Travel back in time and relive the year that was in 2016 for A Sea of Red, formerly FlamesNation. Here are our top stories, events, and happenings over the past year:
January
In our 3rd annual FlamesNation Player of the Year, football defensive end Chima Uzowihe was named the 2015 FlamesNation POY!
For the first time in school history, Liberty had a player invited to the NFL Combine as Josh Woodrum was invited to the NFL Combine, and not to be outdone, kicker John Lunsford was also invited to the Combine.
February
The first week of February always brings about football signing day. Annually, one of our biggest traffic days, our coverage included signing day live blog, signing day 2016 recap, and Coach Gill on the signees.
In what was just the tip of the iceberg of this story, A.J. James was dismissed from the football team for violating team policy. More on this to come…
March
Following a surprising run during the Big South regular season, Ritchie McKay was named the Big South’s Coach of the Year.
The basketball season, however, came to an abrupt end in the Big South Tournament, but our hopes for the future of the program were high.
Evan Maxwell and Hansel Atencia transferred out while Scottie James transferred in.
April
Josh Woodrum, John Lunsford, and Darrin Peterson all signed as undrafted free agents with NFL teams just hours after the conclusion of the NFL Draft.
May
Evan Maxwell transferred to Kansas.
Liberty’s baseball season came to an end in the Big South Championship game.
June
We announced in June that we needed a new name and we asked you to help us!
July
Liberty hired former UNC assistant coach Scott Jackson to be the Flames’ next skipper.
August
Buckshot Calvert
September
The Big South and Atlantic Sun announced a unique Football Partnership. Since the announcement, Campbell will join the Big South in football and North Alabama will make the leap from Division II to Division I with their football program competing in the Big South while all other sports will reside in the A-Sun.
We are thrilled about the RedSpin Podcast, co-hosted by Jacob Webb and Chad Hasson. This podcast launched in September, Introducing the RedSpin Podcast.
True freshman Buckshot Calvert was named starting quarterback in late September as the Flames prepared for conference play.
October
The story of A.J. James mentioned earlier, took many twists and turns, and new names were added to the case as Cam Jackson and Kyle Carrington were also involved in sexual assault allegations.
November
The month of November was the busiest in our site’s history as we set all sorts of traffic records. The month began with us scanning FCS coaches’ salaries.
Then, Liberty Athletic Director Jeff Barber resigned.
Meanwhile, the Flames 2016 football season came to end, we tried to recap it with our 2016 liberty football season in review.
On Thanksgiving day, we learned that offensive line coach Dennis Wagner had been relieved of his duties.
Just 11 days after Jeff Barber resigned, former Baylor AD Ian McCaw was hired as Liberty’s newest athletic director. Our coverage included McCaw hired as AD, The Heat: Maybe McCaw is the man for the job, McCaw as AD: your thoughts.
Shortly after the McCaw hire was announced, it was confirmed that Turner Gill will return as Liberty’s football coach in 2017.
December
Caleb Homesley was lost for the season due to injury in a basketball against Princeton, his loss is a big blow for the Flames’ this season.
On the 8th episode of the RedSpin Podcast, we were joined by new Liberty AD Ian McCaw!
Thank you for joining us for the ride in 2016, and here’s to a successful 2017! Happy New Year, Flames Nation!
