8 275 Appomattox, Va./Appomattox HS

53 Jordan White Jr. OL 6-2 295 Largo, Md./DeMartha Catholic (West Virginia)

53 ....... Kristyane Gregory ....... Fr............... DL .........6-3......... 270 ........ Calhoun, Ga./Calhoun HS

54 Cal Grubbs R-Fr. OL 6-3 295 Maryville, Tenn./Maryville HS

54 Caeden Callahan So. LB 6-0 225 Acworth, Ga./North Cobb Christian School

55 Harrison Hayes Jr. OL 6-4 290 Wexford, Pa./Pine-Richland HS

55 ....... Donovan Dozier ........... R-Fr.......... DE.........6-2......... 245 ........ Raleigh, N.C./Cardinal Gibbons HS

56 Izaiah Taylor Fr. OL 6-5 280 Lithonia, Ga./South Gwinnett HS

61 Aaron Fenimore R-Fr. OL 6-1 270 Senoia, Ga./East Coweta HS

63 Xavior Gray Jr. OL 6-8 335 Massillon, Ohio/Jackson HS (Akron)

64 ....... Phillip Doss ..................... Jr. .............. OL.........6-3......... 275 ........ Lynchburg, Va./Liberty Christian Academy

65 Rex Lahr Fr. OL 6-3 270 Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North HS

68 Hunter Porterfield Jr. OL 6-4 290 Richmond, Va./Benedictine College Prep

70 Austin Anderson R-Fr. OL 6-4 285 Bowling Green, Ky./Bowling Green HS

72 ....... Seth Ellsmore ................ Sr............... OL.........6-0......... 260 ........ Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge Senior HS (Alderson Broaddus)

73 Jordan Hall Sr. OL 6-4 310 Brooklyn, N.Y./James Madison HS (Monmouth)

74 Jacob Lecates So. OL 6-6 340 Trinity, N.C./Ben Lippen School

75 Jack Tucker Jr. OL 6-7 295 Argyle, Texas/Argyle HS (Texas Tech)

76 John Paul Flores Sr. OL 6-5 305 Arlington, Texas/All Saints Episcopal HS (Louisville)

77 Andrew Johnson Jr. OL 6-3 295 San Diego, Calif./Poway HS (San Diego Mesa)

78 Blake Heckmann Fr. OL 6-5 275 Maryville, Tenn./Maryville HS

80 Jon Montiero Fr. WR 6-2 185 Randolph, Mass./Xaverian Brothers HS

81 Markel Fortenberry So. WR 6-4 205 Maryville, Tenn./Maryville HS

83 Austin Henderson Jr. TE 6-5 250 Nashville, Tenn./Ensworth HS (Minnesota)

84 Jacob Jenkins Jr. TE 6-3 220 Hoover, Ala./Spain Park HS (Coastal Carolina)

85 Brayden Beck Sr. K 5-10 200 Carrollton, Texas/Hebron HS

85 Connie Hewitt II Fr. TE 6-3 260 Murfreesboro, Tenn./Oakland HS

86 Caleb Willis Fr. K/P 5-10 180 Apex, N.C./Apex HS

87 Caleb Botchway So. WR 6-2 185 Zürich, Switzerland/Knoxville Catholic HS

88 Carson Vines Fr. WR 5-11 160 Seymour, Tenn./Seymour HS

89 Jamauri Knox Fr. WR 5-9 160 Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Smith HS

90 ....... Eliyt Nairne..................... R-Fr.......... DT .........6-1......... 295 ........ Charlotte, N.C./Olympic HS

91 Marius Landsfeld R-Fr. DL 6-4 260 Brühl, Germany/Ursula (Fork Union)

92 Chris Boti Jr. DT 6-1 275 Columbia, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti HS

93 Eli Hall R-So. DL 6-3 260 Shelby, N.C./Crest HS (Wake Forest)

94 ....... Nathan Pirolli ................. So. ............ DT .........6-3......... 255 ........ Huntersville, N.C./William A. Hough HS

97 Mike Jarvis Jr. DL 6-4 290 Medford, N.J./Shawnee HS (Wisconsin)

98 Colin Karhu Sr. K/P 5-10 200 Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe HS (North Greenville)

98 Weston Woodard Fr. DL 6-5 240 Lynchburg, Va./Liberty Christian Academy

99 ....... Bryce Dixon.................... Jr. .............. DT .........6-1......... 270 ........ Charlotte, N.C./David W. Butler HS

GAME DAY STATISTICS |

2024 LIBERTY (2-0, 1-0 CUSA)

8/31 CAMPBELL ............................ W/41-24

9/7 AT NEW MEXICO STATE* ........ W/30-24

9/14 UTEP*

9/21 EAST CAROLINA

9/28 AT APPALACHIAN STATE

10/8 FIU*

10/23 AT KENNESAW STATE*

10/30 JACKSONVILLE STATE*

11/9 AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE*

11/16 AT UMASS

11/23 WESTERN KENTUCKY*

11/29 AT SAM HOUSTON*

2024 UTEP (0-2, 0-0 CUSA)

8/31 AT NEBRASKA ................ L/7-40

9/7 SOUTHERN UTAH ........... L/24-27 OT

9/14 AT LIBERTY*

9/21 AT COLARDO STATE

10/3 SAM HOUSTON* 10/10 AT WESTERN KENTUCKY*

10/16 FIU*

10/22 AT LA TECH*

11/2 MIDDLE TENNESSEE* 11/9 KENNESAW STATE* 11/23 AT TENNESSEE 11/30 AT NEW MEXICO STATE *

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO AT A GLANCE

Location: El Paso, Texas

Enrollment: ............................... 24,300

Founded: 1913

Nickname: Miners

Colors: ........................................ Navy Blue and Burnt Orange Conference: CUSA

President: Dr. Heather Wilson

Athletics Director: Jim Senter

Did You Know?

• The University of Texas El Paso, commonly known as UTEP, is a public research facility and member of the University of Texas System. Its campus is located on Mundy Heights in El Paso at the westernmost tip of Texas, where three states and two countries converge along the Rio Grande.

• Notable UTEP alumni include Academy Awardwinning actor F. Murray Abraham, Hall of Fame

basketball player Nate “Tiny” Archibald, Olympic Gold Medalist Bob Beamon, Minnesota Viking running back Aaron Jones, and ABC News Veteran and former White House Correspondent Sam Donaldson

• UTEP is a member of CUSA. UTEP sponsors 17 sports programs, 11 women’s and six men’s.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Scotty Walden Head Coach First Year

#5 Kam Thomas Miner Back, R-Jr. Birmingham, Ala.

#7 KD Johnson DT, Sr. Houston, Texas

#4 Jevon Jackson RB, R-Jr. Decatur, Ga.

#41 Dorian Hopkins LB, Gr. Memphis, Tenn.

#1 AJ Odums DB, Sr. Houston, Texas

#9 Skylar Locklear QB, R-So. Clayton, N.C.

NOTABLE ALUMNI

Liberty University prepares students in every vocation to impact the culture for Christ. Liberty graduates are sought out by employers because of their work ethic, knowledge, practical skills, and integrity. Liberty alumni have found jobs with well-known organizations such as:

SHANNON BREAM Host of “Fox News Sunday”

JOHN LUKE & MARY KATE ROBERTSON “Duck Dynasty” Personalities

DR. SAMKON GADO Ear, Nose, & Throat Surgeon; Former NFL Running Back

JEAN MANES Former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of El Salvador

WALT AIKENS Former NFL Safety

MEREDITH ANDREWS Christian Music Artist

RASHAD JENNINGS “Dancing with the Stars” Winner; Former NFL Running Back

ANTONIO GANDY-GOLDEN Former NFL Wide Receiver

DEMARIO DOUGLAS NFL Wide Receiver

CHIP SMITH NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, ATP, & PGA Athletic Trainer

JAMES MCKNIGHT Former NFL Player

MALIK WILLIS NFL Quarterback

AVERY WARLEY-TALBERT Former WNBA Center

SAMANTHA PONDER Former ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown Host

TOBYMAC Christian Music Artist

7,000+

ACRE CAMPU S

700+

PROGRAMS OF S TUDY

STUDENTS FROM ALL 50 STATES AND MORE THAN 65 COUNTRIES

300,000+

AL UMNI

4,000

PROVIDING RIGOROUS ACADEMICS WITH A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW

EQUIPPING STUDENTS

Since 1971, Liberty University has become one of the world’s largest Christian universities and has produced 250,000 alumni impacting their fields around the globe. Today, Liberty remains committed to investing in the lives of students, helping them realize their full potential, and bringing glory to God.

Liberty holds regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)* to award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees. In addition to regional accreditation, many programs at Liberty have earned further accreditation through industry-specific organizations. These accrediting bodies maintain rigorous standards and only recognize educational programs that represent the highest levels of excellence in their specializations.

In addition to outstanding residential programs, Liberty is a leader in online education.

COMMITMENT TO CHRISTIAN VALUES

Liberty’s unique character derives from its roots in the fundamentals of the Christian faith, as well as an abiding respect for this nation’s founding principles of limited government, individual liberty, and free enterprise. Our faculty members integrate biblical truth into every discipline while fostering a learning environment in which students are encouraged to excel.

Liberty remains on the cutting edge of higher education, providing rigorous academics without compromising its commitment to Christian values.

*Contact the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Ga. 30033-4097 or call (404) 679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Liberty University. Normal inquiries about the institution, such as admission requirements, financial aid, educational programs, etc., should be addressed directly to Liberty University.

BUILT ON A SOLID FOUNDATION

Since its inception, Liberty University’s mission has been to provide a world-class educational experience with a solid Christian foundation, equipping men and women with the values, knowledge, and skills essential for success in every aspect of their lives.

Students at Liberty are prepared for more than a career — they are prepared for life. As an accredited, evangelical liberal arts institution with 15 colleges and schools and more than 700 programs of study from the certificate to the doctoral level, Liberty offers educational opportunities for students at every stage of life to develop into leaders of vision and integrity.

Liberty’s commitment to academic excellence is proven by its inclusion as a Doctoral University by the Carnegie Foundation. It is among only seven percent of schools in the country to receive this prestigious designation.

The faculty at Liberty challenge students to think critically and creatively, and to become capable men and women of character who will make a positive impact in their communities and in the world. Service to others isn’t just a concept taught in Liberty classrooms; it’s a conviction our students and alumni live out every day.

DEMOSS HALL

Housing computer labs, classrooms, lecture halls, and a rooftop terrace, the 4-story DeMoss Hall serves as one of the primary academic buildings on campus. Connected to DeMoss, the Montview Student Union features additional dining options, space for student clubs, student service centers, and a bowling alley, in addition to lounge seating and open common areas.

RESIDENTIAL COMMONS

With the fourth Residential Commons opening fall 2024, these buildings house over 3,500 students and feature two-person rooms, private bathrooms, on-site laundry, and a coed common area, providing students with comfortable seating and televisions.

CENTER FOR MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES

Housing classrooms, a research center, and labs, the 4-story Center for Medical and Health Sciences is home to the College of Osteopathic Medicine and select programs of the School of Health Sciences.

JERRY FALWELL LIBRARY

The 4-story Jerry Falwell Library is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, providing resources in both traditional and digital formats. Students can study in a variety of reading rooms, group study rooms, multiple balconies and terraces, and a spacious café.

CENTER FOR NATURAL SCIENCES

Located across the lawn from the Jerry Falwell Library, the Center for Natural Sciences houses classrooms, an auditorium, and more than 30 laboratories designed for hands-on learning, including an advanced anatomy lab and a cell culture lab. The 4-story building also contains $2 million in equipment, such as a gene sequencer and GC mass spectrometer.

CENTER FOR MUSIC AND THE WORSHIP ARTS

The Center for Music and the Worship Arts is split between two linked 4-story buildings and houses a concert hall capable of seating 1,600 guests. It is located along Liberty’s main academic corridor, across the courtyard from DeMoss Hall and adjacent to the Jerry Falwell Library.

FREEDOM TOWER

Completed in Fall 2017, Freedom Tower is the centerpiece of Liberty’s campus rebuilding. It stands on the north end of campus and houses the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity and the Liberty University Theological Seminary, as well as spaces for special events. The tower also holds the Rawlings Scriptorium, which exhibits a collection of sacred texts, interactive screens, and a life-size replica of the Gutenberg press.

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

A 78,000-square-foot, 3-story building for the school was completed in 2019. The building includes a 500-seat auditorium, information technology labs, data centers, and the Center for Entrepreneurship. It also has a simulated stock trading room featuring glass walls, New York Stock Exchange display boards, and a real-time ticker.

UP & COMING

REBER-THOMAS DINING CENTER

Opened in 2023, the Reber-Thomas Dining Center is a two-story, 120,000-square-foot facility that holds seating for more than 3,000 guests and offers 27 different food stations with a variety of options. The dining hall is next to the Residential Commons and Jerry Falwell Library.

CHAMPION CENTER

Located at the heart of Liberty’s campus, The Champion Center will be an extension of the Hancock Welcome Center and provide an immersive experience that merges state-ofthe-art technology and storytelling. It will share Liberty’s history and serve as the perfect facility to host prospective students and their families.

| PRESIDENT COSTIN BIO

DONDI E. COSTIN, PH.D.

Dr. Dondi Costin began serving as Liberty University’s sixth president on July 1, 2023. He returned to Liberty, his alma mater, after five years as president of Charleston Southern University. He is a retired Major General with more than 32 years of commissioned service in a military career that culminated as a senior leader in the Pentagon, where he served as the eighteenth Air Force Chief of Chaplains.

Dr. Costin is a native of Wilmington, N.C., and was commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation from the United States Air Force Academy in 1986. He then served successively as an industrial engineer evaluating air-to-ground precision guided munitions, chief of scientific analysis on a major command headquarters staff, and assistant professor of aerospace studies at Texas Christian University. After ten years as a line officer, he became an Air Force chaplain in 1996.

An ordained Southern Baptist minister, he was endorsed by the Liberty Baptist Fellowship during his 22 years as a chaplain. His chaplain assignments included service as Air Force Basic Military Training chaplain, senior flightline chaplain for both special operations and conventional forces in England, readiness instructor/evaluator preparing Chaplain Corps personnel for worldwide deployment, Air Staff branch chief, wing chaplain in Germany, senior chaplain for the air component mission in Southwest Asia, senior chaplain for Pacific Air Forces, and Air Force Chief of Chaplains.

As Chief of Chaplains, he established guidance and provided advice on all matters pertaining to the religious and moral welfare of Air Force personnel and their families. He led an Air Force Chaplain Corps of 2,000 chaplains and Religious Affairs Airmen and was the senior pastor for more than 664,000 personnel. As chairman of the Armed Forces Chaplains Board, he advised the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff on religious, ethical, and quality-of-life concerns for the entire U.S. military.

He assumed the presidency of Charleston Southern University (CSU) immediately following his military career. The university flourished as an unapologetically Christian university under Costin’s leadership, which featured a visionary strategic plan, the university’s award-winning response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, and recognition as the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Business of the Year.

Dr. Costin helped launch the university’s first two doctoral programs, the state’s only four-year aviation program, an engineering department consisting of three engineering concentrations, the Dewey Center for Chaplaincy, and the Strack Center for Global Leadership and Ministry. Costin also oversaw construction of the first residence hall in 30 years, a state-of-the-art engineering and science building, a world class addition to the health science building, a new student center, renovation of the CSU campus store, expansion of the campus coffee shop, and the finest private university intramural complex in South Carolina.

Under his leadership, the Limitless Campaign set CSU records for annual giving, one-year campaign giving, and Giving Day totals, while establishing the Hans A. Nielsen College of Business as CSU’s first named college. In addition, new student enrollment increased 20 percent during his tenure, and CSU Athletics enjoyed its best year in university history, finishing third in the Big South Conference Sasser Cup competition while attaining a 3.23 studentathlete cumulative GPA. He also served as president of the Big South Conference during his tenure at Charleston Southern.

Dr. Costin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in operations research from the United States Air Force Academy and graduate degrees from Liberty University (M.A. in counseling), Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary (M.A. in religion), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.), Air Command and Staff College (Master of Military Operational Art and Science), Air War College (Master of Strategic Studies), and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (D.Min in evangelism and church growth; Ph.D. in leadership).

Dr. Costin has also received the U.S. Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young Americans Award and the Military Chaplains Association Distinguished Service Award as Air Force Chaplain of the Year, led his chapel team to recognition as the Air Force Outstanding Large Chapel Organization of the Year, was twice named one of Charleston’s 50 Most Influential People, has been recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and was commissioned as a Colson Fellow in 2023.

His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Gallant Unit Citation, Kosovo Campaign Medal, three Afghanistan Campaign Medals, Korean Defense Service Medal, and NATO Medal.

He has been married to Vickey for more than 35 years. Vickey earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from The University of Southern Mississippi and a Master of Education degree from Texas Christian University. Her career as a public elementary school music teacher spanned more than 23 years and included teaching assignments in six states.

IAN MCCAW

IIan McCaw has a vision for Liberty Athletics, and he has worked quickly to make that vision a reality since being named the department’s 11th director of athletics on Nov. 28, 2016. His vision for Liberty’s intercollegiate athletics program is to train Champions for Christ by providing a high quality student-athlete experience and achieving victory with integrity.

McCaw has lived out this mission, guiding Liberty Athletics to unparalleled success on the field, in the classroom and the local community in his short time on Liberty Mountain.

Heading into the 2024-25 athletics season, Liberty’s teams have captured 69 total conference titles since McCaw’s arrival on Liberty Mountain.

Under McCaw’s leadership, Liberty Athletics is the fastest growing athletics department in the country. Nearly all 20 of its NCAA Division I programs have reached new heights at the national level in the last few years.

Following a highly successful five-year run as a member of the ASUN Conference, Liberty Athletics moved into its first-ever FBS athletics conference when it joined Conference USA on July 1, 2023.

Liberty Athletics made quite an impression during its first year of Conference USA membership, winning a league-high 10 conference titles. Football and softball each swept the CUSA regular-season and championship titles, while men’s golf, women’s soccer, men’s indoor track & field, men’s outdoor track & field, women’s indoor track & field, and women’s outdoor track & field were all victorious at their respective CUSA Championship events.

Women’s swimming & diving captured the Atlantic Sun Conference title, while field hockey earned a BIG EAST regular-season crown, bringing the Flames’ yearly total to 12 conference championships.

Liberty captured five titles during its fifth and final year of ASUN Conference membership in 2022-23, including men’s golf, men’s indoor track & field, men’s outdoor track & field, women’s indoor track & field, and women’s outdoor track & field. The Flames also won a BIG EAST title (field hockey) and a CCSA championship (women’s swimming & diving).

The Flames ranked No. 98 in the final 2022-23 Learfield Directors’ Cup standings. Liberty has finished inside the top 100 ranking of the top collegiate athletics departments in the country three out of the last four years and five total times in athletics department history. Liberty’s other top 100 national rankings include No. 70 (2020-21), No. 74 (2021-22), No. 82 (2001-02) and No. 96 (2011-12).

Under McCaw’s leadership, Liberty’s transition to the FBS ranks has been one of the most successful in NCAA history.

Liberty is one of three teams (also Appalachian State and Marshall) to become bowl eligible in each of its first five seasons after transitioning from the FCS to FBS. The Flames are 3-2 in bowl games, winning the 2019 Cure Bowl, 2020 Cure Bowl and 2021 LendingTree Bowl titles.

The Flames’ fifth-straight bowl game appearance marked the most notable athletics event in Liberty Athletics’ 50-plus year history. Following an undefeated regular season in 2023 and a win in the CUSA Football Championship game, Liberty made its first-ever New Years Six bowl game appearance where the No. 23 ranked Flames battled No. 8 Oregon in the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.

Liberty’s success on the field during McCaw’s time on Liberty Mountain has allowed the visionary athletics director to reshape conference affiliation for the Flames.

Less than three months into his time at the head of the athletics department, McCaw helped launch Liberty into the top level of intercollegiate competition. On Feb. 16, 2017, Liberty received notification that the NCAA had approved its request to enter into a two-year Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) reclassification process. McCaw then helped pave the way for the future of Liberty Athletics on May 17, 2018, when it was announced that 17 of the 20 NCAA Division I programs will end a 27-year run in the Big South Conference to join the ASUN Conference for the 2018-19 athletics season.

Liberty Athletics swept all three All-Sport trophies each year the conference presented the award during the Flames’ five-year run as a conference member: 2018-19, 2021-22 and 2022-23.

The league did not award any All-Sport trophies during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 athletics seasons due to the cancellation and disruption of the seasons caused by COVID-19.

In the era of massive conference realignment, McCaw positioned the Flames to make another conference leap when Liberty moving to Conference USA, starting with the 2023-24 athletics season.

Conference USA is now the all-sports conference for Liberty Athletics, including the Flames’ football team that has competed as an FBS independent program since moving up to the FBS level in 2018.

Liberty’s recent success has spawned unprecedented growth in the Flames Club and record-setting football and basketball season ticket sales.

Financial support for Liberty Athletics continues to grow at a record pace as the Flames Club finished the 2023-24 year with a record number of members (5,041), an increase of 1,342 donors since 2018.

Liberty’s success has not just been limited to the field of competition, as Flames student-athletes are also winning in the classroom.

While Liberty Athletics was making the next major step onto the national scene on the field of competition, its student-athletes matched the effort in the classroom during the 2023-24 academic year. Liberty Athletics concluded the 2023-24 academic year with a 3.36 cumulative GPA, the highest year-end mark in athletics department history.

Additionally, Liberty’s 3.36 cumulative GPA was the highest athletics department GPA in Conference USA in 2023-24, earning Liberty Athletics the CUSA Institutional Excellence Award. The award is given to the school with the highest GPA for all student-athletes in conference-sponsored sports.

All 20 of Liberty’s teams earned a 3.0 or higher GPA during the spring 2024 semester, the first time in school history that every team has achieved this feat. Additionally, all 20 teams achieved a 3.0 or greater GPA for the 2023-24 academic year for the first time ever.

Overall, the cumulative GPA for Liberty’s 590-plus student-athletes has risen 13 out of the last 15 semesters.

Liberty’s graduation success rate (GSR) climbed to an all-time high of 96 percent and has seen an increase or matched its previous year’s total each of the last 11 years and 12 out of the last 13 years. A total of 133 Liberty Flames student-athletes were honored as a part of the 2024 Liberty University graduating class.

Outside the classroom, our NCAA student-athletes remain dedicated to serving the Lynchburg community while growing as individuals. During the 2023-24 academic year, Liberty’s student-athletes participated in over 40 different community service and outreach projects and more than 75 different personal development workshops, seminars and programs.

The Lord continues to move among our student-athletes with 13 finding newfound faith in Jesus Christ this year, while many others took their profession of faith public with a baptism. During the 2023-24 academic year, a total of 39 student-athletes were baptized, including some by their fellow teammates or coaches.

VISION STATEMENT

Liberty Athletics trains Champions for Christ by providing a high-quality student-athlete experience and achieving victory with integrity in its intercollegiate athletics program.

GOALS

STUDENT-ATHLETE EXPERIENCE

Student-athletes will be afforded the highest quality academic, athletic, spiritual, and social experience.

CHAMPION PERFORMANCE

Each program will achieve competitive success, and Liberty will be recognized as one of the nation’s fastest rising athletics programs.

CULTURE OF INTEGRITY

The programs will demonstrate Christian commitment and integrity through service initiatives, good sporting conduct, rules compliance, gender equity, and cultural diversity.

FISCAL PERFORMANCE

Revenue streams will be enhanced and operational efficiency increased in order to operate highly competitive athletics programs.

BUILD THE BRAND

The visibility of each athletics program will be used to strengthen the Liberty brand and engage constituents in the university’s life.

DEVELOP AND EQUIP LEADERS

Liberty Athletics develops, equips, and prepares student-athletes, coaches, and staff to become Christ-centered leaders.

2023-24 CHAMPIONSHIPS

Liberty Athletics made quite an impression during its first year of Conference USA membership, winning a league-high 10 conference titles. Football and softball each swept the CUSA regular-season and championship titles, while men’s golf, women’s soccer, men’s indoor track & field, men’s outdoor track & field, women’s indoor track & field, and women’s outdoor track & field were all victorious at their respective CUSA Championship events.

Women’s swimming & diving captured the Atlantic Sun Conference title, while field hockey earned a BIG EAST regular-season crown, bringing the Flames’ yearly total to 12 conference championships.

JAMEY CHADWELL HEAD COACH

CAREER COACHING HONORS:

2023 CUSA Co-Coach of the Year

2023 Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year

2023 Paul “Bear” Bryant Award Group of 5 Conference Coach of the Year

2023 HERO Sports Group of Five Co-Coach of the Year

2023 George Munger College Coach of the Year Award semifinalist

2023 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award finalist

2020 Walter Camp Coach of the Year

2020 Associated Press Coach of the Year

2020 The Home Depot College Football Coach of the Year

2020 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year

2020 George Munger College Coach of the Year Award

2020 Sporting News Coach of the Year

2020 CBS Sports/247Sports Coach of the Year

2020 Paul “Bear” Bryant Group of 5 2020 Conference Coach of the Year

During Liberty’s first season under head coach Jamey Chadwell, the Flames reached unprecedented heights and continued the upward trajectory as one of the fastest growing FBS programs in the country.

Chadwell became the 10th coach in program history when he was hired on December 4, 2022. During his first season on the Mountain, Chadwell was charged with leading the Flames into uncharted territory during Liberty’s first season in Conference USA.

Liberty entered the 2023 bowl season with a perfect 13-0 record and was one of four undefeated teams in the country, joining Florida State, Washington, and national champion Michigan.

Chadwell guided the Flames to an unblemished 8-0 regular season record in Conference USA and a 49-35 win over New Mexico State in the CUSA Football Championship game.

Chadwell’s success positioned the Flames to receive their first-ever invitation to play in a New Year’s Six bowl game. Liberty squared off against No. 8 Oregon in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on January 1 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

Chadwell’s spread option offense allowed Liberty to finish the 2023 season ranked No. 1 in the country in rushing, averaging 293.3 yards per game. Liberty finished the year rushing for a program-record 4,106 yards and 39 touchdowns.

2020 The Premier Coach of College Football by Premier Players Inc.

2020 Werner Ladder AFCA FBS Region 2 Coach of the Year

2020 Grant Teaff Coach of the Year Award (FCA)

2020 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award Finalist

2020 Lombardi Honors Coach of the Year Award Finalist

2020 Lombardi Honors Coach of the Year Award Finalist

2015 Eddie Robinson FCS National Coach of the Year Finalist

2013 Eddie Robinson FCS National Coach of the Year Finalist

2013 AFCA Region II FCS Coach of the Year

Three-time Big South Coach of the Year (2013, 2015, and 2016)

SUN BELT COACH OF THE YEAR (2020)

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

2023-24 – Liberty (Head Coach)

2019-22 – Coastal Carolina (Head Coach)

2018 – Coastal Carolina (Associate Head Coach/Offensive

Coordinator/QB Coach)

2017 – Coastal Carolina (Intern Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach)

2013-16 – Charleston Southern (Head Coach)

2012 – Delta State (Head Coach)

2009-11 – North Greenville (Head Coach)

2004-08 – Charleston Southern (Offensive Coordinator/ Recruiting Coordinator)

2000-03 – East Tennessee State (QB/RB/TE Coach)

EDUCATION: B.S., Economics (East Tennessee State, ’00), MBA (Charleston Southern, ’06)

HOMETOWN: Caryville, Tenn.

WIFE: Solmaz

CHILDREN: One son, Jameson, and two daughters, Avery and Soraya

Additionally, Liberty ranked No. 1 in tackles for a loss allowed (2.64 per game), No. 2 in sacks allowed (0.64 per game), No. 2 in passing yards per completion (16.19), No. 3 in winning percentage (92.9), No. 4 in total offense (499.1 yards per game), No. 4 in first down offense (348), No. 8 in time of possession (33:04), and No. 9 scoring offense (38.3 points per game).

Defensively, Liberty led the nation with 21 interceptions while ranking No. 9 in the country in turnovers gained (25).

Chadwell was well recognized for leading the Flames to a standout season in 2023. He was named the Conference USA Co-Coach of the Year, a semifinalist for the George Munger College Coach of the Year Award, a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award Group of 5 Conference Coach of the Year, the HERO Sports Group of Five Co-Coach of the Year and the winner of the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award.

Unparalleled success followed Chadwell at each of his stops during his 13-year coaching journey prior to taking over the head coach position at Liberty in 2023.

During the decade-plus run, Chadwell posted nearly 100 career wins (99-57 record prior to coming to Liberty) with head coaching stops at North Greenville (2009-2011), Delta State (2012), Charleston Southern (2013-16) and Coastal Carolina (2017 (intern); 2019-22).

| JAMEY CHADWELL BIO

Six years prior to coming to the Mountain, Chadwell worked at the Beach (2017-22), guiding the rapid growth of the Coastal Carolina football program at the FBS level and in the Sun Belt Conference.

Chadwell coached the Chanticleers to first-place finishes in the Sun Belt Conference in 2020 and 2022 (tied for first in East) and a 31-6 record over the last three seasons. He helped Coastal Carolina secure its first two FBS bowl game appearances at the 2020 and 2021 Cure Bowl, including a win over Northern Illinois, 47-41, in the 2021 Tailgreeter Cure Bowl.

After guiding Coastal Carolina to an 11-0 regular season record in 2020, Chadwell was named the 2020 Walter Camp Coach of the Year, The Home Depot College Football Coach of the Year, Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, Sporting News Coach of the Year, CBS Sports/247Sports Coach of the Year, Paul “Bear” Bryant Group of 5 2020 Conference Coach of the Year and Grant Teaff Coach of the Year Award (FCA).

Chadwell’s Chanticleers were ranked in the top 25 Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls for a total of 22 consecutive weeks from Oct. 18, 2020, through Nov. 7, 2021.

The Chanticleers were also ranked as high as No. 12 in the College Football Playoff rankings in 2020, which set a Sun Belt record.

With their back-to-back double-digit wins total in 2020 (11-1) and 2021 (11-2), Coastal Carolina was one of six teams at the FBS level to post back-to-back double-digit win seasons during the two-year span.

The Chanticleers (22-3) were one of 10 teams to win 20-plus games over the same period: Alabama (26-2), Louisiana (23-2), Cincinnati (22-2), Coastal Carolina (22-3), Notre Dame (21-4), BYU (21-4), Georgia (22-3), Oklahoma (20-4), Oklahoma State (20-5), and Clemson (20-5).

During the 2021 season, Coastal Carolina was one of four FBS teams to rank in the top 25 in both total offense (fifth) and total defense (25th) and one of eight teams to rank in the top 25 in both scoring offense (fifth) and scoring defense (25th).

The Chants had a total of three players pick up All-America recognition in 2021, as senior tight end Isaiah Likely was named a second-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF), the Pro Football Network (PFN), and the College Football All-SIS, while also picking up 2021 Phil Steele All-American honorable mention honors.

Freshman defensive end Josaiah Stewart was named to the 2021 FWAA Freshman All-American team, The Athletic’s 2021 College Football Freshman All-American team, ESPN 2021 College Football True Freshman All-American team, 2021 247Sports True Freshman All-American team, and the 2021 Pro Football Network (PFN) All-American third team, while also picking up 2021 Phil Steele All-American honorable mention accolades and being named a semifinalist for the 2021 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. Senior wideout Jaivon Heiligh was named a Phil Steele All-American honorable mention.

On top of that, quarterback Grayson McCall was named the 2021 Blanchard-Rogers Trophy (S.C. Heisman) award winner and was a repeat as the 2021 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, as a total of 16 Chanticleers picked up All-Sun Belt honors. With his second-straight Conference Player of the Year honor, McCall became one of just four student-athletes in the history of the Sun Belt Conference to pick up multiple Player of the Year honors and do it in back-to-back years.

In 2020, Chadwell led the Chanticleers to the program’s first-ever Sun Belt Conference title, an 11-1 overall mark, including an 8-0

Sun Belt Conference record, and the program’s first-ever FBS postseason bowl game.

The Chanticleers posted two wins over ranked FBS opponents, the first two such victories in program history, four wins over top 50 opponents. They were ranked as high as No. 9 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and No. 11 in the Amway Coaches Poll, both Sun Belt Conference records.

Chadwell saw five players in Tarron Jackson (Walter Camp Football Foundation (first team), Associated Press (first team), FWAA (first team), American Football Coaches Association (first team), ESPN (first team), Reese’s Senior Bowl (first team), Phil Steele Publication (first team), Sporting News’ (second team), CBS Sports/247Sports (second team), Senior CLASS secondteam All-American)), C.J. Brewer (Associated Press (third team), Phil Steele Publication (honorable mention)), Grayson McCall (FWAA Freshman All-American, The Athletic’s 2020 College Football Freshman All-American), Willie Lampkin (FWAA Freshman All-American, ESPN College Football’s True Freshman All-America Team, The Athletic’s 2020 College Football Freshman All-American, 247Sports True Freshman All-American), and Isaiah Likely (Pro Football Focus (PFF) (second team)) all pick up AllAmerican honors in 2020.

With his first-team honors from the AP, AFCA, FWAA, and WCFF, Jackson was recognized as a consensus All-American. He was also named a finalist for the Lombardi Award, the Lott IMPACT Trophy, and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and was a Bednarik Award semifinalist, a William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist, and earned a spot on the Ted Hendricks Award watch list.

Jackson would go on to be drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round (191st overall pick) of the 2021 NFL Draft, becoming just the seventh Chanticleer in program history to be selected in the NFL Draft.

McCall also picked up individual national honors, as the redshirt freshman was named the 2020 Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Most Inspirational Freshman. He was also a Manning Award Finalist, a Maxwell Award semifinalist, a Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award semifinalist, and a Shaun Alexander-FWAA Freshman of the Year Award semifinalist, while linebacker Silas Kelly was recognized as a 2020 Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year.

The team earned 16 selections to the 2020 All-Sun Belt team, including 10 first-team selections. They also secured five of the conference’s six individual awards: Player and Freshman of the Year (McCall); Defensive Player of the Year (Jackson); Newcomer of the Year (D’Jordan Strong) and Coach of the Year (Chadwell).

In Chadwell’s first year as the full-time head coach for the Chants in 2019, the Chanticleers went 5-7 overall and highlighted the season with a 12-7 win on the road at Kansas, the program’s firstever win over a Power 5 opponent on the gridiron.

For the second-straight season, the Chants missed bowl eligibility by just one win and finished 2-6 in the Sun Belt Conference. However, the Chants were competitive all season long, as seven of their 12 games on the season were decided by one score (eight points) or less.

Remaining the offensive play-caller in 2019, the Coastal Carolina offense recorded over 400 yards of total offense five times, including a season-high 636 yards in the road win at UMass. The Chants were 23-for-29 (79.3 percent) on fourth-down attempts which was the second-best percentage both nationally and in the Sun Belt, while the 23 fourth-down conversions were tied for the third-most nationally behind only Army and Navy with 26.

During the 2018 season, Chadwell served as the Chanticleers associate head coach under head coach Joe Moglia. He was a Broyles Award nominee, an award given annually to college football’s top assistant coach, serving as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

The Chanticleers’ offense in 2018 led the Sun Belt and ranked in the top 25 nationally in rushing yards per game, red-zone offense, time of possession, first downs, and both third- and fourth-down conversion percentage for much of the season.

Coastal Carolina finished the year ranked in the top 10 nationally in fourth-down conversion percentage (68.8), fewest penalties (52), fewest penalties per game (4.33), and fewest penalty yards (493).

Chadwell served as interim head coach during the 2017 season due to Moglia taking a medical sabbatical.

Before his days in Conway, S.C., Chadwell spent four seasons as the head coach at Charleston Southern, where he finished fourth in the FCS National Coach of the Year voting in 2015 and eighth in 2013.

He was named Big South Coach of the Year three times (2013, 2015, and 2016), led CSU to conference titles in 2015 and 2016, and guided the Buccaneers to the NCAA Division I FCS Championship Playoffs in each of his last two years.

During the 2015 and 2016 seasons, Charleston Southern was ranked in the FCS national top 25 polls for 22 consecutive weeks in addition to having a seven-week run to end the 2013 season. The Bucs finished No. 6/7 nationally in the FCS in 2015, was ranked in the FCS top 10 for nine weeks in 2016, and finished ranked No. 14/15 in the FCS final polls.

In 2016, Chadwell earned Big South Coach of the Year honors for the second-straight year and third time in four years, tying him for the most such accolades in conference history.

Charleston Southern ranked No. 14/15 in the FCS final polls as the Bucs beat three ranked opponents along the way. In addition to Chadwell’s recognition as the league’s coach of the year, Charleston Southern had four players named All-America while 12 earned AllBig South honors. Charleston Southern was first in the Big South in yards per rush (6.0) with the Bucs also ranking among the nation’s best in rushing offense (266.5, 6th) and scoring offense (33.0, 20th).

Charleston Southern broke through on the national stage in a big way in 2015, compiling a 10-3 overall record and a 6-0 Big South mark en route to achieving a pair of firsts -- an outright conference championship and an automatic FCS Division I Championship bid.

The Bucs finished the regular season as one of just three programs to go undefeated against fellow FCS competition.

Chadwell was named a finalist for the second time for FCS National Coach of the Year, finishing fourth in the national voting, and tabbed the Big South Coach of the Year for the second time after piloting a roster that included 13 all-conference selections. The Bucs finished the year ranked a program-best sixth in the STATS FCS poll and seventh in the FCS Coaches poll after reaching the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs.

CSU was 8-4 in 2014, led the country in time of possession, and ranked 16th nationally in rushing offense. The Bucs’ aggressive defense also excelled and paced the Big South in total defense, rushing defense, and pass defense.

Chadwell’s first year at Charleston Southern resulted in him being named the 2013 Big South Coach of the Year and the AFCA Region II Coach of the Year while finishing eighth in the voting for the Eddie

Robinson FCS National Coach of the Year award. C

Charleston Southern set a school record for wins during a 10-3 season, climbed as high as No. 12 in the FCS Coaches Poll, spent the final seven weeks of the season in the coaches poll, and finished the year ranked for the first time in school history at No. 22/24. Charleston Southern led the nation in average time of possession and was among national leaders in turnover margin and rushing offense.

During the 2012 season, served as the head coach at Delta State, following three seasons as the head coach at North Greenville (2009-11).

After posting a 2-8 record in his first season as a head coach at North Greenville in 2009, Chadwell turned the program around in year two, going 9-3. He then led North Greenville to the NCAA DII quarterfinals with an 11-3 record in year three and the program’s first-ever national ranking, finishing the 2011 season 12th in the American Football Coaches Association DII Poll.

In 2011, North Greenville defeated every team in the South Atlantic Conference in the first year of the four-year scheduling alliance of which North Greenville is a part.

Chadwell began his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater East Tennessee State in 2000. From 2000-03, the former Anderson County (Tenn.) High School star worked with the quarterbacks, tight ends, and running backs while assisting with recruiting and offensive game planning.

From 2004-08, Chadwell was on staff at Charleston Southern before he was named the head coach in 2009. He served as recruiting coordinator and offensive coordinator, helping the Buccaneers with their first-ever Big South Conference title in 2005.

Chadwell was a four-year letterman at ETSU (1996-99) and was a two-year team captain for the Buccaneers. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics and business education in May 2000 from ETSU and completed his MBA from Charleston Southern in May 2006.

Chadwell is married to the former Solmaz Zarrineh and the couple has one son, Jameson, and two daughters, Avery and Soraya.

WILLY KORN | CO-OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/QUARTERBACKS COACH

CLEMSON, ’10

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

2023-24 – LIBERTY (CO-OC/QB)

2019-22 – COASTAL CAROLINA (CO-OC/QB)

2017-18 – COASTAL CAROLINA (WR/KO)

2013-16 – CHARLESTON SOUTHERN (WR/ REC. COORDINATOR)

EDUCATION: BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN COMMUNICATIONS (CLEMSON, ’10)

WIFE: CHARLOTTE

CHILDREN: MAGGIE AND LUKE

HOMETOWN: LYMAN, S.C.

NEWLAND ISAAC | CO-OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/RUNNING BACKS COACH

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN, ’09 | NORTH GREENVILLE, ’11

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

2023-24 – LIBERTY (CO-OC/RB)

2019-22 – COASTAL CAROLINA (CO-OC/RB)

2018 – COASTAL CAROLINA (RB)

2017 – ALBANY STATE (ASST. HC/OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR)

2013-16 – CHARLESTON SOUTHERN (RB/TE)

2012 – DELTA STATE (RB)

2009-11 – NORTH GREENVILLE (RB/WR)

EDUCATION: BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION (CHARLESTON SOUTHERN, ’09); MBA (NORTH GREENVILLE, ’11)

HOMETOWN: HOPKINS, S.C.

TONY WASHINGTON | PASSING GAME COORDINATOR/WIDE RECEIVERS COACH

APPALACHIAN STATE,’13

BILL DURKIN | OFFENSIVE LINE COACH

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

2023-24 – LIBERTY (WR)

2022 – WEST VIRGINIA (WR)

2020-21 – COASTAL CAROLINA (WR)

2019 – LOUISVILLE (GA)

EDUCATION:

BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN TECHNOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION

MANAGEMENT (APPALACHIAN STATE, ’13)

WIFE: TIFFANY

CHILDREN: TJ AND LANGSTON

HOMETOWN: HIGH POINT, N.C.

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

2023-24 – LIBERTY (OL)

2020-22 – COASTAL CAROLINA (OL)

2018-19 – COASTAL CAROLINA (TE/OT)

2014-17 – COASTAL CAROLINA (RB)

2010-13 – BOWLING GREEN (OL)

2009 – HOFSTRA (ASST. HC/OL)

2008 – HOFSTRA (OL)

2004-07 – RICHMOND (OL)

2000-03 – RICHMOND (RB)

1997-99 – RICHMOND (TE/OT)

1995-96 – UMASS (STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING)

EDUCATION: BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN MARKETING (UMASS, ’94)

WIFE: VICTORIA

CHILDREN: RYAN AND RACHEL

HOMETOWN: FAIRFIELD, CONN.

Premier Coffee Partner of Liberty Athletics

CODY LADUTKO | TIGHT ENDS COACH AVERETT, ’11 | COASTAL CAROLINA, ’20

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

2023-24 – LIBERTY (TE)

2022 – COASTAL CAROLINA (TE)

2020-21 – COASTAL CAROLINA (OFFENSIVE ANALYST)

2019-20 – COASTAL CAROLINA (OFFENSIVE GA)

2018-19 – COASTAL CAROLINA (OFFENSIVE QUALITY CONTROL)

2014-17 – DAVIDSON (WR)

EDUCATION: BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN COACHING (AVERETT, ’11), MASTER’S DEGREE IN INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY (COASTAL CAROLINA, ’20)

WIFE: LINDSAY

CHILDREN: CORA AND DEACON

HOMETOWN: HARRISBURG, N.C.

SKYLOR MAGEE | CO-DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR/DEFENSIVE LINE COACH

SOUTHERN MISS, ’05

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

2023-24 – LIBERTY (CO-DC, DL)

2019-22 – COASTAL CAROLINA (DL)

2017-18 – GEORGIA STATE (DL)

2013-16 – CHARLESTON SOUTHERN (DL)

2012 – DELTA STATE (DL)

2010-12 – PETAL (MISS.) HS (DL)

2009 – NORTH GREENVILLE (CO-DC, DL)

2006-08 – NICHOLS STATE (DL)

2005 – SOUTH CAROLINA (GA)

EDUCATION: BACHELOR’S DEGREE

HUMAN PERFORMANCE AND PHYSIOLOGY (SOUTHERN MISS, ’ 05)

WIFE: LESLIE

CHILDREN: KAYLA, GABBY, AND DAX

HOMETOWN: POPLARVILLE, M.S.

JOSH LINAM | LINEBACKERS COACH

UCF,

’12 |

FLORIDA,

’18

DINO WAITES | CORNERBACKS COACH

CARSON-NEWMAN, ’09,’11

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

2023-24 – LIBERTY (LB)

2023 – AUBURN (DEFENSIVE ANALYST)

2022 – CATAWBA COLLEGE (DC/SAFETY)

2021 – GEORGIA TECH (SENIOR DEFENSIVE ANALYST)

2019-20 – JACKSONVILLE STATE (LB)

2017-18 – TEMPLE (DEFENSIVE ANALYST/ RECRUITING)

2016 – FLORIDA (DEFENSIVE GRADUATE)

2015 – UCF (GRADUATE ASSISTANT)

2014 – HUNTINGTON COLLEGE (LB)

EDUCATION: BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN SPORTS AND FITNESS (UCF, ’ 12); MASTER’S DEGREE IN SPORT MANAGEMENT (FLORIDA, ’ 18)

WIFE: TORI

CHILDREN: NAVY AND OAKLEY

HOMETOWN: TAVARES, FLA.

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

2023-24 – LIBERTY (CB)

2022 – VMI (S)

2021 – ALBANY STATE (CO-DC/S)

2012-20 – CARSON-NEWMAN (DB, WR, ST. COORDINATOR)

EDUCATION: BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN MIDDLE GRADE EDUCATION (CARSON-NEWMAN, ’ 09); MASTER’S DEGREE IN CURRICULUM

STUDIES (CARSON-NEWMAN, ’11)

WIFE: MADDIE

CHILDREN: JAMES, TITUS, AND ROSE

HOMETOWN: ALMA, GA.

AARON FIERBAUGH | SAFETIES COACH

AUBURN, ’ 15

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

2023-24 – LIBERTY (SAFETIES)

2021-22 – COASTAL CAROLINA (DEF. ANALYST, INSIDE LB)

2016-20 – SOUTH CAROLINA (DEFENSIVE QUALITY CONTROL)

2013-15 – AUBURN (STUDENT ASSISTANT)

EDUCATION: BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN MARKETING (AUBURN, ’15)

WIFE: HANNAH

HOMETOWN: FAYETTEVILLE, GA.

KYLE KRANTZ | CO-DEF. COORD./SPECIAL TEAMS COORD./OLB COACH

NORTHERN COLORADO, ’09

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

2023-24 – LIBERTY (ST COORD./OLB)

2021-22 – MISSOURI (SPECIAL TEAMS ANALYST)

2020 – SOUTH CAROLINA (ST COORD./DB)

2018-19 – SOUTH CAROLINA (SPECIAL TEAM ASSISTANT/NICKEL AND SAM LB)

2016-17 – SOUTH CAROLINA (DEFENSIVE ANALYST)

2015 – AUBURN (DEFENSIVE ANALYST)

2014 – FLORIDA (DEFENSIVE QC)

2013 – FLORIDA (OFFENSIVE QC)

2011-12 – KENTUCKY (GA)

2011 – NORTHWESTERN (VOLUNTEER OFFENSIVE QC)

2009-10 – NORTHERN COLORADO (LB)

2007-08 – NORTH CAROLINA (STUDENT ASSISTANT)

EDUCATION: BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN SOCIOLOGY (NORTHERN COLORADO, ’ 09)

WIFE: BRITTANY

HOMETOWN: DENVER, COLO.

OFFENSIVE GRADUATE ASSISTANT

2019 FBC MORTGAGE CURE BOWL

In a season that saw the offense grab most of the attention with its gaudy numbers, it was the Liberty defense that showed up in its biggest game. A stout defensive effort led Liberty to a 23-16 win over Georgia Southern, Dec. 21, in the 2019 FBC MortgageCure Bowl.

The win capped off the most memorable year in program history. Liberty completed its FBS reclassification process in August, received its first-ever bowl game invitation on Dec. 8 and walked away from Exploria Stadium with a bowl game trophy in hand.

With the victory, the Flames became the third FBS transitioning team in NCAA history to win a bowl game during their first season at the FBS level.

Flames defensive end Jessie Lemonier was named the 2019 Cure Bowl MVP, finishing the game with eight tackles, including two sacks.

2020 FBC MORTGAGE CURE BOWL 34 37

SCORING SUMMARY: FIRST QUARTER

6:59 LU Willis 5 yard run (Barbir kick) 0:06 LU Willis 6 yard run (Barbir kick) SECOND QUARTER

6:00 CCU Biscardi 21 yard field goal

2:02 CCU Likely 25 yard pass from McCall

0:42 LU Barbir 27 yard field goal

THIRD QUARTER

8:28 LU Willis 10 yard run (Barbir kick)

4:36 CCU Latushko 43 yard pass from McCall

FOURTH QUARTER

13:22 LU Willis 3 yard run (Barbir kick)

10:34 CCU McCall 1 yard run (Biscardi kick)

5:03 LU Barbir 32 yard field goal 3:01 ....... CCU ........ Latushko 5 yard pass from McCall

OVERTIME

15:00 .... LU .......... Barbir 44 yard field goal

Liberty’s Elijah James blocked a gameending field goal attempt in overtime, securing No. 23/23 Liberty’s 37-34 win over No. 9/11 Coastal Carolina in the 2020 FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl.

The Flames finished their second season of full FBS bowl eligibility with a 10-1 record, winning the FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl for the second year in a row. Liberty is just the second team (also Appalachian State) to win bowl games in each of its first two seasons of bowl eligibility following a transition from the FCS. Liberty snapped Coastal Carolina’s (11-1) 12-game winning streak, which was tied for the longest FBS winning streak in the nation, and earned its firstever win over an FBS Top 25 program.

Liberty quarterback Malik Willis was named Cure Bowl MVP after totaling 357 yards of offense and rushing for a Cure Bowl-record four touchdowns.

2021 LENDINGTREE BOWL

SCORING SUMMARY:

FIRST QUARTER

7:48

3:08

2:27

Ryland 27 yard field goal

Stubbs 54 yard pass from Willis (Beck)

Thomas 27 yd. interception ret. (kick failed)

13:01 EMU Evans 2 yard run (Ryland kick)

12:07 LU Green 34 yard run (kick failed)

6:22 LU Huntley 20 yard pass from Willis (Beck) 0:16 LU Willis 2 yard run (Beck)

THIRD QUARTER

11:02 LU Willis 35 yard run (Team rush failed)

7:08 LU Beck 43 yard field goal

2:44 LU Douglas 3 yard pass from Willis (Beck)

FOURTH QUARTER

10:48

Shaa 64 yard pass from Bennett (Beck) 5:26

Ryland 43 yard field goal

4:29 EMU Hubbard 34 yd. interception ret. (Ryland)

Liberty quarterback Malik Willis accounted for five of the Flames’ seven touchdowns on the day, leading Liberty to a convincing 56-20 win over Eastern Michigan in the 2021 LendingTree Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium.

Willis was named the LendingTree Bowl MVP after finishing the game with 289 total offensive yards (58 rushing, 231 passing). Flames running back T.J. Green, was named the LendingTree Bowl Offensive MVP and safety Skyler Thomas was named the LendingTree Bowl Defensive MVP.

Liberty, in its third year of full FBS eligibility, earned its third straight bowl victory. The Flames join Appalachian State (2015-20) as the only teams to win bowl games in each of their first three years after transitioning to FBS from FCS.

2022 ROOFCLAIM.COM BOCA RATON BOWL BOWL 21 19

FIRST

3:50 LU Louis 9 yard run (Brown kick) SECOND QUARTER

10:51 UT Cluckey 41 yard field goal

THIRD QUARTER

8:45 UT Kuhl 4 yard pass from Finn (Cluckey kick)

7:09 UT Cluckey 29 yard field goal

FOURTH QUARTER

10:35 UT Finn 1 yard run (Stuart pass)

7:24 LU Sibley 29 yard pass from Salter

3:40 LU Hanshaw 67 yard pass from Daniels

Liberty scored two touchdowns during the final eight minutes of the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl, but a failed two-point conversion kept the Flames from tying the game and allowed Toledo to secure a 21-19 bowl game win.

The Flames entered the game looking to become the second team in NCAA history to win four-straight bowl games in their first four years of FBS bowl eligibility. The Flames dropped their fourth game in a row and ended the 2022 season with an 8-5 record.

Toledo, the 2022 MAC champions, won its 12th bowl game in school history and finished the season with a 9-5 record.

Despite the close overall score, the Rockets dominated the final stats sheet. Toledo finished the game with twice as many total plays as Liberty (86 plays for 356 yards to Liberty’s 41 plays for 253 yards). The Rockets also held a 40:03 to 19:57 time of possession edge.

2024 VRBO FIESTA BOWL

SCORING SUMMARY:

FIRST QUARTER

12:37 LU Hanshaw 17 yard pass from Salter

9:06 ORE Lewis 37 yard field goal

SECOND QUARTER

12:53 ORE Bryant 2 yard pass from Nix (Lewis kick)

7:13 ORE Ferguson 2 yard pass from Nix (Lewis kick)

3:50 ORE Sadiq 3 yard pass from Nix (Lewis kick)

0:03 ORE Holden 17 yard pass from Nix (Lewis kick)

THIRD QUARTER

11:11 ORE Johnson 24 yard pass from Nix (Lewis kick)

FOURTH QUARTER

14:13 ORE Irving 1 yard run (Meadors kick)

Fiesta Bowl – First-ever New Year’s Day Bowl

The Liberty Flames were the highestranked Group of Five school in the country in 2023, earning their firstever New Year’s Six bowl game appearance, a matchup in the Fiesta Bowl vs. Oregon.

The Flames captured their firstever FBS conference championship by winning the CUSA Football Championship and posted their firstever undefeated regular season.

Liberty earned its fifth-straight bowl game appearance. The Flames have appeared in a bowl game each year they have been bowl eligible since moving up to the FBS level.

PLAYER HEADSHOTS |

WILLIAMS STADIUM

WILLIAMS STADIUM

ON LIBERTY UNIVERSITY’S CAMPUS, NEAR THE MAIN ENTRANCE, AND ADJACENT TO THE HANCOCK WELCOME CENTER

FACILITIES

The Liberty Football Center, complete with coaches’ offices, locker room, equipment room, recruiting area, team lounge, weight room, and training room, is located at the north end of the stadium. Carter Tower, complete with 18 luxury suites, is located above the west bleachers. Visiting teams are provided with a full player and coaches’ locker room inside the Liberty Indoor Practice Facility.

25,000+

SEATING CAPACITY HAKEN/CORLEY AND ASSOCIATES OF RALEIGH, N.C.

RENOVATOR

BRANCH & ASSOCIATES OF RICHMOND, VA. (2010) AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES INC. (CMA) OF LYNCHBURG, VA. (2018)

STEEL & CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION MCDEVITT & STREET OF RALEIGH, N.C. CONTRACTOR

WILLIAMS STADIUM SINGLE-GAME ATTENDANCE RECORDS

ATTENDANCE DATE

1. 24,012 Oct. 22, 2022 W

Liberty 41, BYU 14

2. 21,537 Aug. 31, 2024 W Liberty 41, Campbell 24

3. 23,055 Nov. 18, 2022 L Liberty 22, Virginia Tech 23

4. 22,551 Sept. 19, 2015 W

5. 21,712 Nov. 12, 2016 L

6. 21,671 Aug. 31, 2019 L

Liberty 31, Montana 21

Liberty 26, Charleston Southern 48

Liberty 0, Syracuse 24

7. 21,647 Nov. 4, 2023 W Liberty 56, Louisiana Tech 30

8. 21,481 Nov. 11, 2023 W Liberty 38, Old Dominion 10

9. 20,924 Oct. 15, 2022 W

10. 20,838 Oct. 4, 2014 L

Liberty 21, Gardner-Webb 20

Liberty 39, Richmond 46

11. 20,425 Sept. 1, 2018 W Liberty 52, Old Dominion 10

12. 20,393 Oct. 24, 2015 W

13. 20,217 Oct. 25, 2014 W

Liberty 45, Kennesaw State 35

Liberty 34, Gardner-Webb 0

14. 20,123 Sept. 9, 2023 W Liberty 33, New Mexico State 17

15. 20,077 Dec. 1, 2023 W

49, New Mexico State 35

ABOUT

The Liberty Football Center (LFC) is a 65,455-square-foot facility located in the north end zone at Williams Stadium that was renovated and reopened in Spring 2020.

Shortly after the completion of the 2018 football season, Liberty began the renovation project to expand its football operations center that originally opened in 2006 as the Football Operations Center (FOC). The renovation project added 18,000 square feet to the three-story facility.

The top floor of the facility houses 17 offices, 10 position meeting rooms, and offensive and defensive meeting rooms, plus a 147-seat, theater-style team meeting room.

The middle floor of the building, located on ground level, includes a locker room with 122 lockers and an attached equipment room to better service Liberty’s football players.

This floor also houses a 13,000-square-foot player’s lounge, including a nutrition center,

and can accommodate up to 130 people. The area is used as a recruiting area during home football games.

A glass enclosed cardio workout room replaced the existing front entrance to the operations center, and the workout area overlooks the lower level.

Rounding out the amenities of this floor is a press room for weekly press conference and postgame interviews, plus a training room. The sports medicine area also includes 11 treatment beds, an on-site x-ray room, and hydrotherapy pools.

Closing out the facility is a state-of-theart weight room in the lower level of the operations center. The 16,000-square-foot workout space is furnished with the latest training equipment, allowing Liberty’s players to prepare themselves to excel at the highest level of college football.

As part of the football program’s FBS reclassification process, Liberty opened this facility during the summer of 2017 — the Liberty University Indoor Practice Facility.

The $29 million project provides a full-size indoor football practice field, plus end zones, with a 70-foot ceiling clearance. The facility is located northeast of the LFC and adjacent to Liberty’s AstroTurf practice field.

LIBERTY ATHLETICS CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS (SINCE 2010)

WILLIAMS STADIUM

Home of Flames Football | Capacity: 25,000+ | Opened in 1989 Renovated and expanded in 2010 and 2018, new additions in 2022

LIBERTY FOOTBALL CENTER

Base of operations for Flames Football | 65,455 square feet | Opened in 2006 Renovated in 2019-20

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY INDOOR PRACTICE FACILITY

Featuring a full-size AstroTurf practice field with end zones | 70-foot ceiling clearance Opened in 2017, hosted NFL Network and ESPN for NFL Pro Day in 2022

AS

A NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNER,

I know what it takes to be a champion — it takes a team. And with Liberty University Online Programs, I’ve got a team that champions my education.”

At Liberty, William Byron has the freedom and support to earn a degree while pursuing his NASCAR career. Follow William’s lead — Liberty offers more than 700 programs of study on campus and online, from the certificate to the doctoral level.

Scan the QR code or visit Liberty.edu/24 to learn more about Liberty University and William Byron.

Watch William Byron this fall as he battles for the title in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs!

FOOTBALL PRACTICE FIELD

Outdoor AstroTurf field | Opened in 2007

LIBERTY ATHLETICS CENTER (LAC)

Houses Academic areas, an Olympic sport weight room, and a centralized athletic training room Holds an equipment room and a Liberty sports nutrition refueling station | Opened in Fall 2017

EAST CAMPUS FACILITY

Base of operations for Liberty Cheerleading | Opened in 2007

At Liberty University, our mission of Training Champions for Christ survives because of our steadfast supporters. Their unwavering generosity empowers this university to raise up Champions for Christ to impact the world — and you can be part of this effort.

Your gifts will enable students to access life-changing, Christ-centered education that fosters their spiritual growth and develops them into the leaders of tomorrow. We invite you to join us in this important mission.

VINES CENTER

Featuring practice courts for Flames Basketball Opened in 1990 | Renovated and expanded in 2014, 2015, and 2020

LIBERTY ARENA

Home of Flames Basketball and Volleyball | Capacity: 4,000 | Opened in Fall 2020

BASKETBALL PRACTICE FACILITY

Base of operations for Flames Basketball Includes 3,000-square-foot basketball performance center | Opened in 2013

At Liberty University, you and your family can earn an education from kindergarten to the doctoral level. With a K-12 Bible-based curriculum, flexible online programs, and a stunning campus with first-rate facilities, Liberty has what you’re looking for.

700+ programs from certificate to doctorate

Fully accredited online and residential programs, including K-12 online academy

Special pricing for education, nursing, and seminary online programs

Exclusive tuition rates for service members and their families for LUOA and other online programs

Discounts available* for first responders, parents of residential students, children of Liberty University Online students, and more

Choose your path with confidence. At every education level, Liberty offers a Christ-centered curriculum, guidance from qualified teachers, and an environment that recognizes a student’s unique needs.

*Some exclusions apply.

LUURTSEMA CENTER/OSBORNE STADIUM MATTHES-HOPKINS TRACK COMPLEX

Base of operations for Flames Soccer and Track & Field | 1,000 chairback seats Track completely rebuilt in 2012

LIBERTY NATATORIUM

Olympic-sized, nine-lane, 50-meter pool | Separate 17-foot-deep diving well with two springboards and three-column tower | 1,300 seating capacity with wraparound, three-side bowl seating | 75,00 square feet | Opened in 2017

LIBERTY MULTIPURPOSE CENTER

Indoor practice facility for Flames Baseball, Softball, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, and Women’s Lacrosse | Opened Winter 2023

When you give to The Champion Club, you stay connected to your alma mater as well as fellow Champions for Christ. Your gift will not only support a growing number of alumni chapters and events but also assist students in financial need through the Alumni Association Scholarship. This program offers 5 distinct giving levels with a combination of benefits. Make a difference today with your Champion Club membership!

Scan the QR code or visit our website below to view all membership benefits!

LIBERTY INDOOR TRACK COMPLEX

Home of Liberty Track & Field | Six-lane, hydraulically banked, 200-meter track Capacity: 1,500 | Opened in 2017

WORTHINGTON FIELD AT LIBERTY BASEBALL STADIUM

Home of Flames Baseball | Capacity: 2,500 chairback seats | Opened in 2013

KAMPHUIS FIELD AT LIBERTY SOFTBALL STADIUM

Home of Lady Flames Softball | Capacity: 1,000 chairback seats | Opened in 2014

LIBERTY TENNIS COMPLEX

Home of Flames Tennis | Includes 12 outdoor courts and 6 indoor courts Capacity: 250 (outdoor), 100 (indoor) | Opened in 2021

EAST CAMPUS FIELD HOUSE

Home of Lady Flames Field Hockey and Lacrosse | Capacity: 750 per field Opened in 2012; renovated and expanded in 2018-19

CLARKSON CLUBHOUSE

Base of operations for Flames Golf | 4,600 square feet | Opened in 2014

| FLAMES SPIRIT AND TRADITION

THE NICKNAME

The Liberty University athletics teams have been nicknamed the Flames since 1974, when the student body chose the Flames over several other options. The decision was based upon the school’s motto, “Knowledge Aflame.”

Liberty began in 1971 as Lynchburg Baptist College with green and gold as the school’s colors. In 1976, the name was adjusted to Liberty Baptist College, and the colors were changed to red, white, and blue. The school once again changed its name in 1985 to Liberty University. However, throughout the shifts, “Flames” remained the nickname for Liberty’s athletics teams.

In 1980, the eagle was designated as the Flames’ new mascot because of the patriotic symbolism and connection with the school name. It was designed with the Flames’ nickname in mind. Thus, a flaming torch clutched in the eagle’s left talon was included in the original mascot renderings.

2023-24 YEAR IN REVIEW

Liberty made quite an impression during its first year of Conference USA membership, winning a league-high 10 conference titles. Football and softball each swept the CUSA regular season and championship titles, while men’s golf, women’s soccer, men’s indoor track & field, men’s outdoor track & field, women’s indoor track & field, and women’s outdoor track & field were all victorious at their respective CUSA Championship events.

Women’s swimming & diving captured the Atlantic Sun Conference title, while field hockey earned a BIG EAST regular season crown, bringing the Flames’ yearly total to 12 conference championships.

FOOTBALL

The Flames enjoyed an incredible season of firsts under first-year Head Coach Jamey Chadwell. Liberty finished 13-1 following its first undefeated regular season, its first CUSA regular season and championship game titles, and its first New Year’s Six bowl appearance (Vrbo Fiesta Bowl vs. Oregon).

VOLLEYBALL

Liberty made it back-to-back winning seasons, headlined by its first win over a top 25 opponent (Sept. 7 at No. 23 Hawaii).

MEN’S SOCCER

During its first year of Ohio Valley Conference membership, Liberty posted a 9-6-3 overall record for its highest win total since 2017. Midfielder Gabe Findley became the first Flame to earn all-region honors in five years.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

The Lady Flames started the year with an 11-0 record, closing out a program-record 24-match unbeaten streak (21-0-3) which dated back to 2022. Liberty then claimed the school’s first CUSA trophy in any sport, capturing the CUSA Women’s Soccer Championship crown to earn its eighth NCAA Tournament bid.

FIELD HOCKEY

The 17-3 Lady Flames defeated No. 1 and eventual national champion North Carolina, won the BIG EAST regular season title with a 7-0 conference record, and earned their first atlarge bid to the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship.

CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK & FIELD

Liberty joined Houston (1998 and 2005) as the only two CUSA members to ever claim conference titles in men’s indoor track & field, women’s indoor track & field, men’s outdoor track & field, and women’s outdoor track & field during a single year. The Flames’ conference championship streaks reached 27 in a row for men’s indoor track & field and 17 straight for men’s outdoor track & field, both of which rank as the longest active streaks in the nation. A program-record three Lady Flames earned All-America honors at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Among them were now three-time All-American Calli Doan (10th place in steeplechase) and Katie Urbine (10th place in pole vault), the Lady Flames’ first freshman to garner NCAA Division I AllAmerica distinction.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The Flames’ 18-14 season featured a Myrtle Beach Invitational championship in November. Kyle Rode wrapped up his standout career by collecting his third straight all-conference nod (second team All-CUSA).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Liberty went 12-3 in its final 15 contests to reach the CUSA title game during its first year as a conference member and end the season with an 18-16 record. The Lady Flames’ first victory of the season was No. 548 of Carey Green’s career, making him the winningest coach in Liberty Athletics history (any sport).

WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING

The Lady Flames were victorious at the inaugural Atlantic Sun Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship, capturing their sixth consecutive conference title overall. Kamryn Cannings placed 19th in the 100 butterfly at the NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship, the best finish of any freshman in the event.

MEN’S TENNIS

Liberty notched an 18-9 overall record, advancing to the Conference USA Men’s Tennis Championship title match and making its second consecutive UTR Sports NIT Championship appearance.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

The 18-7 Lady Flames reached the Conference USA Women’s Tennis Championship final and made their postseason tournament debut (UTR Sports NIT Championship). Along the way, they earned a program-high No. 54 national ranking.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

The Lady Flames paced the nation in caused turnovers per game (15.89) but saw their season halted in a one-goal loss to host Jacksonville during the Atlantic Sun semifinal round.

MEN’S GOLF

The Flames came from behind on the final day to win the CUSA Men’s Golf Championship title in a playoff. As a result, they competed in an NCAA Regional for the eighth consecutive season.

BASEBALL

Liberty hit its most home runs in 22 years (76), including eight during the Flames’ run to the semifinal round during their first visit to the Conference USA Baseball Championship.

SOFTBALL

The Lady Flames went 38-25, including a sweep of the Conference USA regular-season and tournament championships. Liberty then reached an NCAA Regional Final for the fourth time in program history, coming within one out of its first regional title before falling to the host team, No. 11 Georgia.

Alan York, the “Voice of the Flames”, returns to call every “Light ‘Em Up” touchdown on the gridiron as he leads the radio broadcasting efforts for his 15th year of play-by-play coverage.

Nick Pierce will once again provide his in-depth insight of Flames football as the host of the Flames Football Tailgate Show and as Liberty’s sideline reporter.

The Flames Football Tailgate Show begins 90 minutes prior to kickoff. The show provides the most in-depth pregame radio coverage of Liberty Football. Fans will hear commentary from coaches and players, along with exclusive pregame insights from Liberty’s head coach.

Returning to the booth for his second season is Jason Porter, who joined the LFSN Radio broadcast team as the analyst in 2023. Porter served as Liberty’s head football trainer during the 2002 and 2003 seasons and as Assistant AD for Sports Medicine from 2012-16.

Broadcasting is not new to Porter as he has been a frequent contributor to the Sea of Red podcasts, while Porter’s father, Tom Hopkins, served as the radio play-by-play broadcaster for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1977. Porter will also serve as an analyst for Liberty’s men’s basketball broadcasts during the 2023-24 season.

Rounding out LFSN Radio’s broadcast team are Jason Prill and Jamie Hall, providing behind-the-scenes efforts to the premier radio broadcast. Prill returns as the broadcast’s studio producer and scoreboard host. Hall, the longtime radio broadcaster for the Lady Flames’ basketball team, will serve as the broadcast team’s spotter and producer of the “In The Booth” live video stream, which will air on the @LFSNRadio social media accounts and YouTube page.

Fans can listen to Liberty Football’s game day radio coverage on the statewide Journey FM radio network (Flagship station 88.3 FM Lynchburg). Additionally, all LFSN Radio broadcasts will stream live nationally on the Liberty Flames mobile app.

The LFSN Radio broadcast team will also get Flames Nation prepared for football with the Liberty Football Show with Jamey Chadwell. The 60-minute weekly coach’s radio show will air live from the Mellow Mushroom in Lynchburg on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m.

LFSN RADIO AFFILIATES

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY MARCHING BAND

The Liberty University Spirit of the Mountain Marching Band is an exciting part of Flames Nation and tradition. Comprised of 250 members with various majors and interests, the band is one of the largest single organizations on campus. Participation in the Marching Band enables members to continue their involvement in a quality musical program while socializing and traveling with a large cross-section of students.

The Nationally recognized Spirit of the Mountain is widely known for its colorful, drum-corps-style halftime presentations and has appeared in numerous events, including the 1983 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the 2019 Cure Bowl, the 2021 Lending Tree Bowl, the 2022 Boca Raton Bowl, and the 53rd Annual VRBO Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona. In late October, the “Spirit of the Mountain” will host nearly 50 schools as they compete for Virginia State Champion in the Virginia Marching Band Cooperative Marching Band Championships.

The Spirit of the Mountain’s 2024 halftime show is entitled “Tune In: Flames FM” and includes the following selections: Bohemian Rhapsody, Secrets, Unstoppable, Hey Jude, Best of the My Love, Signed Sealed Delivered, Lose Control, You Can’t Stop This, and Praise!

The band is led by the director of Athletic Bands, Dr. Larry Seipp. The assistant director is Mr. Josh Detwiler. The percussion is led by Josh Detwiler, Josh Inabinett, Josh Phillips, Jay Harris, and Micah Elder. The color guard is directed by Bryanna Boyd and assisted by McKayla Hill and Hannah Suttles. Additional staff include Tim Fus, Kara Witt, Connor Bonham, Jordan Elliott, Joseph Taylor, and Aliza Nogueras.

The mission of Liberty University and the Liberty University Marching Band is to develop Christ-centered men and women with the values, knowledge, and skills essential to impact the world. As an ensemble of the School of Music, the Marching Band strives to support athletic events while fostering music and the arts in ways that unite the university and community through the execution of energetic performances as ambassadors of Liberty with a distinct, Christ-centered approach. If you or someone you know is interested in joining the Liberty University Marching Band, please visit our website at Liberty.edu/Band for more information. Membership auditions are online and open to all incoming students — you don’t have to be a music major to join. So contact us now to become a part of this fine band! Email band@ liberty.edu for more information.

Tailgate Special

20 Chicken Fingerz™, 2 large baskets of Crinkle Fries, 1 Zappetizer, 1 Garden Zalad®, 1 basket of Texas Toast and 6 Cookies.

Tuesday is College Day

Liberty University students and faculty receive 25% OFF your order every Tuesday. Must present valid school ID.

VALID AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATION(S) ONLY:

DRE BARNES

FOOTBALL 2001-04

Dre Barnes was one of the most dominating running backs in program history. More than two decades following his playing career, he still holds the program’s gold standard for career rushing yards.

Barnes is the only player in program history to surpass 4,000 career rushing yards, setting the program record of 4,063 yards during his standout fouryear playing career (2001-04). He surpassed 1,300 yards in a season both as a sophomore (1,304 yards in 2002) and a junior (1,347 yards in 2003), and he could have added another season if he hadn’t missed five games in 2004 due to an injury.

The native of Ocilla, Ga., earned Football Gazette All-America honorable mention honors in 2001 before helping the Flames in their early years as a member of the Big South Conference. The running back was a three-time Big South All-Conference honoree and became the program’s first-ever Big South Offensive Player of the Year in 2003. During his final two years as a Flame, Liberty posted a 3-1 record in conference play, marking the program’s first two winning seasons in FCS conference play.

En route to the program’s all-time career rushing mark, Barnes recorded 20 100-yard rushing performances and surpassed the 200-yard mark in four games. Following graduation, Barnes was honored for setting the rushing standard in the Big South Conference when he was named to the Big South All-Decade team (2002-09).

KRISTAL (THARP) BECHTOLD

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 2002-05

One of the best long-range shooters in program history, Kristal (Tharp) Bechtold becomes the second player from the 2005 NCAA sweet 16 team to join the Liberty Athletics Hall of Fame. Bechtold stormed the Big South Conference during her first collegiate season, earning 2002 Big South Freshman of the Year honors. She finished the season shooting 42.0% from the field (76-of-181), including 37.4% from three-point range (34-of91).

The two-time Big South first-team allconference honoree (2003 and 2005) enters the Hall of Fame ranked third in program history in career three-point field goal percentage (35.8), sixth in three-point field goals made (151), and seventh in three-point field goal attempts (422).

The native of Chillicothe, Ohio, helped the Lady Flames to four straight Big South titles and a 100-26 record during her four-year playing career. Bechtold, along with 2015 Liberty Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Katie (Feenstra) Mattera, made Liberty history in 2005 by guiding Liberty to its first two NCAA Tournament wins and an appearance in the Sweet 16.

A standout in the classroom as well as on the court, Bechtold was a two-time Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2004 and 2005) and became the Lady Flames’ first-ever CoSIDA Academic All-America® selection as a senior in 2005. A member of the NCAA Division I Elite Student-Athlete Advisory Group as a junior and senior, Bechtold went on to earn her doctoral degree from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009.

CHUCK BURCH

ATHLETICS ADMINISTRATION 1982-90 DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS 1990-97

A 15-year administrative veteran at Liberty University, Chuck Burch played a large part in establishing the Flames as a flourishing NCAA division I Athletics program, including during his seven years as Director of Athletics (1990-97).

Burch joined the Liberty Athletics staff in 1982 as an assistant sports information director before being promoted to assistant and associate athletics director. He gained valuable experience in nearly every area of the Athletics Department during this time, handling compliance, tickets, budgeting, game management, sports information, and the Flames Club.

Burch played a vital role in Liberty Athletics’ move to the NCAA Division I ranks in 1988 before taking over as the department’s seventh director of athletics in 1990. He found conference affiliation for the Flames in the Big South Conference, starting with the 1991-92 season.

The Flames captured 16 Big South titles during Liberty’s first six years in the league with Burch at the helm of the department. The most notable title was the 1994 Big South Men’s Basketball Championship that placed Liberty in the NCAA Tournament for the first time, where the Flames faced No. 1 North Carolina in the first round of the “Big Dance.”

In 1997, Burch returned to his alma mater, Gardner-Webb University, where he was named the vice president of athletics. He maintained this role for 25 years before retiring from collegiate athletics in May of 2023.

KEITH BUTLER BASEBALL 2000-02

Keith Butler left little doubt that his three-year playing career at Liberty

would land him in the Liberty Athletics Hall of Fame when he was named conference freshman and player of the year as a rookie.

The native of Marietta, Ga., exploded onto the collegiate baseball scene in 2000 with a .406 batting average, 56 runs scored, 16 doubles, six home runs, 49 RBIs, and 35 stolen bases. Butler was duly honored when he was named the 2000 Big South Freshman and Player of the Year. He was also named to a pair of Freshman All-America teams on the national level (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and Baseball America), capping his standout rookie season.

Butler’s immediate success helped Liberty capture the 2000 Big South Baseball Championship title and the program’s first-ever win at an NCAA Regional. He was named to the Big South All-Tournament team all three years of his career at Liberty, and he was the Big South inaugural winner of the Howard Bagwell Award in 2000 (Male Athlete of the Year). At the time of his Hall of Fame induction, Butler still ranks in the program’s career top 10 in runs (169), doubles (48), and stolen bases (52).

His stellar three-year career landed Butler in the major leagues after his junior year when he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 10th round of the 2002 MLB Draft. He went on to play three seasons at the minor league level.

BILL GILLESPIE

TRACK & FIELD/FOOTBALL/STRENGTH COACH 1978-83, 1983-91, 2005-18

Bill Gillespie’s impact on Liberty Athletics spans four different decades as a national champion in track & field, a football player, and a strength and conditioning coach who helped Train Champions for Christ at his alma mater.

The native of Tacoma, Wash., quickly made Liberty Mountain his second home by becoming the 1980 and 1981 NCCAA shot put national champion as a freshman and sophomore. He also helped the track & field program capture the NCCAA team national title in 1981.

Gillespie was a four-time All-American in the shot put (NCCAA – 1980 and 1981; NAIA – 1982 and 1983) and owned the Liberty outdoor men’s shot put record (55-8.5) for 24 years

after graduating in 1983. A two-time letterwinner on the Flames Football team (1978-79), Gillespie was named the 1983 Rock Royer/Mac Rivera Award winner, garnering the highest honor bestowed upon a Liberty student-athlete.

He served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Liberty from 1983-91, an assistant track & field coach from 1983-85 and 1987-91, and the head track & field coach in 1986. After an 11-year career at Washington that included a national championship in 1991, Gillespie returned to the mountain where he served as head football strength and conditioning coach from 2005-18, helping Liberty move from winning FCS conference titles to having success in the FBS ranks.

Outside the collegiate space, where he was a CSCCA Master Strength Coach, Gillespie was also a world-renowned weightlifter. He is a 133-time world record holder and the all-time world record holder with a 1,129-pound bench press at the age of 62.

JENNIFER (KLUGH) MARGRAFF

CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK & FIELD 2008-12

After coming to Liberty off a torn ACL during her senior year of high school, Margraff went on to become a 10-time Big South individual event champion (three in cross country, four in indoor track & field, and three in outdoor track & field) and was an 18-time All-Big South performer.

The native of Centerburg, Ohio, is one of only four runners in program history to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country National Championship as an individual, and she is the program’s only three-time cross country All-Region performer (2010, 2011, and 2012). After becoming the Lady Flames’ only three-time Big South women’s cross country individual champion (2010, 2011, and 2012), Margraff culminated her cross country career with a 93rdplace finish in the 2012 national championship.

While competing in indoor track, Margraff won back-to-back Big South Most Outstanding Track Performer awards in 2011 and 2012, helping Liberty capture consecutive conference titles by earning 28 points at both meets. At the time of her graduation in

2013, she owned four program records (cross country 5K, cross country 6K, indoor 3K, and indoor 5K).

Margraff received Liberty’s highest student-athlete honor in 2013 when she was named the winner of the Rock Royer/Mac Rivera Award. Following her career, Margraff’s efforts were continually honored by the Big South Conference when she was named to the 2010-19 Big South All-Decade team for cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field.

HOLLY VAN NOORD

WOMEN’S SOCCER 2013-16

Holly Van Noord was an unstoppable force for the Lady Flames that resulted in three Conference Championships and a trio of trips to the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship.

Nearly a decade following her time on the pitch, Van Noord enters the Liberty Athletics Hall of Fame as the program’s all-time career leader in shutouts (41) and goals-against average (0.80). She also ranks second in career games played (86) and career saves (407).

A two-time Big South Defensive Player of the Year honoree (2014 and 2016), Van Noord is the only player in program history to hold this distinction twice. She was named to three Big South allconference teams (first team in 2014 and 2016; second team in 2013) and was named the VaSID All-State Rookie of the Year in 2013.

Van Noord’s standout presence in goal helped guide the Lady Flames to fourstraight appearances in the Big South Women’s Soccer Championship game. The women’s soccer team claimed three titles during her time on the mountain (2013, 2015, and 2016), and she was named to two Big South AllTournament teams (2015 and 2016).

A native of Hudsonville, Mich., Van Noord’s efforts were recognized nationally when she was named to four United Soccer Coaches AllRegion teams. She was a second-team honoree in 2014 and 2016 and named to the third team in 2013 and 2015.

enjoy preferred parking, seating, and game day hospitality privileges. Most importantly,

to the Flames Club provide the needed resources for our

to compete at a championship level.

SOCIAL MEDIA REVIEW

LIBERTY ATHLETICS IN 2023-24

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137,538,808

Total Social Media Impressions

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8,115,889

Total Social Media Engagement

userplus

77,512

Total Net Growth in Followers

3,905,252 VIEWS Football GPA Graphic

3,317,212 VIEWS

Softball Double Play to End Game on Instagram

3,124,613 VIEWS Can’t Catch Cooley

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2,553,084 VIEWS

All Gas, No Brakes/ Uniform Reveal

FLAMES IN THE PROS

Name/Position (Years at LU) | Team (League) Years

Aikens, Walt – CB (2011-13)

Miami Dolphins (NFL) - 2014-17

Anderson, Ben – QB (1994-97)

New York Giants (NFL) - 1998

Portland Forest Dragons (AFL) - 1999

Ajayi, Solomon – LB (2018-19)

Cleveland Browns (NFL) - 2020

Toronto Argonauts (CFL) - 2022

Banks, Fred – WR (1982-84)

Cleveland Browns (NFL) - 1985-86

Miami Dolphins (NFL) - 1987-93

Chicago Bears (NFL) - 1993

Barrie, Sebastian – DL (1990-91)

Green Bay Packers (NFL) - 1992

Arizona Cardinals (NFL) - 1993-95

San Diego Chargers (NFL) - 1995

Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) - 1996

Arizona Rattlers (AFL) - 1999-03

San Jose Sabercats (AFL) - 2004-05

Basso, Phil – QB (1981-84)

Indianapolis Colts (NFL) - 1985

Benton, Elijah – S (2016-19)

Cleveland Browns (NFL) - 2020-21

Tennessee Titans (NFL) - 2022

BC Lions (CFL) – 2022

Bishop, Brandon – DB (2023)

Indianapolis Colts (NFL) – 2024

Bolden, Dominic – WR (2005-08)

B.C. Lions (CFL) - 2010

Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL) - 2011

Brown, Jeff – DB (1979-82)

Washington Federals (USFL) - 1983-84

Brown, Mike – QB (2008-11)

Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL) - 2012-14

Carolina Panthers (NFL) - 2015 Burgess, Jonathan/OL - (2013-15)

North Coast Heat (NGL Australia) - 2016

Burns, Travis – DB (1998-01)

Norfolk Nighthawks (AFL2) - 2003

Grand Rapids Rampage (AFL) - 2004

Quad City Steamwheelers (AFL) - 2005

Butler, Anthony – LB (2020)

Indianapolis Colts (NFL) - 2021

Memphis Showboats (USFL) - 2023-24

Carswell, Dwayne – TE (1991-93)

Denver Broncos (NFL) - 1994-06

Clark, Steve – DB (1982-85)

Buffalo Bills (NFL) - 1987

Davis, Dominique – DL (2011-14)

Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) - 2015

K.C. Chiefs (NFL) - 2016

Degrate, Rodney – DL (1994-97)

Portland Forest Dragons (AFL) - 1999

Toronto Argonauts (CFL) - 1999

Douglas, Demario – WR (2019-22)

New England Patriots (NFL) - 2023

Dupree, Tyren – LB (2018-23)

New York Jets (NFL) – 2024 Edwards, Darnell – WR (2003-06)

Columbus Lions (WIFL) - 2007-08

Edwards, Kelvin – WR (1982-85)

New Orleans Saints (NFL) - 1986

Dallas Cowboys (NFL) - 1987-88

Ferguson, Markus – OL (2002-03-04-05)

Albany Conquest (AFL2) - 2007-08

Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (AFL2) - 2009

Fogg, Kevin – DB (2009-10-11-12-13)

Miami Dolphins (NFL) - 2014

Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) - 2014-15

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) - 2016-18

Toronto Argonauts (CFL) – 2019

Montreal Alouettes (CFL) - 2020-21

Forslund, Mike – QB (1979-82)

Washington Federals (USFL) - 1983

Gadlin, X’Zauvea – OL (2022-23)

Tennessee Titans (NFL) – 2024

Gado, Sam – RB (2001-04)

Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) - 2005

Green Bay Packers (NFL) - 2005-06

Houston Texans (NFL) - 2006-07

Miami Dolphins (NFL) - 2007

St. Louis Rams (NFL) - 2008-09

Gandy-Golden, Antonio – WR (2016-19)

Washington Football Team (NFL) - 2020-21

Goede, Chris – OL (1991-94)

San Antonio Texans (CFL) - 1995

Goodman, Eugene – RB (2001-04)

Columbus Lions (WIFL) - 2007

Graham, Jonathan – OL (2018-23)

Miami Dolphins (NFL) – 2024

Green, Eric – TE (1985-89)

Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) - 1990-94

Miami Dolphins (NFL) - 1995

Baltimore Ravens (NFL) - 1996-98

New York Jets (NFL) - 1999-00

Haddix, Wayne – DB (1983-86)

New York Giants (NFL) - 1987-88

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL) - 1990-91

Cincinnati Bengals (NFL) - 1991-92

Cleveland Browns (NFL) - 1993

Hagen, Jacob – DB (2011-14)

St. Louis Rams (NFL) - 2015

Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) - 2016-17

Haith, William – DB (1999-02)

Norfolk Nighthawks (AFL2) - 2003

Manchester Wolves (AFL2) - 2005-06

Dallas Desperados (AFL) - 2006

New Orleans VooDoo (AFL) - 2007

Grand Rapids Rampage (AFL) - 2008-09

Rashaad Harding – LB (2021)

Montreal Alouettess (CFL) - 2022

Harris, Erick - WR/DB (2001-04)

Amarillo Dusters (AFL2) - 2005

Alabama Steeldogs (AFL2) - 2006

Rhein Fire (NFL Europe) - 2006

Amsterdam Admirals (NFL Europe) - 2007

Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) - 2006-07

Grand Rapids Rampage (AFL) - 2009

Kansas City Command (AFL) - 2011

Hayes, B.J. – WR (2008-09-10-11)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL) - 2012

Hickson, Frankie – RB (2016-19)

Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL) - 2022-23

Hunter, Dae Dae – RB (2022)

Arlington Renegades (UFL) - 2023

Huntley, Johnny – TE (2018-21)

Chicago Bears (NFL) - 2022

Hursky, Nick – LB (2005-08)

Milan Rhinos (IFL) - 2010

Inverso, Glenn – QB (1977-80)

New York Jets (NFL) - 1981

Chicago Bears (NFL) - 1982

New York Jets (NFL) - 1984

Jackson, Storey – LB (2021)

Dallas Cowboys (NFL) - 2022

Arlington Renegades (UFL) - 2023

Jacobs, Trey – DL (2006-09)

Washington Redskins (NFL) - 2010

James, Elijah – DL (2019-21)

Chicago Bears (NFL) - 2022

Jennings, Butch – RB (1994)

New York Giants (NFL) - 1995

Jennings, Rashad – RB (2006-08)

Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL) - 2009-12

Oakland Raiders (NFL) - 2013

New York Giants (NFL) - 2014-16

Johnson, Durrell – DL (2020-22)

Dallas Cowboys (NFL) - 2023

Jones, Dominique – TE (2008-09)

Indianapolis Colts (NFL) - 2012-13

Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) - 2013

Denver Broncos (NFL) - 2014-15

Miami Dolphins (NFL) - 2016

Jones, Rennie – WR (1982-85) Philadelphia

Eagles (NFL) - 1985

Kagey, Bill – PK (1982-85)

Dallas Cowboys (NFL) - 1986

Kearns, Steve – TE (1976-79)

British Columbia Lions (CFL) - 1980-82

Kinard, Leroy – RB (1988-90)

New York Jets (NFL) - 1991-92

Lambros, Matt – WR (2005-08)

Toronto Argonauts (CFL) - 2009

Lemonier, Jessie – DL (2018-19)

Los Angeles Chargers (NFL) - 2020-21

Arizona Cardinals (NFL) - 2022

Lowe, Duron – CB (2021)

Los Angeles Rams (NFL) - 2022

Arlington Renegades (UFL) - 2023

Lowe, Trey, III – QB (2023)

Edmonton Elks (CFL) – 2024

Lunsford, John – K (2012-15)

San Francisco 49ers (NFL) - 2016

Mathis, Mark – DB (1983-86)

St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) - 1987-88

Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) - 1989-91

British Columbia Lions (CFL) - 1992

McConnell, Wes – DB (1989-92)

Shreveport Pirates (CFL) - 1993-94

McFadden, Andrew - WR/RS (1995)

St. Louis Rams (NFL) - 1997

Indianapolis Colts (NFL) - 1998

Portland Forest Dragons (AFL) - 1999-00

McKnight, James – WR (1991-93)

Seattle Seahawks (NFL) - 1994-98

Dallas Cowboys (NFL) - 1999-00

Miami Dolphins (NFL) - 2001-03

Nelson, Pat – WR (1988-91)

Orlando Predators (AFL) - 1992

New York Jets (NFL) - 1992-93

Nimako, George – RB (1991-92)

Toronto Argonauts (CFL) - 1993-94, 97-00

Nivens, Roosevelt – OL (1991-94)

Baltimore Stallions (CFL) - 1995

Dallas Cowboys (NFL) - 1996

Paige, Mickey – LB (1985-88)

Washington Commandos (AFL) - 1989-90

Parson, Biff – QB (1989-01)

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL) - 2002

Peterson, Darrin – WR (2012-15)

Chicago Bears (NFL) - 2016

Redd, Vince – LB (2007)

New England Patriots (NFL) - 2008-09

Rush, Torrey – DB (1996-99)

Barcelona Dragons (NFL Europe) - 2001

Rusins, Ralfs – DL (2016-21)

Baltimore Ravens (NFL) - 2022

Sartin, Trey – OL (1994-97)

Indianapolis Colts (NFL) - 1998-99

Schultz, Tristan – OL (2017-21)

Miami Dolphins (NFL) - 2022

Sene, Stephen – OL (2005-07)

St. Louis Rams (NFL) - 2008

New England Patriots (NFL) - 2008

Alabama Vipers (AFL1) - 2010

Shaa, Kevin – WR (2018-21)

Chicago Bears (NFL) - 2022

BC Lions (CFL) - 2022

Shelton, Richard – DB (1984-88)

Denver Broncos (NFL) - 1989

Seattle Seahawks (NFL) - 1989-90

Montreal Machine (WLAF) - 1991-92

Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) - 1990-93

Smith, Brock – QB (2005-08)

Milan Rhinos (IFL) - 2010

Smith, Donald – DB (1986-89)

Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - 1990-91

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) - 1992-94

Memphis Maddogs (CFL) - 1995

Toronto Argonauts (CFL) - 1996-00

Steward, Hunter – OL (2011-12-13)

BC Lions (CFL) - 2014-21

Ottawa Redblacks (CFL) - 2022-23

Stone, Cedric – S (2020-21)

Washington Commanders (NFL) - 2022

Summers, Chris – WR (2008-11)

Chicago Bears (NFL) - 2012

Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - 2012-13

Buffalo Bills (NFL) - 2014

Thomas, Skyler – S (2021)

Los Angeles Chargers (NFL) - 2022

Washington, Desmond – DB (1997-98)

Florida Firecats (AFL) - 2001-05

Cincinnati Jungle Kats (AFL2) - 2007

Wendlend, Soeren – OL (2007-10)

Green Bay Blizzard (IFL) - 2011

Williams, Lauren – WR (2003-05)

Oakland Raiders (NFL) - 2007

Rhein Fire (NFL Europe) - 2007

Los Angeles Avengers (AFL) - 2008

Willis, Malik – QB (2019-21)

Tennessee Titans (NFL) - 2022-23

Green Bay Packers (NFL) - 2024

Wilson, Bejour – CB (2018-19)

Arizona Cardinals (NFL) - 2020

Woodrum, Josh – QB (2012-15)

N.Y. Giants (NFL) - 2016

Indianapolis Colts (NFL) - 2016

Baltimore Ravens (NFL) - 2017-18

Washington Redskins (NFL) - 2019

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2024 NFL FREE AGENT SELECTIONS

SEPT. 15

FIELD HOCKEY VS. DUKE VOLLEYBALL VS. WEST VIRGINIA

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MEN’S SOCCER VS. PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE

SEPT. 22

FIELD HOCKEY VS. NORTH CAROLINA.

SEPT. 27

A BIG, WARM WELCOME: FULL WEEK OF ACTIVITIES SET STAGE FOR SUCCESS ON THE MOUNTAIN

With a new class of students making their way to Lynchburg, Va., the week of Aug. 12 and thousands of returning students joining them, Liberty University staff and student leadership stood ready to usher them on campus during an annual Liberty tradition: Welcome Week.

The week began on Aug. 14, the first move-in day for new students. From the cheers of energetic student leaders descending on vehicles to help whisk away their belongings to their rooms, to prayer times on the Academic Lawn, meet-and-greets with deans, and fun social events like Big Band Night, the activities help students feel at home and jump right into Liberty’s exciting campus life the moment they step foot on Liberty Mountain.

“During Welcome Week, our team collaborates with various departments to connect new students with a wide range of support services, provide meet-and-greet type events, and worship together,” said Dwayne Melton, interim dean of the College of Applied Studies and Academic Success. “These activities not only provide essential information about campus resources but also foster a sense of community and belonging from day one.”

New students are greeted at their residence halls by members of their hall leadership — Community Group Leaders (CGLs) and Resident Shepherds (RSs) — ready with smiles and muscles to help haul items to their rooms before they explore campus and attend a full slate of activities aimed at orienting them to their new home and the college life.

Savannah Flack, assistant director of operations for CASAS, said Doughnuts with the Deans on Friday morning is one of the team’s biggest events — and her favorite.

“We have every school’s dean on the Academic Lawn, and it’s just a great opportunity for students to meet them and get to hear a little bit about their school. We like to do this so that when you walk across the stage at graduation, you’re saying, ‘Wow, we connected from the very first moment.’”

Schools hosted Academic Welcome Sessions for students to learn about events, clubs, and opportunities within their degree programs. If students are undecided, they can explore any session that interests them to see if it would be a good fit.

Parent and Family Sessions were provided twice during Welcome Week so families could ask questions and find out more about how they can support their child as they transition into college life.

“It’s a great resource for parents to know all the things they want to know before they drop their student off at college,” Flack said. “It’s reminding them that we are going to take good care of their student.”

More on Page 128

UNIVERSITY FEATURE |

Similarly, there is a First-Year Hub event during the week, where students can stop by at any time to receive a free T-shirt and ask questions that come up as they adjust to the first few days of college life.

Flack said Liberty’s Welcome Week is different than other universities’ in the way that it not only provides students with valuable information about move-in and classes but places a priority on building community.

“Liberty does a great job of building community,” Flack said. “There’s this atmosphere of excitement and joy as we pray for the parent and the student, and we offer all these opportunities to send them off into success.”

To that end, CASAS teamed with the Offices of Spiritual Development, Student Activities, and Campus Recreation to offer multiple activities throughout the week, like Prayer on the Lawn, Big Band Night, Bingo, Open Mic Night, an outdoor movie, ziplining and high ropes courses, and a horses meet-and-greet at the Liberty University Equestrian Center.

The Office of Spiritual Development also hosted a New Student Convocation at the Vines Center on Friday on the Academic Lawn.

New students also took part in the traditional Flames Kickoff on Friday night, a pep rally-type event that introduced new students to Liberty Athletics teams, the cheers, and all the Liberty fan traditions. Transfer students are invited to a Transfer Social to connect with more students who are coming from other universities.

Welcome Week officially ended on Aug. 24, celebrating the end of the first week of classes at one of the biggest highlights of the year, the Block Party. The event, hosted by Student Activities, featured live music with guest artist Forrest Frank, food trucks, carnival rides, giveaways, local vendors, department information tables, and more.

Liberty estimates that residential enrollment will surpass 16,000 for the first time this fall. The university welcomed close to 4,400 new incoming undergraduate students, and about 8,500 students are living in campus housing.

Liberty is also projecting a record enrollment of about 127,000 students in its online program for the 2024-25 academic year. Liberty’s overall enrollment, in both residential and online programs, is projected to hit a record 140,000 students.

By the Office of Communications & Public Engagement

CAMPBELL

(1-1, 0-0 CAA)

8/31 AT LIBERTY L/24-41

9/7 AT WESTERN CAROLINA W/24-16

9/14 AT RHODE ISLAND

9/21 STONY BROOK

9/28 DELAWARE STATE

10/5 ... NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL

10/19 WILLIAM & MARY

10/26 NORTH CAROLINA A&T

11/2 AT ELON

11/9 RICHMOND

11/16 AT DELAWARE 11/23 TOWSON

EAST CAROLINA

(2-0, 0-0 AAC)

8/31 NORFOLK STATE W/42-3

9/7 AT OLD DOMINION W/20-14

9/14 APPALACHIAN STATE

9/21 AT LIBERTY

9/28 UTSA

10/5 AT CHARLOTTE

10/19 AT ARMY

10/26 TEMPLE

11/7 FLORIDA ATLANTIC

11/14 AT TULSA

11/23 AT NORTH TEXAS

11/29 NAVY

KENNESAW STATE

(0-2, 0-0 CUSA)

8/31 AT UTSA L/16-28

9/7 LOUISIANA L/10-34

9/14 AT SAN JOSE STATE

9/28 UT MARTIN

10/4 JACKSONVILLE STATE

10/15 AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE

10/23........ LIBERTY

10/30........ AT WESTERN KENTUCKY

11/9 AT UTEP

11/16 SAM HOUSTON

11/23 FIU

11/30 AT LOUISIANA TECH

UMASS

(0-2, 0-0)

8/31 EASTERN MICHIGAN L/14-29

9/7 ........... AT TOLEDO ...................L/23-38

9/14 ......... AT BUFFALO

9/21 CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE

9/28 AT MIAMI (OHIO)

10/5 AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS

10/12 MISSOURI

10/26 WAGNER

11/2 AT MISSISSIPPI STATE

11/16 LIBERTY

11/23 AT GEORGIA

11/30 UCONN

NEW MEXICO STATE

1-1, 0-1 CUSA)

8/31 SOUTHEAST MISSOURI W/23-16

9/7 LIBERTY L/24-30

9/14 AT FRESNO STATE

9/21 AT SAM HOUSTON

9/28 NEW MEXICO

10/9 ........AT JACKSONVILLE STATE

10/15 LOUISIANA TECH

10/29 FIU

11/9 WESTERN KENTUCKY 11/16 AT TEXAS A&M 11/23 AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE 11/30 UTEP

APPALACHIAN STATE

(1-1, 0-0 SUN BELT)

8/31 ETSU W/38-10

9/7 AT CLEMSON L/20-66

9/14 AT EAST CAROLINA

9/19 SOUTH ALABAMA

9/28 LIBERTY

10/5 AT MARSHAL

10/12 AT LOUISIANA

10/26 GEORGIA STATE

11/2 OLD DOMINION

11/7 AT COASTAL CAROLINA

11/23 JAMES MADISON

11/30 AT GEORGIA SOUTHERN

JACKSONVILLE STATE

(0-2, 0-0 CUSA)

8/29 COASTAL CAROLINA L/27-55

9/7 AT LOUISVILLE L/14-49

9/14 AT EASTERN MICHIGAN

9/21 SOUTHERN MISS

10/4 AT KENNESAW STATE

10/9 NEW MEXICO STATE

10/23........ MIDDLE TENNESSEE

10/30........ AT LIBERTY

11/9 AT LOUISIANA TECH

11/16 FIU

11/23 SAM HOUSTON

11/30 AT WESTERN KENTUCKY

WESTERN KENTUCKY

(1-1, 0-0 CUSA)

8/31 AT ALABAMA L/0-63 9/7 ............ EASTERN KENTUCKY ... W/31-0 9/14 .......... AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE 9/21 TOLEDO

9/28 AT BOSTON COLLEGE

10/10 UTEP

10/16 AT SAM HOUSTON 10/30 KENNESAW STATE

11/9 AT NEW MEXICO STATE 11/16 LOUISIANA TECH

11/23 AT LIBERTY 11/30 JACKSONVILLE STATE

UTEP

(0-2, 0-0 CUSA)

8/31 AT NEBRASKA L/7-40

9/7 SOUTHERN UTAH L/24-27 OT 9/14 AT LIBERTY

9/21 AT COLORADO STATE

10/3 SAM HOUSTON

10/10...... AT WESTERN KENTUCKY

10/16 FIU

10/22 AT LA TECH

11/2 MIDDLE TENNESSEE

11/9 KENNESAW STATE

11/23 AT TENNESSEE

11/30 AT NEW MEXICO STATE

FIU

(1-1, 0-0 CUSA)

8/31 AT INDIANA L/7-31

9/7 CENTRAL MICHIGAN W/52-16 9/14 AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC

9/21 MONMOUTH

9/28 LOUISIANA TECH

10/8 AT LIBERTY 10/16 AT UTEP

10/22 SAM HOUSTON 10/29 NEW MEXICO STATE 11/16 AT JACKSONVILLE STATE

11/23 AT KENNESAW STATE 11/30 MIDDLE TENNESSEE

MIDDLE TENNESSEE

(1-1, 0-0 CUSA)

8/31 TENNESSEE TECH W/32-25 9/7 AT OLE MISS L/3-52 9/14 WESTERN KENTUCKY

9/21 DUKE

9/28 AT MEMPHIS

10/10 AT LOUISIANA TECH

10/15....... KENNESAW STATE

10/23....... AT JACKSONVILLE STATE 11/2 AT UTEP

11/9 LIBERTY

11/23 NEW MEXICO STATE 11/30 AT FIU

SAM HOUSTON (1-1, 0-0 CUSA)

8/31 AT RICE W/34-14

9/7 ............ AT UCF ........................... L/14-45

9/14 .......... HAWAII

9/21 NEW MEXICO STATE

9/28 TEXAS STATE

10/3 AT UTEP

10/16 WESTERN KENTUCKY

10/22 AT FIU

10/29 LOUISIANA TECH 11/16 AT KENNESAW STATE 11/23 AT JACKSONVILLE STATE 11/29 LIBERTY