Fan the Flames Preview Pt 8: 2010 Season Outlook

Its game week...finally...so in the immortal words of Hank Williams Jr...ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?!?

Let's take a look at the 2010 schedule and my predictions for every game:

Sept. 4 St Francis (PA)

For the first time since 1989, the Liberty Flames open their season someplace other than Williams Stadium as they welcome the Red Flash to Lynchburg City Stadium while the first phase of renovations at Williams Stadium are still being completed.

This is the first of two games for Liberty against the Northeast Conference, which like the Big South gets an automatic qualifier to the FCS playoffs. The last meeting between Liberty and St Francis was about as one sided as the Randy Couture-James Toney fight over the weekend as the Flames rolled to their highest score of the season and won 68-10. The Red Flash debut their new head coach Chris Villarial with this game, and look for the flames to be less than welcoming to the former pro. Flames 72-0

Sept. 11 @ Ball State

The Flames play an FBS opponent for the second consecutive season when the Flames travel to Muncie, IN and face the Cardinals from the MAC. Ball State was the toast of college football two seasons ago as Nate Davis and MiQuale Lewis led them to a 12-0 regular season. Davis has moved on to the NFL, but Lewis is back and hoping to make a name for himself for NFL scouts this season. LU has proven to be a tough out for FBS programs in the last few seasons, losing by one to MAC compatriot Toledo in 2007, losing by 13 to West Virginia to open last season. That game proved to be QB Mike Brown's coming out party as he had two TDs and over 200 yards of offense. LU has not defeated an FBS opponent since 1989 when they defeated another MAC program, Eastern Michigan. I think the Flames get the upset here. Flames 35-24

Sept. 18 @ Robert Morris
This is the second in a three game road swing for LU as they head up to just outside Pittsburgh for their second matchup with an NEC foe as they take on the Colonials. LU's last trip to PA proved fruitful as they knocked off Lafayette College in Easton and Mike Brown passed for over 240 yards. RMU is definitely on the upswing, finishing 5-6 a year ago, winning their last five games of the season after losing 6 in a row. Liberty doesnt want to overlook this game because they play their biggest game of the year the next week. Danny Rocco will have hte boys focused for this one and the Flames will light up the Colonials and set the stage for an epic matchup in Harrisonburg. Flames 31-17


Sept. 25 @ James Madison

This is the game that Flames fans (and no doubt players) had circled on the calendar since the schedule was released. Last year, in a monsoon, the Dukes escaped with a 24-10 victory, handing the Flames only their second home loss in three seasons (the other coming to Lafayette in 2008). Liberty probably needs this game to really cement themselves as an upper echelon program in FCS. JMU following the win over Liberty took a turn in the absolute wrong direction, losing four games in a row before finishing on a four game winning streak. This one will be a barnburner but the Dukes eke out a win Dukes 27-24

Oct. 2 Savannah State

The Flames finally get to rechristen Williams Stadium and welcome a team that...well...to say they are in turmoil would be I think a bit too nice...Liberty wins...big. I wont say the Flames score 80 here but I would not be surprised if they did. Flames 52-0

Oct. 9 Charleson Southern (Homecoming)

Its homecoming weekend on the mountain and the Flames kick off the quest for the first Big South AQ by welcoming the Buccaneers. CSU has certainly improved a lot since Jay Mills took over, but one thing has remained somewhat constant...they cant beat the Flames. The best chance they had was in 2009 but Mike Brown tossed a late TD pass and LU escaped with a 20-13 decision. Last time LU hosted CSU it was homecoming...and the Bucs were sunk 42-0. LU wont win that big, but I expect a solid win here. Flames 28-17

Oct. 16 @ VMI

The Keydets decided to do some major overhauling, scrapping the triple option offense that led teh nation in rushing and switching to a more pro-style game. VMI has not stayed within single digits of the Flames since a 10-7 win in 2005 (including getting destroyed 73-34 and 54-14 in their last two trips to Lynchburg. VMI has never beaten the Flames in Lexington ( the 2005 win is their only one in the series) and I dont expect this year to be any different. Flames 31-7


Oct. 30 @ Presbyterian

Flames fans remember the last trip to Clinton so Im not going to rehash that one, but LU has proven very good at exacting revenge and I expect justice to be served. Flames 41-0

Nov. 6 Gardner-Webb

This game is of personal significance because Nov 6 is my sister's 27th birthday. Gardner-Webb has been run out of town the last two meetings (including a 51-28 shellacking in Boiling Springs last year). The Runnin Bulldogs have a tendency to crawl into the finish and with a three game stretch: home vs Coastal, away @ Stony Brook AND LU, that isnt conducive to a strong finishing kick either. LU wins this one Flames 42-21

Nov. 13. @ Coastal Carolina

Myrtle Beach had proved to be a Bermuda Triangle of sorts for the Flames as they lost both previous trips, but they finally broke through in a big way, taking an old West shootout 43-38. Coastal has been going in the wrong direction since winning three Big South titles (sharing with CSU in 2005). Coach David Bennett has to be on the hot seat with the Chants struggles in recent years (including getting mowed down by LU 55-19 last season). The Chants always seem to play well under the lights at Brooks Stadium so I expect another close game but the Flames set up a winner take all game next week. Flames 35-31

Nov. 20 Stony Brook

this is the game of the year in the Big South IMO. this is the third meeting between the two (second as conference foes and both know that this probably will be the ONLY way to make it into the playoffs. Stony Brook had a dramatic late TD to steal a win from the Flames in NY last year, but LU shellacked the Seawolves in their only trip to Lynchburg. I expect a matchup with the intensity of a heavyweight fight in the 1980s with both teanms leaving everything on the field. The Flames cap off their fourth straight (and third outright) Big South title in style with a payback win Flames 42-36

Fan the Flames Preview Pt. 7: DB

TIme for the last position preview before my annual season predictions.

Players Lost

Chuck Duffey
Chris Rocco (Second Team All Big South)
Tim Torrence

Players Returning

Donald Manns
Kevin Fogg
Brandon Robinson
Thomas Nelson
DJ Edmond
Larry Claiborne
Chris Mayo
Chris McAlister
KaJuan Lee (First Team All Big South)
Ron Hobby
Sorie Bayoh

Players Incoming

Randy Spann 5'11" 205 Lbs Glen Burnie Md (Old Mill HS)
Jacob Hagen 6'3" 195 Lbs Orange Park, FL (Orange Park HS)
Kenny Scott 5'10" 165 Lbs Appomattox, VA (Appomattox HS)

This is probably the position with the lowest turnover of any position on the roster with only three players gone from last year...on the downside though, the passing defense was what bit the Flames when it mattered most against Stony Brook. with with a few changes to the defense they are hoping to keep something like that from happening again. Donald Manns is looking to go out with a bang after dealing with injuries in the middle part of his career and Lee looks to continue his rise from running back also-ran to elite corner in the Big South

Fan the Flames Preview Pt. 6: LB

After taking a brief hiatus we are going to jump back in as we are just over a week to go until the season opener at City Stadium. Today and Saturday we will look at the last two positions. Today its the LBs:

Players Lost:

Wes Cheek
Ian Childress
Cameron Gillespie

Players Returning:

Mike Connolly
Demetrius Ward
Doncel Bolt
Chad Brown
Kyle O'Donnell
Marques Jenkins
Brent Vinson
Danny Broggin (converted from RB)

Players Incoming:

Matthew Baptiste 6'0" 215 Lbs Virginia Beach, VA (Ocean Lakes HS)
Scott Hyland 6'1" 220 Lbs Forest, VA (Liberty Christian Academy)
Nick Sigmon 6'2" 240 Lbs Roanoke, VA (Northside HS)

A linebacker has led the defense in tackles the last seven years. Expect more of the same this year, and lok for Brent Vinson to be more of a playmaker from the new "adjuster" position in the Flames defense as they switch to a 3-3-5 this year.

Fan the Flames Preview: DL

Only 23 days til the 2010 opener for the three time champion Liberty Flames, and this week we take a look at the other side of the trenches with the Defensive Line


Players Lost:

Trey Jacobs (First team All Big South)

Players Returning:

Darryl Robertson
Asa Chapman (Second team All Big South)
Patrick Bannon
Paco Varol
Justin Gunn
Greg Schuster
Bryant Llewellyn
Tim Smith
Terry Adams
Cody Freeman

Players Incoming:

Dylan Bowman 6-3 240 Lbs Ocean Isle Beach, NC
Matt Stokes 6-2 250 Lbs Ft Lauderdale, FL

The big boys up front are led by all conference selections Chapman (who Ive met and I seriously think he could snap me in half on his worst day) and UVa transfer Robertson but a guy who has really come on as the years progressed has been Terry Adams. He is an early choice at starter on the other end opposite Pat Bannon(who converted from LB to end in 2009). look for former walk-on Llewellyn to push Schuster for the backup NG role behind "Big Asa" and expect Robertson to get plenty of chances to get on the field and raise some hell in backfields this year.

Fan the Flames Preview: OL

Now we are getting to teh big boys in our next two posts...the young men battling in the trenches...this week...the OL

Players Lost:

Tim Hartman
Bryan Mosier (first team All-Big South)
Josh Weaver (first team All-Big South)
Mario Cosby (second team All-Big South)

Players Returning:

Alex Stadler (second team All-Big South)
Justin Vargas
Stan Herring
Malcolm Boyd
Toney White
Matt Camire
Aaron Lundy
Jay Weatherington
Soeren Wendland
Aaron Brown
Matthew Brink
Jeremiah Williams

Players Incoming:

Andre Mondor 6-4 320 Lbs Tampa, FL
Greg Ray 6-4 300 Lbs Pearisburg, VA


Its tough when you lose three all conference linemen to graduation like Liberty did but there are plenty of young men chomping at the bit. Thanks to Chris Lang (beat writer for LU with the Lynchburg News and Advance) I was able to piece together what the starting five up front looks like going into practice (which starts today):

LT Justin Vargas
LG Malcolm Boyd
C Matt Camire
RG Alex Stadler
RT Soeren Wendland

Vargas and Stadler spent the spring and summer recovering from injuries but sounds to me like they are good to go for the season so there will be a ton of experience up front plowing holes for the RBs and for Mike Brown. There is word of an incoming transfer but its not known by this writer if he will be able to play this fall but soon as I hear word I will pass it along.