Liberty U. students’ video goes viral, is one of 2013’s most watched

Seated before an impromptu table of cardboard boxes, Ian Deibert did not know he was making a video that would become internationally famous.

"It was crazy. It never kind of hit home until a month later," he said. "Everything was really weird to take in."

Deibert and his friend, Nick Sjolinder, made the viral video "How Animals Eat Their Food," while they both attended Liberty University earlier this year.

YouTube has proclaimed the video the most trending video in the United Kingdom of 2013 and the third most trending video worldwide. In total, Deibert and Sjolinder's video has garnered more than 90 million views since it was posted online in April.

Sjolinder could not be reached.

Deibert and Sjolinder first met as freshman roommates at Liberty. As a graphic design major, Deibert said his interest resided with animation and special effects in film.

"I've always just loved movies," he said.

Deibert said he enjoys the larger, epic movies such as "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "Braveheart" and much of Ridley Scott's work, including "Gladiator."

However, through Sjolinder's YouTube account, the pair wanted to focus on more appropriate comedy.

"There's too much humor now that relies on the crass and vulgar," Deibert said. "We've tried to keep it very clean and family-oriented."

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Liberty U. students' video goes viral, is one of 2013's most watched

Mississippi State rips Rice 44-7 in Liberty Bowl

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Mississippi State rips Rice 44-7 in Liberty Bowl

Liberty: Mississippi State pounding Rice

After winning its first outright conference title in 56 years, Rice will try for an unprecedented feat in what could prove to be an unfriendly Liberty Bowl.

The Owls will seek a school-best 11th win when they face a Mississippi State team that will likely have a sizable and noisy crowd on its side on New Year's Eve in Memphis.

Rice (10-3) heads into its first Liberty Bowl having won nine of 10 after capturing the Conference USA title with a 41-24 victory over Marshall on Dec. 7. The Owls have earned 10 victories twice in their history, with one of those seasons taking place under current coach David Bailiff in 2008.

"To have an opportunity to go win an 11th ballgame for the first time in the history of the school and to win a Liberty Bowl championship, that's everything that was on the goals they set," Bailiff said. "All our goals are still intact. It's been an amazing run for us."

Rice, though, could face a significant disadvantage as it tries for that history-making victory. That's because Mississippi State will be playing around 165 miles away from its campus, with their fans bringing their innumerable cowbells - noisemakers that drew a $25,000 fine from the SEC earlier this month but are allowed in Memphis.

The Bulldogs brought in virtually all of a record crowd of 63,816 in their most recent appearance in the Liberty Bowl, a 10-3 win over Central Florida on in 2007.

"I think we have a good plan for the cowbells," Bailiff said. "We've got the CDs of the cowbells going off (at practice). We're looking forward to it."

Mississippi State barely made it to any bowl after losing six of its first 10 games, but the Bulldogs (6-6) won their final two, including a 17-10 overtime victory over rival Mississippi on Nov. 28. Their reward was a school-record fourth consecutive postseason appearance.

"Our seniors have done something no one here has ever done, and that's play in four straight bowls. That's special," coach Dan Mullen said.

An improving defense aided Mississippi State down the stretch. The Bulldogs allowed an average of 15.7 points in their final three games after giving up 37.2 per contest in their previous five.

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Liberty: Mississippi State pounding Rice

Liberty Property Reaps $367.7M from Asset Sale – Analyst Blog

Liberty Property Trust ( LRY ) has reaped $367.7 million as proceeds by selling 49 properties aggregating around four million square feet of space and 140 acres of land. The move is part of the company's strategy to reposition its portfolio and support its growth initiatives.

These 49 properties are among the 97 properties that the company had earlier disclosed of selling. The sale of remaining assets is slated to be accomplished by late Jan 2014. This remaining disposition is expected to fetch $329.6 million as proceeds.

In particular, the divested portfolio of Liberty consists of office properties spanning 1.9 million square feet, flex properties aggregating 1.8 million square feet and industrial properties spread over 274,000 square feet. These comprise the company's entire Jacksonville, FL portfolio, a part of its Fort Washington, PA assets, and flex properties in Minnesota.

At present, the U.S. industrial market is benefiting from healthy demand for industrial properties with improving net absorption rate and declining vacancy rates. With a thriving demand for premium-quality industrial space, Liberty Property is repositioning its portfolio and shifting focus to the industrial real estate in growing markets. Consequently, the company has been involved in several deals in the past six months.

In October, Liberty Property sealed the $1.475 billion buyout of Cabot Industrial Value Fund III that enhanced its industrial platform by 23 million square feet. The company gained 177 properties in 24 new and existing Liberty industrial markets. Simultaneously, Liberty Property is making concerted efforts to lower its exposure to the suburban office properties market.

Despite the near-term drag to profitability, we believe that repositioning efforts on the part of Liberty are encouraging. The dispositions provide the wherewithal to be invested in acquiring premium assets and poise the company well for riding on the growth trajectory going forward.

This Pennsylvania-based real estate investment trust (REIT) - Liberty Property - currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Investors interested in the REIT industry may consider stocks like Getty Realty Corp. ( GTY ), Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. ( ARE ) and Chatham Lodging Trust ( CLDT ). While Getty Realty carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Alexandria Real Estate and Chatham Lodging Trust hold a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

ALEXANDRIA REAL (ARE): Free Stock Analysis Report

CHATHAM LODGING (CLDT): Free Stock Analysis Report

GETTY REALTY CP (GTY): Free Stock Analysis Report

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Liberty Property Reaps $367.7M from Asset Sale - Analyst Blog

Liberty Bowl report: Rice running game hits a wall

Rice took advantage of an early fumble by Mississippi State for a 7-0 lead.

"After that nothing went our way," center Nate Richards said of the 44-7 loss Tuesday in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. "I don't know what happened."

Rice was held to season lows in total yards (145), rushing yards (61) and points.

The rushing total - 179 yards below its season average - was especially problematic for Rice, which was ranked 16th in the Football Bowl Subdivision. In its first meeting against a Southeastern Conference opponent this season, Rice rushed for 306 yards in a 52-31 season-opening loss to Texas A&M.

"There just wasn't much going on," quarterback Taylor McHargue said. "We never really found a rhythm moving the ball the entire game."

Charles Ross, who rushed for 1,252 yards this season, was limited to 28 yards on 10 carries. He scored the Owls' only touchdown on a 1-yard run in the first quarter.

"We knew coming in that their defensive line was pretty big and we were going to have trouble moving them."

Gaines attracts foes' attention

Like many teams this season, Mississippi State threw away from Phillip Gaines, the Owls' all-Conference USA cornerback, for most of the game.

"We knew where he was at all times on the field," Bulldogs coach Dan Mullen said. "We tried to make mismatches in the middle field."

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Liberty Bowl report: Rice running game hits a wall

The Rice Owls visit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during Liberty Bowl Week – Video


The Rice Owls visit St. Jude Children #39;s Research Hospital during Liberty Bowl Week
This morning eleven Owl football players got to meet some of the strongest and toughest kids in the world as part of their Liberty Bowl trip, when they visit...

By: Rice University

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The Rice Owls visit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital during Liberty Bowl Week - Video

The Rice Owls are officially welcomed to the Autozone Liberty Bowl in Memphis – Video


The Rice Owls are officially welcomed to the Autozone Liberty Bowl in Memphis
The Rice Owls and Mississippi State Bulldogs broke bread tonight at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl official Team Welcome Party in downtown Memphis, Tenn. To read ...

By: Rice University

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The Rice Owls are officially welcomed to the Autozone Liberty Bowl in Memphis - Video