On September 3rd, 2016, the Liberty football team will compete in its highest profile game in school history. Don’t believe that statement? Consider these reasons:
1. It’s the first time the Flames have faced an FBS opponent from the commonwealth of Virginia.
This statement has been quickly uttered this offseason on many occasions, but it’s something that shouldn’t be overlooked. Getting an in-state FBS opponent to agree to play the Flames, is a noteworthy feat.
2. Virginia Tech is the most prominent opponent Liberty has ever faced.
The other Power 5 Conference teams LU has played includes UConn, Wake Forest, West Virginia, NC State, and North Carolina. None of those teams have had the recent success that the Hokies have had. VT has had 23 straight winning seasons and has made 23 straight bowl appearances. Tech has won 10 or more games 13 times since 1995, including 8 straight from 2004-2011. They also played for the national championship following the 1999 season, a season they finished ranked 2nd in the country. None of those previously mentioned teams can claim any one of those accomplishments.
3. A game against a Power 5 Conference foe, is a higher profile game than any against an FCS opponent the Flames have played in.
The two playoff games Liberty appeared in in 2014 don’t register nationally like the game against the Hokies will. Would an FCS national semifinal or national championship game change that statement?
