When Liberty was trying to put together its football schedule last winter, the original plan was to schedule a game for Sept. 29 and leave Oct. 20 as an open date, giving the Flames a bye week in the middle of their conference schedule. <\/p>\n
Athletics director Jeff Barber struggled to find a taker for a Sept. 29 home game, though, and eventually, the school scheduled Division II Concord on Oct. 20 and moved the open date to the end of September. <\/p>\n
After the four-week gauntlet Liberty has faced out of the gates, featuring an FBS opponent, three teams ranked in the various FCS polls and a 2,300-mile road trip to Montana, the schedule change could prove to be a blessing in disguise. <\/p>\n
I think so, Liberty coach Turner Gill said. It works out pretty well. <\/p>\n
Both the Flames and Gardner-Webb, Libertys opponent for its Big South opener on Oct. 6, will have next week off after facing an extremely difficult four-game non-league stretch. GWU opened with games against Wofford, Richmond, Samford and Pittsburgh. <\/p>\n
Its going to work out well for us, Gill said. Every team has bumps and bruises, and its going to be a good time for us to regroup after this ballgame and be ready to go in conference play. <\/p>\n
Hall of Fame <\/p>\n
Liberty inducted its fourth Athletics Hall of Fame class this weekend, and the five members of the 2012 class were honored at halftime of the Flames game with Lehigh. <\/p>\n
This years class: <\/p>\n
* Jesse Castro, who wrestled at Liberty from 1977-81 and resurrected the schools dormant wrestling program, coaching it from 2006-10. Under Castro, 24 individual wrestlers qualified for the NCAA championships. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
More here:<\/p>\n
Liberty notes: Flames welcome bye week<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When Liberty was trying to put together its football schedule last winter, the original plan was to schedule a game for Sept. 29 and leave Oct. 20 as an open date, giving the Flames a bye week in the middle of their conference schedule. Continue reading