Fan the Flames Beat Writer Interview: Stephen Bailey (Syracuse)

After a long hiatus, Fan the Flames is back and better than ever as the Liberty Flames enter into their first full season at the FBS level.

The Flames get a big test for their opener this year as they welcome the #22 ranked Syracuse Orange as the first-ever P5 program to come into Williams Stadium, and I had a chance to talk to Stephen Bailey, Syracuse writer for Syracuse.com You can follow him on Twitter @stephen_bailey1

Fan the Flames: Syracuse is coming off one of the best seasons in recent memory for football and comes into this matchup ranked for the first time since 2001 when Paul Pasqualoni was head coach. What is the mood and mindset like around Syracuse in Dino Babers' 4th season?
Stephen Bailey: Syracuse enters 2019 extremely confident. Coming off the school’s first 10-win season since 2001, the Orange returns talent and experience at most position groups. It also faces its softest schedule since joining the ACC. Internally, this is a group that was almost entirely recruited by Babers. The whole coaching staff from a year ago is back. Continuity in scheme and culture has been established.
FTF: The Orange lost probably one of the best quarterbacks in their recent history with the graduation of Eric Dungey. What is the feeling around his replacement Tommy Devito?
SB: It’s funny. It really doesn’t feel like a quarterback transition is going on. Part of that is because DeVito stepped in last year and pushed Dungey for his starting job. As a redshirt freshman, DeVito flashed his top-end arm talent in victories over North Carolina (2OT) and Florida State. I think those shared winning experiences are what has led the team to embrace him so easily. There’s no shortage of confidence in that regard. It will be interesting to see how Syracuse utilizes DeVito’s arm and the versatility it returns at running back and tight end as the season goes on.
FTF:  This is the first trip for the Orange to Lynchburg and the first G5 road game for Syracuse since 2016. What is the attitude of the team heading into this game? Is there confidence bordering on overconfidence or is it a more businesslike approach?
SB: Babers has made it clear that he respects Hugh Freeze as a coach and that he does not want his team to take the game lightly. The hardest part for the Orange is preparing for an opponent that doesn’t have any game film. Add on to that the unclear status of Malik Willis and I think SU’s players are heeding their coach’s warning. While a bit of overconfidence is possible, I think this Syracuse team is just too good and too hungry to get trapped on Saturday.
FTF: Syracuse finished with 10 wins last year, the most wins since 2001. The next season the Orange finished 4-8 and did not garner another winning season until 2010. What will Syracuse need to do to prevent another letdown similar to that?
SB: Basically, keep DeVito upright. With loaded position groups at running back, defensive line, secondary and special teams, the floor for this team is probably around five or six wins barring catastrophe. While the team may have overachieved last year, there’s no denying the progress Babers has made in building a stronger, faster and deeper roster. Another 10-win season would be exceeding expectations, but not be a crazy margin.
FTF: Syracuse travels to Maryland the next week after leaving Lynchburg. How important is it for them to not be caught "looking ahead" to that game or the week 3 showdown in the Carrier Dome with defending CFP National Champion Clemson?
SB: I think that’s a  Week 2 storyline. Babers and his staff have been preaching the one-game-at-a-time mindset at every opportunity. But players know what the Clemson game means – there’s no shaking that. I don’t think Syracuse is looking two weeks down the line to the extent that the team will come out flat in Lynchburg. In College Park? Now that’s a scenario I could see unfolding.

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Fan the Flames Beat Writer Interview: Damien Sordelett (Liberty Bye Week)

As we pass the halfway point of the 2017 season and Liberty prepares to begin its final season of Big South football I thought I'd take a minute and talk about the first half and who better to ask than the man who has followed them the whole way, Damien Sordelett of the Lynchburg News and Advance (a paper I wrote for as  a freelance writer from 2009-2012):

Fan the Flames: What have been the biggest positives and negatives that you've seen in the Flames so far this year?

Damien Sordelett: The biggest positive is undoubtedly the season-opening victory at Baylor. It is a program-defining victory that thrust the football program into national prominence and, in a way, verified the program was prepared to play against the big boys of college football in the Bowl Subdivision. That game was big for the program to establish itself in front of a national audience.

The biggest negative has to be inconsistencies on both sides of the ball. For three weeks the offense was in rhythm and the defense had difficulties preventing big plays and getting off the field. The roles have been reversed in the past two weeks with opposing defenses figuring out how to stymie the Flames offense, and the Liberty defense making adjustments to limit big plays and contain the running game.
FTF: If you had to name an MVP for the first half, who would it be and why?
DS: Buckshot Calvert. He and Monmouth quarterback Kenji Bahar are the two front-runners for Big South Conference offensive player of the year honors. The two are ranked first and second in total offense per game and the only ones averaging more than 200 yards per game. Even though Calvert has had back-to-back subpar performances, he still has thrown 14 touchdown passes, completed more than 60 percent of his passes and been a big reason why the Flames had so much success offensively through the first three weeks.
FTF: Who has surprised you the most?
DS: The biggest surprise player so far this season is cornerback Jeremy Peters. The coaching staff raved about his toughness, ability to cover any type of receiver and leadership. The hamstring injury he suffered in last season’s opener at Virginia Tech really prevented us from seeing what he could do on a weekly basis. His performance at Baylor and the subsequent games have really established him as one of, if not, the best cornerbacks on the roster with his sure tackling, physical nature and ability to take away half of the field. His emergence has given the team a cornerback opposite of Chris Turner so the safeties and linebackers can focus more on stopping the run game. 
FTF: What do the Flames need to work on to prevent "mental autopilot" in the second half of the year and prevent results like the loss to St. Francis last week?
DS: Play with a sense of urgency. There was no urgency shown in the first half against the Red Flash, at least not the type shown against Baylor, Morehead State, Indiana State and Jacksonville State. The team can’t assume it will win just by showing up against an inferior team with fewer scholarships. That resonated the most after getting a chance to rewatch the game against St. Francis. Ideally, the Flames need to come out offensively like they did against Morehead State and look to score early and put the dagger in after 15 minutes. The defense also came out with the same urgency against the Eagles and forced three-and-outs.
FTF: How has Stephen Calvert grown in your view from last year when he became the starter in midseason to this as the full-time #1?
DS: Calvert is more comfortable in his decision making. There are times when he wants to extend plays and make something out of nothing, and that comes with being a sophomore and still being young in the offensive scheme. He has some tendencies that still need to be ironed out from that perspective -- looking to extend plays by a second or two when throwing the ball out of bounds will prevent him from taking a big hit the biggest tendency needed to be corrected -- and the bye week will serve as the best opportunity to watch film and see where he can improve. Calvert has more command of the offense and you can tell his receivers, running backs and linemen have the trust in him to make the right decisions. 
FTF: This has been a topic of significant debate on the message boards, but with the back to back losses, do you think that Coach Gill's job is on the line these last 6 games?
DS: Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. publicly said last December that he wanted to give Gill and athletics director Ian McCaw one season together. McCaw told me during the summer that everyone associated with athletics -- administrators, coaches, players, everyone -- had to step up and perform better in every aspect with the move to the FBS. You’ve got to imagine Gill’s job status is under a microscope because performing at the same level as the previous two seasons will not cut it when competing against FBS programs. The next six weeks can be very telling to what direction this program goes heading into 2018. If the Flames reel off six straight victories and show continual improvement, then I feel Gill’s job should be secured. However, if the Flames have uneven performances and lose a game or two, then I imagine there will be a lengthy conversation to discuss the future of the program. 
FTF: To wrap on an up note, what has been your favorite moment of the first five games?
DS: The Baylor game, for sure. It wasn’t the game entirely. McLane Stadium is the nicest stadium I have been to, period, and I had an opportunity to tour the stadium with Todd Patulski, Mickey Guridy and Dan Deter from Liberty before kickoff to see everything that went into the building of the $266-million facility. It is truly top-notch and something they have in mind for what Williams Stadium could look like in the next couple of seasons. There won’t be all the bells and whistles of McLane and Williams with the current infrastructure limiting what can be done, but there are elements that can be implemented to make the experience of being at Williams Stadium that much better for everyone involved. The game itself was a unique experience with seeing how it unfolded. There was a moment when Baylor took a lead late in the third quarter, and normally that would lead to blowout losses in the past. But this game was different in seeing the offense still methodically move the ball and find the end zone in a performance that turned into a typical Big 12 showdown.

Fan the Flames Beat Writer Interview: Jake Oswalt (St. Francis (PA))

This week I had a chat with Jake Oswalt from Mainline Sports as we get set for Saturday's matchup
Fan the Flames: What has it meant to see Coach Villarial take St. Francis from where they were 8 seasons ago to the FCS playoffs? What changes have you most noticed from the program as he has been at the helm?
Jake Oswalt: Chris Villarrial has engineered one of the most impressive
turnarounds in all of FCS football. SFU was one of the worst programs
that failed to produce a winning record from 1993 until the 2015
season. Having been from the Loretto area, there is a clear
night-and-day difference under Villarrial's guidance. The entire
culture has changed. The team expects to win Northeast Conference
titles now, instead of hoping to have a winning record.
To illustrate the program's ascension, SFU went 12-81 (.129 winning
percentage) in NEC play from 1996-2009. After going 2-14 in
Villarrial's first two years in conference play, the Red Flash have
gone 17-13 over the last five years in the NEC. SFU won its first NEC
title last year and earned its first FCS Playoff bid.
Villarrial and his staff has dramatically increased the talent level.
This year, San Francisco 49ers safety Lorenzo Jerome became the first
player from Saint Francis to play in the NFL since 1952. The program
is built on physicality on both sides of the ball. The administration
has invested in providing better facilities, while this coaching staff
has implemented creative schemes to stay among the NEC's elite. Over
the last few years, Saint Francis has been able to compete with teams
in the top FCS conferences, yet they are still searching for a
program-defining victory.

FTF: What is the mindset of the team as they make the trip to Lynchburg before the bulk of NEC play begins?
JO: This Saint Francis team will be unphased coming into Liberty. SFU
has played in road games at Albany, Fordham, James Madison, Montana,
Towson, Villanova and Youngstown State since 2014 and remained
competitive in those games. The Red Flash have no problem playing the
underdog role. SFU will be looking to get back in the win column after
losing on a last-second field goal to Towson at home on Sept. 16.
After a bye week, I'm sure the players have that loss on the back of
their minds.
FTF: Who is the player we need to most watch out for from the Red Flash on Saturday night?
JO: Keep your eyes on wide receiver Kamron Lewis. The junior is a
highlight-reel waiting to happen. Lewis was named as the NEC Offensive
Player of the Year after hauling in 75 passes for 1,478 yards and 11
touchdowns. Through three games, Lewis has received plenty of
attention but has compiled 17 catches for 264 yards and four
touchdowns. Listed at 6-foot-4, Lewis is a red zone threat. He caught
two touchdowns on fades against Towson.
FTF: What's the matchup that we need to be watching this Saturday night?
JO: The Liberty passing game against SFU's passing defense looks to be
a critical matchup. Liberty averages 359.5 passing yards per game,
while SFU allows 183.3 yards through the air per contest. SFU has a
veteran secondary with three seniors in cornerbacks Malik Duncan and
Jalen Wells and safety Delondo Boyd. Towson's Jabari Greenwood caught
13 passes for 151 yards against SFU on Sept. 16. It looks as though
Liberty's Antonio Gandy-Golden will provide another test as he has 28
catches for 499 yards and four touchdowns.
SFU loves getting after the quarterback with its various blitzes so
providing Stephen Calvert time will be key. SFU has picked off five
passes and recovered five fumbles in three games. Saint Francis has
only allowed one touchdown through three games. Opponents have only
produced one touchdown in 10 red zone trips against SFU's defense.
FTF: What do you think is the key for the Red Flash against the Flames
JO: The key for Saint Francis will be to establish its running game and
keep the crowd out of it. Although Houston transfer Bear Fenimore has
provided steady play at quarterback, SFU wants to have a balanced
offense with an efficient running game. The play-action passing game
has helped Saint Francis win two of its first three games. SFU needs
to stay ahead of schedule offensively to allow its defense time to
rest, as they will face its toughest test as of yet.

Fan the Flames Game #5 Preview: St. Francis (PA)

The Liberty Flames look to get back on the winning track in front of the home crowd on Liberty Athletics Hall of Fame Weekend after suffering the first setback of the 2017 season.

Last week Liberty made only its second trip ever to JSU Stadium to face the #5 Gamecocks. Unfortunately the running game played like it was stuck in concrete and despite Stephen Buckshot Calvert throwing for 285 yards (his 5th 250+ yard performance in 6 games going back to last season), the Flames were snuffed out and suffered a 31-10 setback.

While Jacksonville State offensive leader Roc Thomas was somewhat held in check by the defense, The Gamecocks still were able to make explosive plays including an 80 yard TD in a second quarter that gave JSU the lead for good. Carrington Mosley was the leading rusher with 36 yards on 14 carries. Antonio Gandy-Golden had another eye-popping night finishing with 126 yards on 7 receptions, although BJ Farrow had the only TD on the night, a 65 yarder midway through the third quarter.

There is no rest for the weary though as the Flames welcome their newest members in the university's athletics hall of fame:

St. Francis (PA) 2-1 (1-0 Northeast Conference)

vs.

 #22 Liberty 3-1 (0-0 Independent)

The Saint Francis Red Flash make their first trip inside Williams Stadium since 2007 when they come for the third ever meeting between the two teams. The last two meetings...well...they have not been close, with the Flames outscoring the Red Flash 120-17. This is not the same SFU squad though as 8th year coach Chris Villarrial, a former offensive lineman with the Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills, took the Red Flash to the NEC title and their first ever NCAA playoff bid in 2016, and back to back winning seasons for the first time since 1991-1992. 

The Red Flash are significantly improved, but they feasted on below average teams in the non-conference with wins over a D2 in Lock Haven, followed by a win over a below average Wagner team, before losing by two to Towson from the CAA on a last second field goal. FBS transfer Bear Fenimore, who transferred from Houson of the AAC, has thrown for just south of 800 yards in three games. This will be the best defense that they will face this year in my opinion.

Matchup

Location:Williams Stadium Lynchburg, VA

Series: Third Meeting

Last Meeting: Liberty 52-7 (09/04/2010)

Kickoff: 6:00 PM

Radio: The Journey FM Radio Network/Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play; No known Saint Francis radio

Television: Liberty Flames Sports Network/ESPN 3 Mike Tilley play-by-play

Coaches: Turner Gill (6th Season at Liberty 37-25 Record), Chris Villarrial (8th season at SFU 33-47 Record
Last Week: Liberty l. Jacksonville State 31-10, Saint Francis l. Towson 16-14

Fan the Flames Beat Writer Interview: Joe Medley (Jacksonville State)

THis week is the biggest game of the year for the Liberty Flames down in Jacksonville and who better to talk to than Joe Medley beat writer for the Anniston Star.

Fan the Flames: First and foremost thanks for taking the time to do this with me. Even though it's only two games in, what differences can you see between Levi Jenkins and 2017 starter Bryant Horn?
Joe Medley: The main difference between Eli Jenkins and Bryant Horn is that Jenkins was more of a running threat, in that he could "house" opponents. He could go 80 yards and beat a defense. He could be the primary ball carrier, depending on how defenses played JSU. Horn's runs are more the changeup, most effective in getting first-down yardage.

FTF: How has the team stayed focused coming off a very early bye week after the loss to Georgia Tech?

JM: JSU has gone game, open date, game and open date. JSU coach John Grass joked this week that his team might be the most rested and healthy in college football. His main concern has been making sure the Gamecocks do things in practice to maintain a feel for game speed. As for focus, they just came off a 37-10 loss. It was to a Power Five opponent, but JSU has come to expect better showings in those games. Now, they face a team that is making the FBS transition and beat a Power Five opponent.

FTF: Who has taken up the slack in the receivers following the graduation of leading receiver Josh Barge?

JM: The answer is nobody, at least to that level. Grass has referred to this receiving corps as more blue-collar. Krenwick Sanders (Wisconsin transfer) and Shaq Davidson (South Carolina transfer) each have a touchdown catch. Jamari Hester (6-7, 210) is talented but has had issues with drops in the first two games. What was interesting in the Georgia Tech game was how JSU expanded its use of running back Roc Thomas in the passing game, sending him in down-field patterns.

FTF: How good is Roc Thomas? Is he someone that we could see on Sunday next year?

JM: Thomas is a home-run threat, capable of making tacklers miss. He made as many as nine miss on highlight-reel runs in high school. What he's trying to show this year --- and Grass, who was his first high school coach, has gone to bat for him this way --- is that he can get it done between the tackles. He was a legit five-star talent out of high school, so there's every chance he could play on Sundays.

FTF: This is a two part question. First, What's the matchup that we need to be watching this Saturday night? Second, What do you think is the key for the Gamecocks against the Flames in what could be a very high scoring game Saturday night?
JSU's corners against Liberty's receivers. JSU must make Stephen Calvert, known for quick throws, hold onto the ball longer than he wants. JSU wants to give Darius Jackson and the pass rush time to affect Calvert. Also, JSU's linebackers have been known to drop into coverage and get picks. Sam linebacker Jonathan Hagler had a pick-6 against Chattanooga. Will LB Joel McCandless has two career interceptions, including a pick-6 at Eastern Kentucky last year. Mike LB Quan Stoudamire has a breakup and a PD this year. Look for them to try to squeeze underneath windows.

Fan the Flames Game #4 Preview: Jacksonville State

The Flames head back on the road for the first time since the season opener as they make their first trip to Jacksonville (Alabama that is) since 1981.

Last week though Corbin Jackson added his name to the Flames end of game "block party" by getting a hand on a game-ending field goal attempt sealing a 42-41 victory for Liberty, and their first home win over a current member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

Buckshot Calvert finished with 39 yards passing and 4 ore touchdowns, despite throwing his first interception of the season. The sophomore has over 1100 yards passing through the first three games, which puts him on track to break the single season yards record set by Phil Basso (whose single game yardage record Calvert broke against Baylor) The Flames had another 100 yard rusher as senior Carrington Mosley finished with 108 yards and his first two touchdowns of the season. Top receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden finished with 171 yards on 7 catches (for an eye-popping 24.4 YPC average) an another TD, giving him 4 on the year.

Juwan Wells had a key sack in the 4th quarter to lead the defense and of course the aforementioned block by Jackson.

A strange but important sequence led to the epic game conclusion. Head Coach Turner Gill called a timeout on a fourth down play for Indiana State with bout a minute left in the fourth quarter but the imeout wasn't credited until after the Flame had stopped a pass from ISU QB Cade Sparks. The Sycamores drove down to the 6 yard line setting the stage for the kick.

Now though, the attention turns to the most important road game of the season...


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#16 Liberty 3-0 (0-0 Independent)

vs.

 #5 Jacksonville State 1-1 (0-0 Ohio Valley Conference)

The Flames and Gamecocks matchup for only the 4th time ever and their first matchup in over 35 years in Bugess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium (Simply known as Paul Snow Stadium the last time the two teams met down there). The Gamecocks have been one of the top teams in the country, particularly since current coach John Grass took over in 2014. The previous three seasons under Grass, they have won 10 games all 3 years and played for a national championship in 2015.

Matchup

Location: Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium Jacksonville AL

Series: Fourth Meeting

Last Meeting: Jacksonville State 48-19 (09/24/2016)

Kickoff: 7:00 PM

Radio: The Journey FM Radio Network/Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play; WLJS 91.9 FM/JSU Radio Network (Jacksonville State) Mike Parris play-by-play

Television: Liberty Flames Sports Network/ESPN 3 Mike Tilley play-by-play

Coaches: Turner Gill (6th Season at Liberty 37-24 Record), John Grass (4th Season at JSU 34-7 Record)
Last Week: Liberty d. Indiana State 42-41, Jacksonville State had a bye

Liberty suffered its most embarrassing home loss in recent history when JSU marched into Williams Stadium and crushed Liberty 48-19. Buckshot Calvert came on in relief of Stephon Masha (who would elect to transfer following the 2016 season) and threw for125 yards and a TD before being named the full time starter the next week.

The Gamecocks offene still has its most potent weapon in running back Roc Thomas, who rushed for 137 yards and 2 TDs and added 69 receiving yards and another TD.

This is going to come down to the two defenses stepping up and making the key stops because you have two teams who both can light up a scoreboard. The Flame are a big underdog here, but I think the Flames get the last word, just like they did against Indiana State and pull off another top 5 upset under Turner Gill

Liberty 49
Jacksonville State 42

Fan the Flames Game #3 Preview: Indiana State

The Liberty Flames wrap up their first homestand of the year with a visit from a Missouri Valley Football Conference foe returning their last meeting in 2014

The Flames look to move to 3-0 for the first time since 2008 with a win on Saturday following a dominating performance in a 58-17 win over Morehead State in the home opener. The win was the 5th win in a row in the home opener and the FLames have won gone 14-1 in home openers dating back to 2002 (The only loss coming in Turner Gill's first home game in 2012).  Sophomore QB Stephen "Buckshot" Calvert was again firing on all cylinders, finishing 13/21 passing for 281 yards with 5 TDs...in the FIRST HALF! I think it would be pretty safe to say he would have broken the single-game record for passing TDs if he played the second half (that record, by the way, is 6 by Phil Basso in 1984).
After Carrington Mosley starred in the win down in Waco, JUCO transfer Kentory Matthews took the spotlight in this one, rushing for 103 yards and 2 TDs on 13 carries.
 Another star on the night was BJ Farrow, making his first appearance after sitting out the Baylor game while addressing "eligibility issues" (No one from Liberty has gone on record as to what specific issues that entailed). He splashed onto the scene with 6 catches for 177 yards and 3 of Calvert's 5 TDs, including a 76-yard bomb early in the second quarter and a Sportscenter caliber grab from 45 yards out just before halftime.

The defense shined as well led by Dia'vante Brown (nicknamed the "Agent of Chaos", who had the only sack of the game for LU but just about started paying rent with as much time as he spent in the Eagles' backfield, leading with 1.5 TFL .
vs.
Alex Probert had another sterling sheet kicking the ball converting all 7 PAT attempts, plus a perfect 3-3 in FGs as well.

All in all, the Flames did exactly what most expected them to do in this one...win every phase of the game and come out on top in a big way.

The good guys can't be caught looking ahead to a huge matchup down in Alabama against Jacksonville State next weekend because an old foe who embarrassed the Flames during their playoff season in 2014 comes to call tomorrow:

 Indiana State 0-2 (0-0 Missouri Valley)

 vs.

 Liberty 2-0 (0-0 Independent)

Matchup

Location: Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, VA

Series: Third Meeting

Last Meeting: Indiana State 38-19 (09/27/2014)

Kickoff: 6:00 PM

Radio: The Journey FM Radio Network/Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play; WIBQ 97.9 FM/1230 AM/Indiana State Sycamore Radio Network (Indiana State) Luke Martin play-by-play

Television: Liberty Flames Sports Network/ESPN 3 Mike Tilley play-by-play

Coaches: Turner Gill (6th Season at Liberty 37-24 Record), Curt Mallory (1st Season at ISU 0-2 Record)Last Week: Liberty d. Morehead State 58-17, Indiana State L. #22 Tennessee 42-7

This year's seniors remember the visit to Terre Haute when Liberty was riding a three-game winning streak, including a win over a ranked Bryant squad, and in short...wet the bed in a big way. Mike Perish shredded the Flames' secondary, throwing for 340 yards and three TDs in thevictory for the Sycamores. Josh Woodrum finished with 308 yards, 2 TDs, but two crippling interceptions.

I spoke to Todd Golden from the Terre Haute Tribune-Star and he said one of the biggest aspects of their success is going to be getting more from their passing game. LeMonte Booker who rushed for only 10 yards in their last meeting as a redshirt freshman, is the lead back and focal point of their rushing attack, but they will need more from Cade Sparks, who supplanted 2016 starter, Isaac Harker.

Liberty is showing a level of explosiveness that wasn't as evident in the 2014 meeting so I expect them to put up a lot of points...I don't think the blue ISU will be able to keep up

Liberty 49
Indiana State 21