Liberty announced its 2017 football schedule today highlighted by the season opener at Baylor on September 2nd.
In what will be the Flames 2nd ever meeting against a Big 12 opponent, Coach Gill and company will head to Waco, Texas. Of course, all eyes will be on Liberty’s new Athletic Director Ian McCaw who was most recently Baylor’s AD. After the Baylor game, the Flames return home for consecutive home contests against Morehead State on September 9th and Indiana State on September 16th. Liberty fell to Missouri Valley Football conference member Indiana State in 2014, 38-19. In the 4th game of 2017, Liberty hits the road for a rematch with 2015 FCS national runner-up Jacksonville State on September 23rd. Prior to the start of conference play, the Flames play host to Saint Francis on September 30th. LU is 2-0 all-time against the Red Flash, defeating them by a combined score of 120-17 in the two previous meetings.
After an open week, Coach Gill’s squad will begin their quest for a Big South Championship on October 14th as the Flames play host to Kennesaw State. Following the matchup against the Owls, Liberty hits the road for consecutive games at Monmouth and Gardner-Webb, on October 21st and October 28th, respectively.
In its final non-conference game of the regular season, Liberty matches up with Duquesne for the first time in program history. The Dukes are coming off an 8-3 season and a 5-1 mark in the NEC in 2016. Duquesne faced Kennesaw State back in September, falling to the Owls, 36-28. Duquesne’s A.J. Hines was named the 2016 STATS FCS Jerry Rice Award winner which is awarded to the subdivision’s top freshman. Hines rushed for 1,291 yards and 13 touchdowns during his freshman campaign. The Flames and Dukes square off on November 4th at Williams Stadium.
After Duquesne, Liberty returns to conference action in its final 2 contests of the 2017 regular season, hosting Presbyterian on November 11th before travelling to 2-time defending Big South Champions Charleston Southern to close out the regular season on November 18th.
Many Sea of Red members were calling for a change in the head coach at the end of last year. So what does Coach Gill need to do to save his job?
Is 7-4 and no Big South title safe?
How about 8-3 and no Big South title?
Is a Big South title and/or Playoff appearance a necessity to retain Turner Gill as head coach?
8-3 should guarantee a Big South title, so long as the losses come against the obvious three teams, Baylor, Jacksonville State, and a toss up game against Indiana State. No reason we lose the Big South considering Coastal is gone and Charleston Southern has a new head coach.
No playoffs = no more Gill.
IMHO