55 minutes and 38 seconds. That is how long the Liberty Flames played outstanding football against a top notch opponent. That is how long the Flames’ defense played to its potential in a hostile, sold out Foreman Field. There was so much focus. There was so much intensity on the sideline. This was the game everything was going to change. This was goal line stand after goal line stand. This was two clutch interceptions in the end zone. This was big time football. Then, this was collapse.
You know the storyline well. Liberty has not been a team that has fared well in close out of conference games in recent years. The Flames are 2-10 in non-conference contests decided by less than 10 points since 2010. In an odd dichotomy, one of those wins was against Division 2 Concord last season, and the other against FBS Ball State. In case that didn’t add up for you, that means Liberty has exactly zero FCS wins in close games outside of the Big South over the past four seasons.
With the game on the line, Liberty folded (photo from hamptonroads.com)
This one seems worse than usual though. Maybe it is because the Flames were so close to putting this one away. Playing the what-if game after a loss is always tenuous. However, there were two drop dead, can’t miss chances to close this contest out in those last few minutes at Foreman Field. 3rd and 5, with a little over 90 seconds remaining, Josh Woodrum failed to hit Darrin Peterson for a first down that would have enabled the Flames to go into victory formation. Peterson was tightly covered, but a well targeted pass would have given the wide out a good chance to make the play. Unfortunately though, the pass missed and Liberty was forced to punt the ball to ODU’s high tempo offense with plenty of time to move down field for the game winning score. The second came on 2nd and 2, from the ODU 48 on what proved to be the game winning drive. Reserve DB Chris Robinson jumped WR Antonio Vaughan’s route perfectly, but dropped what was a sure game ending interception. The Flames missed three clean interception opportunities on the night, failing to add to Kenny Scott’s two key plays. ODU Quarterback Taylor Heinicke even joked “I should have had about 5 picks…but that’s why they play defense not offense,” referring to DB’s not catching the ball.
As fans, we feel a heartbreak that is just as real as what is felt by players in a loss like that. However, standing on the sidelines during that game, it is obvious that what those guys were going through is different. There was so much positive emotion, and so much intensity from the players and coaches during the game. Watching their faces as you could feel the momentum change was torturous. Liberty’s players and coaches may not admit it, but they felt the pressure of the moment, and you could see the weight of what the Flames have not been able to do in their expressions. You could see it when Turner Gill sat down in front of the microphone after the loss and struggled for words. You could even see it on the face of Athletic Director Jeff Barber after Woodrum failed to complete that 3rd and 5 with 1:30 to go. After years of big budgets and small results, this program is feeling the pressure to win.
I feel like I’ve written this column before. The good news is of course that Liberty can still sweep the Big South and make the playoffs for the first time. The bad news is that they won’t have the opportunity for another head turning, culture changing win this season unless they do make the FCS playoffs. If the Flames show the sort of intensity and discipline they showed for 55 minutes and 38 seconds this past Saturday, there is no reason that opportunity won’t come around this year. However, for that to happen Liberty’s players and coaches have to believe they can be bigger than the pressure of the moment. That all starts Homecoming weekend against the #6 team in the country.
Good analysis. Honest and accurate.
Let’s hope that the painful experiences in the football wilderness will motivate them all the more to play 60 minutes of textbook football and achieve enough success to reach their goal of earning an invitation to a FBS conference. Football is just one of twenty sports at LU, but it is the marquee sport for the NCAA and it’s biggest moneymaker. Fans should not expect an invitation coming soon until the football team becomes a consistent winner on the FCS’ bigger stages.
2013 was setting up quite nicely for them. Wins against Richmond, ODU, Coastal, and GW, combined with a playoff appearance, might have been enough to put them first in line to receive a FBS bid. Of course, there’s still a chance they receive the call that they have been waiting for but with each heart-breaking loss the chances of doing so seem to be diminishing.