After a 13-1 season in the program’s first year under head coach Jamey Chadwell and in Conference USA, the expectations were that Liberty would duplicate that level of success in 2024, especially with several key pieces returning in 2024.
That’s not what happened though as the Flames finished 8-4, dropping three conference games in fourth place in CUSA. With a depleted roster due to the transfer portal, opt-outs, and injuries, Liberty then fell to Buffalo in the Bahamas Bowl, 26-7.
As the Flames begin their 2025 campaign and hope to get back to competing at a championship level, Coach Chadwell has one word he wants to define the team throughout the offseason – EARN.
“Our word this year is about earning, earning the opportunity, earning the right to be a champion,” Chadwell said shortly after the team opened spring practice earlier this month. “Every day, you’ve got to earn the opportunity. It’s a privilege to be a Flame. Earn that opportunity by the way you prepare.”
Two of the team leaders entering 2025 – center Aaron Fenimore and tight end Jacob Jenkins – expounded upon this idea Coach Chadwell has for the team this summer.
“Instilling a mindset that no one owes us anything, Jenkins said. “We have to earn everything. We have to earn a championship. We have to put in the work that requires a championship winning team, whether that is individual drills, team drills, the way we eat at the training table, the way we lift downstairs with coach Scott. All these pieces fit in to what we want and getting to a championship, us earning that.”
Fenimore echoed those thoughts.
“It’s a mindset,” the redshirt-sophomore said. “Nothing is given to you. If you want it, go earn it. If you want to play in a championship game here, go earn it. If you want to make a run deep in the postseason, go earn it. nothing is given to you, you’ve got to go out and take it.”
The coaching staff wants to still that mindset into the team, building a team that is connected. That is what was so special about the 2023 team, it wasn’t just the talent on the field, but how they fought for each other each and every day, each and every game. The Flames got away from that mindset some last fall.
“It can’t be my own individual goals over the continuity and the connection of the team,” said co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Willy Korn. “If we have that (continuity and connection), we will have more than enough talent wise to be able to go and execute and do what we want to do on game day, but if we’re not connected, you won’t live up to your potential.”
Going into 2025, the Flames will have new faces littered all over its depth chart including at key positions such as quarterback and running back. The returning players have been energized by some of the newcomers that will be counted on to fill large roles on this year’s team.
“Guys come in here and want to be at Liberty, that gets you fired up,” Fenimore said of the incoming players. “It’s guys that want to be here and they want to win championships. They want to win football games. They want to do the right thing and get after it, that is very refreshing to see.”
While we are still over six months away from the start of the football season, the Flames are focusing on building the right team culture and energy that will help them on the field in the fall.
“Guys are willing and energized about it,” Jenkins said of the work the team is putting in right now during the spring. “They are enthusiastic. They have a smile on their face. Everyone is willing to do the work. I think that is a piece that we missed last year at times, that is the biggest thing that is exciting about what we are doing.”
