We’re approaching New Year’s and everyone is putting together their best of lists to recap 2020. We’re going to do this a little bit differently this year as we look back at the year that was in Flames Athletics based upon some of our favorite and top stories from the prior 12 months. We’ll do this month by month so we can relive these moments as they happened.
JANUARY
The Liberty football team had just concluded the 2019 campaign where the Flames finished 8-5 after advancing to and winning the program’s first ever bowl game. On the heels of the season, questions began to arise about Hugh Freeze and other job possibilities. He was mentioned in the Baylor and Mississippi State head coaching searches, but ultimately he said it would be very difficult to consider leaving Liberty “at this time.”
Basketball was heating up as the Flames began seeking a second straight ASUN title. We asked the question, Can Liberty be the Gonzaga of the East? We also discussed Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz developing from one scholarship offer into the program’s winningest player.
The ASUN also unveiled a bold initiative to expand to 20 teams and create a new conference.
FEBRUARY
Liberty hauled in its best ever recruiting class with the finalization of the 2020 recruiting class. The Flames also added Alex Barbir to the roster after Alex Probert transferred.
Freeze added SJ Tuohy to the football staff and Paul Finebaum continued to talk about Freeze and other jobs as he said Freeze could be Alabama’s next offensive coordinator.
Liberty great Peter Aluma passed away at the age of 46.
MARCH
Liberty won its second straight ASUN Tournament before the 2020 NCAA Tournament was canceled over the COVID pandemic.
The Flames added grad transfer Chris Parker to the basketball roster and Brendan Newton transferred to Trevecca Nazarene.
APRIL
Our attention turned to the NFL Draft and then the undrafted free agents. Gandy-Golden was selected by the Redskins in the 4th round while several others signed as UDFAs.
MAY
We discussed if Liberty would accept an invitation to the Conference USA if it was on the table and if Liberty Arena is too small.
AGG tested positive for COVID.
We also began to look at some Top 5 lists beginning with the top 5 RBs and top 5 WRs of all time at Liberty.
JUNE
The diving platform at Liberty’s natatorium collapsed.
Tayvion Land and Kei’Trel Clark each announced they were transferring as did QB Brandon Robinson.
We conducted our top 50 ranking of all Liberty football’s all time greats.
JULY
Liberty’s football players received their Cure Bowl rings from the 2019 championship.
2020 football scheduling began to crank up as COVID waged war on the season. Jerry Falwell, Jr said the 2020 schedule would be much different than what was originally scheduled. The first domino fell as the game against North Carolina A&T was officially canceled.
AUGUST
Turner Gill and Kelvin Edwards returned to Liberty in diversity roles.
The revised 2020 football schedule was announced as Williams Stadium’s capacity was set to 1,000 for the season.
SEPTEMBER
The Flames began the 2020 season as Malik Willis dazzled in his debut at Western Kentucky. He then exited the 2nd game against FIU with an elbow injury which forced him to miss the North Alabama game.
AGG officially made the Washington Football Team’s roster.
Freeze’s alma mater, Southern Miss, had a job opening, but we knew he wouldn’t take that job.
OCTOBER
Malik Willis launched his Heisman campaign with a 7 touchdown performance.
Freeze’s name continued to heat up, but he said there are very few jobs that would interest him to leave Liberty.
Khristian Zachary became the highest rated recruit to pledge to Liberty in school history as the Flames began to rise in the others receiving votes category of top 25 polls.
NOVEMBER
Freeze said Liberty would accept an invitation to the ACC if one was offered ahead of the team’s win over Virginia Tech. After which, Liberty and Hugh Freeze agreed to a contract extension through 2026.
Liberty’s unbeaten record came to an end at NC State.
DECEMBER
Freeze said no other job has made his heart flutter more than staying on the Mountain in Lynchburg.
The Flames’ game against Coastal was canceled after Malik Willis and other players and staff members tested positive for COVID.
The Flames accepted a bid to the Cure Bowl to take on Coastal Carolina, and then Liberty spoiled the Chanticleers’ unbeaten record in primetime on ESPN.
