Welcome to the CUSA Club: A Sea of Red's Jon Manson on Liberty University
Don’t know much about the Liberty Flames? Well do we have an article for you!
Last week, we got to learn more about Sam Houston State as they enter Conference USA. You can check it out here if you missed it.
This week, we got Jon Manson from A Sea of Red to answer our questions and help us all learn more about Liberty University. A Sea of Red is one of the leading sources for all things Liberty so be sure to give them a follow on Twitter and check out their website as well.
Let’s learn about the Flames!
The Towel Rack: Say you meet someone who doesn’t know anything about Liberty University. What are the biggest things that you would highlight about the school?
Jon Manson: The school was founded in 1971 by the late Jerry Falwell, Sr. It is one of the youngest schools in all of Division I, not just FBS.
The goal for the school has always been to be the Evangelical version of BYU or Notre Dame. There are currently about 15,000 residential students and somewhere around 100,000 online students. The school has seen incredible growth over the past 15 years or so, with the athletic department making tremendous strides in the past 5-6 years. Nearly all of the athletic facilities have either been renovated or built brand new during that time.
TTR: What would you consider LU’s biggest athletic accomplishments in school history to be for its various programs?
JM: For football, it has been the tremendous success seen since joining the FBS four years ago as an Independent. The Flames have been bowl eligible in all four years, winning 8 games in each season. In 2020, Liberty finished 10-1 overall and was ranked #17 in the final AP Top 25 poll. Several Power Five wins have been included during this stretch including over Syracuse, Virginia Tech, BYU, Arkansas, and Baylor.
For the other sports, men's basketball has been very successful the past several years, winning 20+ games in seven consecutive seasons. This includes a streak of three straight ASUN championships and NCAA Tournament appearances, including a first-round upset win as a 12-seed over 5-seed Mississippi State in 2019.
Baseball made three straight regionals prior to 2023. Softball has made three straight regionals and has been knocking on the door of making a Super. Women's basketball made a Sweet 16 run in 2005. The men's and women's track & field and cross country programs have been a dynasty over the past couple of decades. Field Hockey, which competes in the Big East, was the national runner-up two years ago. Golf has made the National Championship several times with a program-best finish of #10 a few years back.
TTR: How are LU fans feeling about the move to CUSA?
JM: For football, it has been somewhat of a mixed bag. Just last year our schedule featured games against BYU and Virginia Tech at home as well as road games against Wake Forest and Arkansas. Many of those high-caliber matchups have gone away with the move to CUSA, but overall I think most fans are excited for the move. Games in October and November will have meaning other than just playing for bowl eligibility like being an Independent. We also think it opens up a door to reach the expanded College Football Playoff.
TTR: I would say that most big college basketball fans would know about the Flames’ success in men’s basketball in the latest decade. How do you see them doing in their first season in CUSA?
JM: Under head coach Ritchie McKay, Liberty fans have become accustomed to competing for conference championships every year. In the past six seasons, the Flames have advanced to a conference championship game five times - winning three of those. This past season, we lost by one in the closing seconds on the road at Kennesaw State, keeping the program from a fourth ASUN title in five years in the conference.
Most expect Liberty to once again compete for the conference championship moving into CUSA despite the increased competition level. Arguably the program's greatest player in school history, Darius McGhee, just completed his career after winning three straight ASUN Player of the Year Awards. It will be weird in 2023-24 without #2 on the court, but there are a lot of pieces returning including COVID seniors Kyle Rode and Shiloh Robinson and point guard Colin Porter who most expect to take a huge step in his second year in college.
TTR: LU’s football program has maintained success as an Independent the last few years but will now have a conference at the FBS level. How do you see their first season in a conference going?
JM: It's really difficult to gauge how the team will do this coming season. There has been so much change from last year's squad with Hugh Freeze and his staff heading to Auburn and former Coastal Carolina (Liberty's biggest rival) head coach Jamey Chadwell taking over the Flames. Due to the transfer portal, there has been about a 50% turnover in scholarship players. Some of those losses were contributors, especially on defense, while others transferred to FCS or Division II schools seeking additional playing time.
Most expect Liberty to compete for the conference championship immediately, but are also cautiously optimistic based on all the turnover. September will be critical to the team's success. Get out of the first month still in striking distance of the conference title and the team should have a strong season as the Flames should be improving throughout the year.
TTR: Being in a new conference means there could be potential for a new rivalry to start with new opponents. Do you see LU picking up any new rivals in CUSA?
JM: That's one thing that has been missing as an Independent. When we were both in the Big South, Coastal Carolina and Liberty developed a big rivalry. That changed with both schools took different paths to the FBS. Virginia and Virginia Tech have their own rivalry and look down on LU while James Madison and Old Dominion are also nearby FBS programs but they are now both in the Sun Belt.
I think a rivalry with WKU could develop as both programs should be at or near the top of the conference standings in several sports. A rivalry has been developing some in recent years in baseball and men's basketball with Kennesaw State. With the Owls joining the CUSA next year, that rivalry will likely continue, especially as the teams both begin playing each other in football again.
We’re super thankful for Jon’s time for answering our questions on the Flames! Be sure to give A Sea of Red a follow so you can stay up to date with all things Liberty this upcoming season.
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