The Flames conclude the regular season -- and their final at the FCS level -- against Charleston Southern. The finale is scheduled for noon on Nov. 18 in North Charleston.
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN BUCCANEERS
COACH: Mark Tucker, 0-0, fifth season at CSU (first as head coach)
2016 RECORD: 7-4, 4-1, tied for first in the Big South
POSTSEASON: lost at Wofford, 15-14, in FCS first round
Charleston Southern overcame a heartbreaking loss to Gardner-Webb early in Big South Conference play to run the table and deliver convincing victories over Liberty and Kennesaw State to earn a second consecutive trip to the FCS playoffs.
However, the Buccaneers need to replace the production of running backs Mike Holloway, Darius Hammond and Mike Robinson in the option attack, and Mark Tucker has taken over the coaching duties after Jamey Chadwell left to join the staff at Coastal Carolina.
QB Shane Bucenell (59.3 completion percentage, 1,100 yards, 15 TD, 6 INT; 88 carries, 325 yards, 3.7 average, 4 TD)
WR Kameron Brown (27 catches, 540 yards, 20.0 average, 6 TD)
DE Anthony Ellis (45 tackles, 16.0 TFL, 7.0 sacks, 1 PBU, 8 QBH, 2 FF)
LB Solomon Brown (70 tackles, 14.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 7 PBU, 8 QBH, 1 FF, 1 block)
LB Zane Cruz (49 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 5 QBH, 1 FR)
K Tyler Tekac (43-45 PAT, 4-6 FG, 38 long, 0 blocked)
RB Mike Holloway (105 carries, 881 yards, 8.4 average, 9 TD; 13 catches, 169 yards, 13.0 average, 2 TD)
RB Darius Hammond (100 carries, 576 yards, 5.8 average, 4 TD; 15 kick returns, 506 yards, 33.7 average; 21 punt returns, 225 yards, 10.7 average)
WR Colton Korn (15 catches, 235 yards, 15.7 average, 3 TD)
DB Troy McGowens (30 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 1.0 sacks, 4 INT, 4 PBU, 1 FR)
DB Corbin Jackson (57 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 PBU)
P Truett Burns (48 punts, 37.7 average, 61 long, 16 I20, 4 50+, 1 TB, 0 blocked)
1. Whos toting the rock?
Gone are Mike Holloway, Darius Hammond and Ben Robinson. Its the second time in three seasons there is uncertainty at running back (remember when Christian Reyes graduated and people wondered the same thing?). The Buccaneers will continue to run the option offense under Tucker and he expects there to be plenty of battles. Chanin Hamilton and Ronnie Harris, both redshirt-sophomores, are currently slated atop the depth chart, with true freshman and midyear enrollee Elijah Henry and senior Noah Shuler, a transfer from Division III Methodist, in the hunt for carries.
We feel like weve recruited well. We have two upperclassmen returning that have played meaningful snaps in meaningful games; they just havent play near of them, Tucker said. We dealt with this two years ago when Christian Reyes graduated, and we had this group that just graduated out and that was their opportunity to shine. It gives our upperclassmen and some young guys opportunities to shine. Were just like everybody else in the room. Were dealing with running back and secondary.
Were going to have plenty of competition. Weve got kids that can flat go. How good a job they do of buying in and how good a job do we do of teaching and well see where it all comes out.
The Buccaneers lost two defensive backs to graduation, which means the front seven will continue to cause problems for opposing offenses. Ellis, Brown and Cruz anchor the 3-4 defense, which will have a new playbook under new defensive coordinator Zane Vance.
With the intensity, theres a lot of players buying into that, buying into what the coaches are saying, what theyre trying to teach us, the plays defensively, we have a whole new playbook, so the plays are different, Ellis said.
3. New mentality under Tucker.
Tucker has made it a focal point for the players to not be satisfied with back-to-back playoff appearances. He has established his style of coaching and the players have bought in.
This spring, coach Tuck made it a point to keep that intensity and increase it, Cirone said. I think change-wise, there is a slight change. Its definitely for the better, I believe. I think coach Tuck has the right mentality on where he wants to bring the program.
Charleston Southern had a Big South-leading three players named to the STATS FCS preseason All-America team Ellis, first team; Brown, second team; Cirone, third team. In the series against Liberty, CSU has scored 31 or more points in three straight victories after reaching that threshold only twice in the first 21 meetings. The Buccaneers ranked sixth in the FCS in rushing offense, averaging 266.5 yards per game. After having two guarantee games last season against North Dakota State and Florida State, CSU opens the season with a guarantee game at Mississippi State. CSU has two players on the roster with Virginia ties -- redshirt-sophomore kicker Kyle Reighard (Salem High School outside of Roanoke) and redshirt-freshman linebacker Malik Wright (Colonial Forge High School in Stafford).
Charleston Southern athletics: @csusports
Charleston Southern football: @CSUFB
Jeff Hartsell, who mostly covers The Citadel but sometimes covers CSU for the Post & Courier: @Jeff_fromthePC
Scott Eisberg, sports director at WCIV TV in Charleston: @SEisbergWCIV
Sept. 2: at Mississippi State, 4 p.m.
Sept. 9: at South Carolina State, 6 p.m.
Sept. 16: at Elon, 6 p.m.
Sept. 30: MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE, 6 p.m.
Oct. 14: at Presbyterian, noon
Oct. 21: SAVANNAH STATE, 6 p.m.
Oct. 28: MONMOUTH, 6 p.m.
Nov. 4: at Gardner-Webb, noon
Nov. 11: at Kennesaw State, 3:30 p.m.
THE SERIES (home team in CAPS)
1993: LIBERTY 42, Charleston Southern 6
1994: LIBERTY 59, Charleston Southern 27
1995: Liberty 19, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 15
1996: LIBERTY 38, Charleston Southern 7
1997: Liberty 48, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 14
1998: LIBERTY 28, Charleston Southern 21
1999: Liberty 34, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 14
2000: Charleston Southern 25, LIBERTY 0
2001: Liberty 45, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 31
2002: LIBERTY 31, Charleston Southern 17
2003: Liberty 17, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 6
2004: LIBERTY 34, Charleston Southern 6
2005: CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 31, Liberty 30
2006: LIBERTY 34, Charleston Southern 20
2007: Liberty 50, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 10
2008: LIBERTY 42, Charleston Southern 0
2009: Liberty 20, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 13
2010: LIBERTY 44, Charleston Southern 20
2011: Liberty 38, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 16
2012: LIBERTY 26, Charleston Southern 12
2013: Liberty 56, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 14
2014: Charleston Southern 38, LIBERTY 36
2015: CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 31, Liberty 24
2016: Charleston Southern 48, LIBERTY 26
Follow this link:
Get to know a '17 Liberty opponent: Charleston Southern - Lynchburg News and Advance (blog)
- Information Overload - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Same-Sex Marriage Gains - Iowa, DC and Vermont - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Obama and the Muslim World - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Nordyke - Incorporation of the Second Amendment to Apply to the States - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Obama's First 100 Days - Reclaiming the Constitution* - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Education Reform - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Legalize (and Tax) Vice - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Obama World vs. Cheney World - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- National Rifle Association v. Chicago (McDonald v. Chicago) Oral Arguments* - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Reconciling Liberty and Progressive Government - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Obama in the Middle East - A Respectful, Rational Voice - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Second Amendment Incorporation Update - Seventh Circuit Decision - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Strong versus Weak Judging - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Drawing the Line on the Obama Administration's National Security Practices - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Supreme Court Amicus Brief in McDonald v. Chicago - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- McDonald v. Chicago Amicus Brief - Volokh Conspiracy Link - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Healthcare Reform - Voices of Reason from Senators Wyden & Bennett - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Time to Legalize Drugs - Sensible WaPo Article - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Article in William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal: Rescuing the Fourteenth Amendment Privileges or Immunities Clause - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Just Do It - Obama Needs Backbone for Meaningful Healthcare Reform, a la FDR - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Nordyke v. King Rehearing - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Huge News - Supreme Court Grants Certiorari in McDonald v. Chicago re: Privileges or Immunities - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Obama Needs to Take Stands on Principle - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Kudos to Harry Reid for Including Public Option in Proposed Health Care Bill - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Free Radicals - Individual Efforts Can Change the World - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Destroy the Filibuster - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- McDonald v. Chicago - Petitioner's Brief - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Something on Which We Can All Agree - Less Government in Criminal Justice - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Obama Approach to Governing; Afghanistan Policy - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- McDonald v. Chicago - Law Professors' Amicus Brief - December 15th, 2009 [December 15th, 2009]
- Senate Passes Health Care Insurance Reform - Reflections - December 25th, 2009 [December 25th, 2009]
- "Radicals In Their Own TIme" - Introduction & Selected Excerpts - January 1st, 2010 [January 1st, 2010]
- Terrific WaPo Farewell Column by Ellen Goodman - January 2nd, 2010 [January 2nd, 2010]
- Same-Sex Marriage Case in California - January 20th, 2010 [January 20th, 2010]
- Health Care; Corporate Speech Case - January 23rd, 2010 [January 23rd, 2010]
- McDonald v. Chicago - Essay in Cardozo Law Review de novo Online Journal - January 29th, 2010 [January 29th, 2010]
- Another Response to Citizens United: Remove Supreme Court Appellate Jurisdiction - February 11th, 2010 [February 11th, 2010]
- Olympics Idealism - March 1st, 2010 [March 1st, 2010]
- Framers Believed in Virtuous (ie, Humane) Government - March 21st, 2010 [March 21st, 2010]
- McDonald v. Chicago - Yesterday's Oral Argument - March 22nd, 2010 [March 22nd, 2010]
- Radicals in Their Own Time: Four Hundred Years of Struggle for Liberty and Equal Justice in America - May 21st, 2010 [May 21st, 2010]
- McDonald v. Chicago decision - October 11th, 2010 [October 11th, 2010]
- OpEd on McDonald v Chicago Case - June/July 2010 - October 11th, 2010 [October 11th, 2010]
- New Blog Format - October 11th, 2010 [October 11th, 2010]
- New Book - Radicals in Their Own Time - February 14th, 2011 [February 14th, 2011]
- Liberty Property Trust Hosts First Quarter 2012 Results Conference Call - March 31st, 2012 [March 31st, 2012]
- Liberty Property Trust Announces First Quarter 2012 Results - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Liberty Energy Announces Creation of Advisory Board and Appointment of Its First Member - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Liberty Tire Recycling, Keep Atlanta Beautiful and City of Atlanta Tire Commission Join Forces for Large-Scale Tire ... - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Liberty Bowl set for afternoon kick New Year's Eve - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Liberty Bowl Announces Date and Time - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Liberty ship sinking remembered - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Liberty Union searching for girls basketball coach - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- How to Do a Liberty - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Review: The "Liberty I" Ultra Compact Compound Bow vs. "Razor Edge" and "Slingbow" - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Heavy Rain in Liberty City: Episode 1 (Grand Theft Auto IV Machinima) - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Jordan Page "Liberty" (Acoustic Version) - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty - Cinematic Trailer - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- China 9 Liberty 37 - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Liberty`s Kids: #05 "Midnight Ride" (1/2) - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Madness - The Liberty of Norton Folgate Live - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- I Pledge to Join Young Americans for Liberty - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Steve Vai - Liberty - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- North Liberty fire chief: Email blasting staff was meant to motivate - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- FCC dismisses Liberty Media request for control of SiriusXM - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- Liberty FCC Request to Control Sirius XM Radio Rejected - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- FCC rejects Liberty Media bid for Sirius XM control - May 7th, 2012 [May 7th, 2012]
- Liberty Rocket Targets 2015 - May 10th, 2012 [May 10th, 2012]
- Liberty boosts SiriusXM stake above 45% - May 10th, 2012 [May 10th, 2012]
- One Liberty Properties, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2012 Results - May 10th, 2012 [May 10th, 2012]
- Liberty to boost stake in Sirius XM to 45 pct - May 10th, 2012 [May 10th, 2012]
- ATK Announces Complete Liberty System to Provide Commercial Crew Access - May 10th, 2012 [May 10th, 2012]
- Penn Liberty Wealth Advisors Expands - May 10th, 2012 [May 10th, 2012]
- Romney Woos Evangelicals at Liberty University - May 13th, 2012 [May 13th, 2012]
- Liberty opener moved to MSG due to hockey game - May 13th, 2012 [May 13th, 2012]
- Romney Defends Marriage and Faith in Liberty University Speech - May 13th, 2012 [May 13th, 2012]
- Romney Speaks At Anti-Gay Liberty University Alongside Baptist Billionaire - May 13th, 2012 [May 13th, 2012]
- Liberty Center girls, Archbold boys reign - May 13th, 2012 [May 13th, 2012]
- Romney Courts Christian Conservatives at Liberty U - May 13th, 2012 [May 13th, 2012]