I hate to say I told you so. Wait, no I don’t. Let’s be honest, I love it. All season long, throughout the struggles and triumphs Jon and I have talked about how this team is different. There is a different level of focus and a different level of confidence among the players and the coaching staff. There can be no doubt now, Liberty Football has turned the corner.
Has there been a better 10 days in Liberty Football history? Of course not. Two weeks ago I asked Flames Nation to take a deep breath. The Flames were coming off an embarrassing loss to Charleston Southern, with a Redshirt Freshman QB thrust into a starting role with very little notice. The guys had a chance to do something against Coastal that no Liberty team had been given the opportunity to do, and they succeeded in dramatic fashion. The #1 team in the nation went down in their own stadium, and Liberty was going to the playoffs for the first time in program history.
Then reality set in. Not only did the Flames not get the home game fans and administration expected, they had to travel to the hottest team in the country, and CAA arch-nemesis James Madison. Not many gave Liberty a chance. It was JMU. The Flames had not beaten their in-state rival since 1992. The Dukes had been thumping everyone in their way as of late, winning seven games in a row in convincing fashion. This season had been a success though. Liberty had finally made the playoffs.
Turner Gill and company weren’t done though. Led by an impressive defensive effort, the Flames pulled out an epic win in Harrisonburg. Josh Woodrum’s offense chewed up 11 minutes of clock in the game winning touchdown drive. The defense stood strong to finish it off. This Liberty team is different. You can see it in their eyes. They believe. And now they are heading to Philadelphia to face the #6 seeded Villanova Wildcats. Think they can pull another upset on the road? I do.
This is a new era for Liberty Football, regardless of what happens Saturday. No more “typical Liberty” comments please. These Liberty Flames are winners. So pack up the buses and cars Saturday and make the trip to see these guys take the field. Make their stadium ours. Help make it another special day for Liberty University. Turner Gill has earned all of our support, so let’s show our appreciation and cheer these guys to the quarterfinals. The Season of Redemption continues…
