LIBERTY’S HURRICANE RESPONSE

Liberty’s game at Appalachian State obviously got cancelled due to the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene. Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell addressed the impacts of the hurricane in his opening comments of his weekly press conference

“A lot of that happened where we were playing, in East Tennessee where I went to school,” Chadwell said. “There was a lot of friends that I went to school with that were affected by that. We are praying for that as a team. Some of our players, whether they were directly impacted because of where they are from or they have friends and families that were.”

“It’s a challenging time and a devastating time for that community,” Chadwell continued. “But, one thing you know about the people there, they’re resilient. You’re seeing stories about how people were rescuing different things and just what they’re doing for others. It’s pretty inspiring.”

“Maybe it makes you put in perspective that you still get to do a game. Everybody makes it serious, but that’s real life, what they’re doing and what they’re dealing with. I’ve been proud of the guys and what they’ve been doing, as far as from a prayer standpoint, from organizing different things to sending money/supplies down there to different areas of need.”

The Liberty football team’s Unity Council has been organizing some relief efforts by position group. The Flames are raising money, resources, and supplies to send to areas affected by the storm.

NOT LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO RESCHEDULE A GAME

With the cancellation of the Liberty-Appalachian State football game, the Flames are currently only scheduled for 11 games this regular season. While Liberty would like to get a 12th game on the schedule, the likelihood of that happening is not very high.

“We know that’s going to be challenging,” Chadwell said of getting a 12th game. “What team out there is going to give up a bye date just to play an extra game? That’s not happening, especially versus us. If somebody else had missed a game because of this, maybe that would work out, but I don’t know if anybody else really missed one, at least that’s at our level, because of the hurricane.”

CUSA DOMINANCE

After playing five seasons as an FBS Independent from 2018-22, Liberty joined Conference USA for the 2023 season. The Flames went 8-0 last year in conference play and then defeated New Mexico State in the 2023 CUSA Championship game.

Liberty is already 2-0 this season in conference play and has become the first CUSA team to win their first 10 conference games as a member of CUSA. Overall, Liberty is 20-1 all-time against teams who were members of CUSA at the time of meeting and has won 19 straight. Liberty’s only loss to a CUSA team was a 47-7 setback to North Texas, Sept. 22, 2018 in Lynchburg.

Beginning with Tuesday night’s matchup against FIU, the Flames’ next four contests and six of its final seven will be against CUSA opponents as Liberty fights for its second straight conference title.

INJURY REPORT

Here’s an update on Liberty’s current injury situation:

  • S Brylan Green was going to miss the game at Appalachian State with concussion like symptoms, but with the extra 10 days to recover, he is could return to the field Tuesday night against FIU.

“Brylan is still in protocol right now, so we’re hoping, as long as there’s no setbacks, he’ll have a good shot to play,” Chadwell said.

  • OL JP Flores returned to action against ECU after missing the first three weeks. He spent much of his time at right guard.
  • DT Jay Hardy was injured in the first quarter at New Mexico State. Coach Chadwell said he is expected to miss approximately 4-6 weeks which would put him at potentially returning for the FIU or Kennesaw State game in October. He did suit against ECU but did not see game action.

“Jay (Hardy), I would say no right now, just because with the injury, you also gotta think, we don’t play again till October 23,” said Chadwell”

  • WR Juju Gray is week to week. He did not play the first four weeks. Chadwell says he is out for this week’s contest against FIU.
  • WR Donte Lee, who is a new name to the injury report, is currently questionable to play against FIU with an undisclosed injury.
  • CB Marquis Bell is out with an injury suffered at NMSU.
  • WR Darius Copeland will miss the rest of the season with a lower body injury.
  • WR Victor Jones continues to be out.

“If somebody’s not completely healthy, maybe, let’s say they’re 80%, hold off, and then hopefully they’re 100 by that next one (October 23 at Kennesaw State),” Chadwell stated. “So that’s what we’re in the process of now with some of those guys. If some can come back completely healthy, then they’re playing. If they’re still not where they need to be, then you got an additional, two weeks to hopefully get them healthy.”