MIDWEEK ON THE MOUNTAIN

Thursday night against Sam Houston begins a stretch of four straight games for Liberty being played on the midweek. As has been widely reported back in the summer, Conference USA went to a midweek October football schedule to enhance the exposure the teams would get.

For example, on Wednesday and Thursday night this week, there are only four FBS games in the country and all four of them are CUSA games. If anyone is watching college football these nights, they will be watching CUSA football which leads to incredible exposure rather than being one of 50 or more football games on a Saturday.

“Actually excited about (midweek games),” said Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell. “Obviously, it is unique to play on Thursdays and Tuesdays, but to have that opportunity to be able to be on television, get your brand out, showcase your players, showcase your university, I think is a positive. If you have to play it any day, I think it’s great to be on TV because players want to do that.”

Following Liberty’s game at Williams Stadium on Thursday night against Sam Houston which will be televised on CBS Sports Network, the Flames will play three straight Tuesday night games, alternating home and away. This leads to a quick turnaround this coming week with the Flames playing at Jacksonville State just five days after facing Sam Houston.

Liberty will have two home games during the midweek games in October, playing Sam Houston on Oct. 5 and Middle Tennessee on Oct. 17. Liberty Athletics has dubbed these games as Midweek on the Mountain.

BENTLEY HANSHAW MAKING BIG IMPACT

We’ve seen Liberty tight end Bentley Hanshaw make a much larger impact on the field this season through four games. He transferred to the Flames from BYU a year ago and had 6 receptions for 117 yards and 1 touchdown in his first season at Liberty.

This season, Hanshaw has nearly surpassed all of those numbers in the pass game already. He has more receptions (8) and touchdowns (3) in four games than he did all of last season. He’s sure to pass his receiving totals from a season ago any game now, as he has 105 so far through the air.

In addition to his play in the receiving game, Hanshaw has also stepped up as a blocker and a leader on the field.

“Obviously, you can see the catches he makes,” said Chadwell of Hanshaw. “He does a nice job there. In the time that we’ve been here, I feel like he’s really committed himself to being a true tight end. A tight end is an O-Lineman and he’s a pass catcher. Sometimes you get all pass catcher and sometimes you get some guys that can run and can’t catch a cold. He is very well rounded, but he’s committed himself to being a good blocker. When you have that commitment to doing that and it shows from the way he plays. He plays physical, he plays aggressive, and then, obviously, when he gets fed in the passing game it makes him happy. They all want to catch it, but we are very pleased with the way he’s blocking and what he does there because that opens up his passing opportunities.”

INJURY REPORT

Other than the long term injuries a few Liberty players have had, the Flames seem to be getting close to full strength. Kendy Charles is back in the lineup and, after being limited some at FIU before the open date, he should be a full go and ready to start this week against Sam Houston.

Chris Boti, who filled in as a starter on the defensive line while Charles was out the first three weeks, missed the FIU game with an illness. He is expected to be out again this week.