8+ win seasons
Liberty football has already won eight games this season with at least three, and more than likely four, games remaining on the schedule. This season will certainly go down as the best Liberty football team of all time, and this year’s Flames is getting close to matching that up with the best record in program history.
This is only the 12th year in school history where Liberty has won at least eight games in a season. In 1988, 1995, 2007, 2009, and 2019, Liberty finished 8-3. In 2013, the Flames finished 8-4 under Turner Gill, and just last season LU was 8-5 in Hugh Freeze’s first season in Lynchburg.
Liberty has finished with nine wins on three occasions. In 1979, the Flames were 9-1-1 under Tom Dowling. In 1997, Liberty finished 9-2 under Sam Rutigliano, and in 2014 the Flames finished 9-5 when Gill led the program to its first ever FCS Playoff run. The 2008 season was the only time Liberty has finished with more than nine wins in a campaign when the Danny Rocco led squad finished 10-2.
Freeze has already joined Sam Rutigliano, Danny Rocco, and Turner Gill as the only Liberty coaches to have multiple eight (or more) win seasons. Rocco is the only Liberty coach to do so more than twice, as four of his six seasons at Liberty reached the eight win mark.
Liberty S Tim Kidd-Glass
Kidd-Glass facing his former team
Liberty safety Tim Kidd-Glass will be facing a familiar foe on Saturday in Raleigh. He began his career at NC State where he played in 25 career games over three seasons, recording 68 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, and 2 forced fumbles. Just prior to the 2019 season, he made the decision to transfer to Liberty. He was forced to sit out last year due to NCAA transfer requirements, and he missed the first six games of this season due to an injury. Kidd-Glass made his Liberty debut at Virginia Tech and has recorded 3 tackles over the past two weeks as a reserve safety.
“That will probably be something I talk to him about just to make sure his mindset is right and it’s all about us and not where you used to play, or who you know or who you don’t know or whatever could go on in that situation,” Freeze said about Kidd-Glass. “That really has nothing to do with the outcome of this game. He’s getting better. He’s still rusty, still doesn’t move quite as well as he probably can, but it’s good to have him. He’s added additional depth there and we certainly need him.”
Kidd-Glass had similar thoughts. “We have one goal and that’s to go out there and win. That’s the focus of the team. It’s not about me, it’s about this team going in there and taking care of business. There’s going to be emotions, but that’s not why we’re there. We’re there to take care of business and focus on each other and focus on our team.”
Another week, another watch list for Willis
In what is becoming a weekly occurrence, Liberty quarterback Malik Willis was added to another national award watch list, this week the Maxwell Award. The Maxwell Award is presented to the outstanding collegiate football player in America. Last year, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow won the award. Semifinalists will be announced on Monday, November 30 and three finalists will be announced on Tuesday, December 8.
Earlier this year, Willis was added to the 2020 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award watch list as well as the College Football Performance Awards National Performer of the Year watch list.
The Liberty quarterback currently ranks No. 7 in the country in points responsible for, No. 10 in rushing yards per carry, No. 11 in total offense per game, No. 12 in rushing touchdowns, and No. 16 in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Willis has completed 122 of 180 passing attempts for 1,645 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has 120 consecutive passing attempts without an interception.
Injury report
The Flames are fairly healthy again this week. LB Anthony Butler was hobbling on the field at the end of last week’s game against Western Carolina. Hugh Freeze said this injury was because he was celebrating with a teammate, but he is expected to be fine this week. Tight ends Michael Bollinger and Brayden Monday have missed the past two games, but they are back this week. Tight end Mason Yost is doubtful. WR Jaivian Lofton is questionable.
“Jaivian is questionable,” Freeze said on Thursday. “Still maybe a week away, but he has practiced. We just think there are others who are probably more healthy in front of him currently. So, we will probably try to rest him again if possible, but he could go if needed to.”
