Equipment Staff Football Equipment Department Facts€¦ · Ford Field in Detroit, where Super Bowl XL was played in 2006. Seating capacity at Williams Stadium is 12,000 with seating

LibertyFlames.com 19

Equipment Staff

Mike MorrisHead Equipment Manager

Chris BrownAssistant Equipment Manager

Football Equipment Department Facts1,560-square foot equipment room in the Williams Football Operations Center

Equipment IslandPlayer cubbies to pick up laundered gear

Three 50-pound washersThree 100-pound dryers

24-foot truck with Flames and Nike logo which takes equipment to each road gameGear Boss by Wenger Storage System which is portable for travel

Nine Student MangersExtra equipment trunks for games and practice

500 pounds of laundry per day in season

20 2007 Liberty Flames Football

Williams Stadium opened its doors on Oct. 21, 1989, when the Flameshosted the Tigers of Towson State. After giving up a 42-yard field goal earlyin the first quarter, Liberty scored 31-unanswered points to thrill the thenrecord-setting Homecoming crowd of 12,750 fans with a 37-19 victory.

The 2006 season was one for the record books, as the Flames aver-aged a school-record 11,128 fans during the season, ranking No. 13 inthe nation as Williams Stadium was filled 92.7 percent of its capacity. OnOct. 14, 2006, a Liberty and Big South Conference record-setting 15,631fans filed into the on-campus facility for the Homecoming game againstWilliam & Mary. A season-record 66,765 fans attended the six homedates during the course of the year. That is nearly 11,000 more fans thanthe previous record of 55,990, set in 1990, a year the Flames playedseven home games.

On Nov. 4, 2006, the Flames defeated Western Carolina, 21-0 atWilliams Stadium. The contest marked a historic day in school annals, asthe 8,286 fans in attendance at the afternoon game pushed the Flamesover the 1,000,000 mark in home attendance since the inception of theprogram in 1973.

Entering the 2007 season, the Flames have won nearly two-thirds oftheir home games, posting a 60-37 record at Williams Stadium. Libertyhas recorded 15 seasons with a winning home record since the stadiumopened, including a perfect 5-0 record in 1992.

The stadium is located on Liberty’s main campus, near the site of theold football practice fields. The stadium seats 12,000, with the capabili-ties for future expansion. For the 2007, luxury season suites will be addedto the concourse on the press box side. The suites are a climate-con-

trolled environment which includes a second-story,open-air observation deck with tent covering, and

each unit seats up to 48 people.When the stadium was constructed, a fieldhouse, located at the south end of the stadi-

um, was built, providing thefootball program with an on-cam-pus facility, including a spacious

team locker room, an equipmentroom and a training facility.

Prior to the start of the 2006 season, Liberty unveiled its newest addi-tion to the Williams Stadium complex as the Williams Football OperationCenter was completed in the north end of the stadium. The state-of-the-art48,000-square foot football-only facility, brought all of Liberty footballunder one roof for the first time in the history of the program.

Construction for the Football Operations Center was made possiblebecause of a generous donation of $4.5 million dollars by the Art WilliamsFoundation. The Art Williams Foundation is no stranger to those familiarwith the Flames football program. Liberty’s football stadium underwent aname change during the 1994 season. The now 18-year-old facilitybecame “Williams Stadium” in honor of A.L. Williams, a major contributorto the University.

In 1998, the field received a face lift with the old sand-filled artificialsurface being pulled up and a new stadium turf being laid down. An addi-tional facelift took place during the summer of 2006 when the playing sur-face was redone and FieldTurf was installed. FieldTurf is the latest synthe-sized playing surface and it is appearing all over the country, includingFord Field in Detroit, where Super Bowl XL was played in 2006.

Seating capacity at Williams Stadium is 12,000 with seating on thewest side of the field accommodates 6,336 fans, and the east standsseating 5,664.

A modern press box rests above the west stands and comfortably seats25 working members of the media. In the summer of 1990, Liberty addedlights to give the Flames the option of playing night games and provide afacility for local high schools to use for evening contests. During the 1995season, a new concession area was constructed at the bottom of thepress box to aid in game-day concession sales.

Haken/Corley and Associates were the architects who designed the sta-dium. The stadium contractor was McDevitt & Street of Raleigh, N.C.McDevitt & Street built Atlanta’s Fulton County Stadium, the Diamond(baseball facility) located in Richmond, Va., the Dean E. Smith Center inChapel Hill, N.C., and the Durham Bulls’ minor league baseball park. In1990, McDevitt & Street also completed the Vines Center on Liberty’smain campus for use by the basketball and volleyball teams.

Stadium Quick Facts

NNaammee:: Williams StadiumSSiittee:: On the Liberty University main campus near the main entrance and

adjacent to the Hancock Athletic Center.CCaappaacciittyy:: 12,000CCoonnssttrruuccttiioonn:: Steel and ConcreteCCoonnttrraaccttoorr:: McDevitt & Street of Raleigh, N.C.AArrcchhiitteecctt:: Haken/Corley and Associates of Raleigh, N.C.GGrroouunndd BBrreeaakkiinngg CCeerreemmoonnyy:: May 8, 1989DDaattee ooff CCoommpplleettiioonn:: October 1989FFaacciilliittiieess:: A field house, complete with a locker room, equipment room and

training room, is located at the north end of the stadium. A press box is located above the west bleachers. Visiting teams are provided a team room in the stadium’s south end zone.

PPllaayyiinngg SSuurrffaaccee:: FieldTurf - The end zones are blue with a white line borderingthe field and the school’s logo is displayed in color in the middle of the field.

Williams Stadium Single Game Attendance Records

AAtttteennddaannccee DDaattee WW--LL RReessuulltt15,631 10/14/06 L LU 13, William & Mary 1412,623 10/3/98 W OT LU 28, Charleston Southern 2112,431 10/11/97 L OT LU 27, Hampton 3312,316 10/8/94 L LU 7, Delaware State 2212,273 10/4/03 W LU 31, VMI 2812,056 10/21/06 L LU 24, Gardner-Webb 2712,050 10/27/90 W LU 37, Samford 1012,021 10/2/99 W LU 38, Johnson C. Smith 212,016 9/3/94 W LU 52, Concord 012,000 10/2/93 L LU 30, North Carolina A&T 38

Williams StadiumWilliams Stadium

Stadium Quick Facts

NNaammee:: Williams StadiumSSiittee:: On the Liberty University main campus near the main entrance and

adjacent to the Hancock Athletic Center.CCaappaacciittyy:: 12,000CCoonnssttrruuccttiioonn:: Steel and ConcreteCCoonnttrraaccttoorr:: McDevitt & Street of Raleigh, N.C.AArrcchhiitteecctt:: Haken/Corley and Associates of Raleigh, N.C.GGrroouunndd BBrreeaakkiinngg CCeerreemmoonnyy:: May 8, 1989DDaattee ooff CCoommpplleettiioonn:: October 1989FFaacciilliittiieess:: A field house, complete with a locker room, equipment room and

training room, is located at the north end of the stadium. A press box is located above the west bleachers. Visiting teams are provided a team room in the stadium’s south end zone.

PPllaayyiinngg SSuurrffaaccee:: FieldTurf - The end zones are blue with a white line borderingthe field and the school’s logo is displayed in color in the middle of the field.

Williams Stadium Single Game Attendance Records

AAtttteennddaannccee DDaattee WW--LL RReessuulltt15,631 10/14/06 L LU 13, William & Mary 1412,623 10/3/98 W OT LU 28, Charleston Southern 2112,431 10/11/97 L OT LU 27, Hampton 3312,316 10/8/94 L LU 7, Delaware State 2212,273 10/4/03 W LU 31, VMI 2812,056 10/21/06 L LU 24, Gardner-Webb 2712,050 10/27/90 W LU 37, Samford 1012,021 10/2/99 W LU 38, Johnson C. Smith 212,016 9/3/94 W LU 52, Concord 012,000 10/2/93 L LU 30, North Carolina A&T 38


Opened prior to the 2006 season, this 48,000-square foot building isa state-of-the-art facility that brings all operations for the football teamunder one roof for the first time in the history of the program.

The bottom floor houses specially-designed weight training equipmentin a spacious weight and conditioning area, while the second floor (atground level) includes the team’s locker room, academic lab, equipmentroom and a cutting-edge athletic training facility.

The top floor houses both coaching staff and administrative offices,numerous video and conference rooms and a uniquely-designed viewingroom which overlooks the North end zone at Williams Stadium, wheremembers of the Flames Club can enjoy several pre-game festivities.

Construction for the Williams Football Operations Center was madepossible due to a generous donation of $4.5 million dollars by the ArtWilliams Foundation.

The Art Williams Foundation is no stranger to those familiar with theFlames football program, as the football stadium is named in honor ofArthur L. and Angela Williams, major contributors to Liberty University.The football stadium was given the name Williams Stadium, which it stillbares today.

The Williams Football Operations Center is just one of several facetsof the redesign of the program and is helping to usher in a New Era ofLiberty Football.

Donor Room Overlooking Williams Stadium

Academic Lab

Training RoomWeight Room

Williams Football Operations CenterWilliams Football Operations Center


Hours Before KickoffFans flood Liberty Mountain and University Boulevard to partake

in the tailgating tradition

Two Hours To KickoffThe Flames Club offers premium pre-game dining in the Donor Room

of the Williams Football Operations Center prior to stadium opening to general public

25 Minutes To KickoffThe Spirit of the Mountain Marching Band parades down University

Boulevard into Williams Stadium from the Fine Arts Hall

Flames Flames


10 Minutes To KickoffThe Spirit of the Mountain Marching Band performs the National Anthem

Five Minutes To KickoffPre-game festivities include the game ball being delivered

via the sky from a parachutist

Three Minutes To KickoffThe Flames emerge from their locker room, while The Spirit of the Mountain electrifies the crowd with a rousing version of

“2001: A Space Odessy” followed by “Fan the Flames”

Game TimeFans pack into Williams Stadium to create an

incredible college football experience

Game DayGame Day


Williams Stadium

Tolsma Indoor Track Center

Wrestling Complex

Vines Center

Inside the Vines Center

Athletic Facilities Athletic Facilities


When looking at the success of an athletics program, one aspect whichneeds to be considered is the quality of its facilities. Student-athletesinvolved in Liberty University’s athletics program have the opportunity toshowcase their talents in a number of fine athletic facilities. Like the pro-gram itself, these on-campus facilities have improved tremendously sincethe program’s inception in 1973.

The Hancock Athletic Center, dedicated on Feb. 12, 1985, was donatedby A.L. Williams and his wife, Angela, in honor of her parents, Sidney Lanierand Willemae Gates Hancock. Offices housed in the Hancock Center includethe administrative offices for athletics, the athletic media relations depart-ment, offices for the track, cross country and men’s soccer, wrestling andtennis coaching staffs. The Hancock Athletic Center also includes a spa-cious 8,500-square-foot weight room, which is utilized by the entire athleticdepartment.

The weight room is furnished with the most modern equipment availablefor developing speed, strength and endurance. The spacious two-tiered facili-ty has a free weight area that contains over 10 tons of weights. High-techmachines crafted by the industry’s top manufacturers, as well as other mod-ern strength and conditioning apparatuses, are available to Liberty’s stu-dent-athletes.

Williams Stadium, also named in honor of A.L. Williams, is located nearthe entrance of the main campus and has been the home of the footballprogram since 1989. The football stadium seats 12,000 with expansioncapabilities up to 36,000.

During the summer of 2006, a 48,000-square-foot facility was completedin the north end zone of the stadium, as the Williams Football OperationsCenter became the football program’s new home off the field. The new,state-of-the-art facility gives Liberty one of the nicest FCS football facilitiesin the nation, housing coaching and support staff offices, a spacious lockerroom, academic learning areas, a training room and a weight room. The cen-terpiece of the facility is a 3,000-square foot room overlooking WilliamsStadium, where Flames Club members can enjoy pre-game meals.

A final facility upgrade to Williams Stadium was completed just prior tothe kickoff of the 2006 season as FieldTurf was installed.

The Vines Convocation Center, home to all men’s and women’s basketballgames and volleyball matches, is an 8,500-seat facility which was complet-ed in 1990. In 1998, the Vines Center hosted the 46th-best women’s bas-ketball home attendance in the nation.

Basketball, volleyball and a number of other indoor activities can takeplace in the versatile Schilling Center. The men's and women's basketballteams held their home games in what was then known as Liberty Gym inthis facility from 1979 to 1990. The Schilling Center has two full-court areas

East Campus Volleyball ComplexHancock Athletic Center

Williams Football Operations Center

Hancock Weight Room

(Cont. on page 26)


which are also utilized for class instruction, intramural events and specialactivities. In 2005, the facility was upgraded to give Liberty’s basketball pro-grams two new practice courts.

Wrestling and volleyball each received new facilities during the 2006-07school year. The reinstated wrestling program turned the old football fieldhouse in the south end zone of Williams Stadium into a state-of-the-artwrestling room. Volleyball moved its office into a new facility on Campus Eastthat includes its very own practice gym.

Home baseball games are played at the beautiful Worthington Stadium.Recognized by Sportsturf Magazine as the best field in the nation in 1998,the facility was named in honor of Al Worthington, who began the Flames’baseball program in 1974. He also served as the Liberty athletics directorfrom 1984-89.

The Crowder-Muckel Fieldhouse is located adjacent to WorthingtonStadium. The clubhouse, which is one of the finest baseball facilities in thecountry, includes locker rooms for both the Flames and visiting teams, ateam room, weight room, training room, umpires’ locker room, public rest-rooms for fans, sky box seating and full-length indoor batting cages.

The Matthes-Hopkins Track Complex is the home of the Flames’ successfultrack program. The track, which features a polyurethane surface, is namedafter former track coaches Jake Matthes and Ron Hopkins. The same facilityholds the Liberty Soccer Field, where both the men’s and women’s soccerteams play. In 1996, lights were added so games could be played at night.

Liberty’s tennis teams have been significantly enhanced by the recent addi-tion of three new tennis courts at the Esbenshade-Hershey Tennis Center,bringing the total numby has received numerous upgrades, including a newbackstop and an enclosed hitting circuit with two new batting cages.

Another recent athletic facility addition made available to Liberty’s student-athletes is the Tolsma Indoor Track Center, located in the heart of Liberty’sCampus North building. The indoor center is one of just three indoor trackfacilities in the state of Virginia and features a flat 200-meter oval with aMondo surface. The track has a wide radius, a four-lane oval and an eight-lane straightaway. Also located in the complex are two long/triple jump run-ways, a pole vault runway and a high jump apron.

The purchase of a FinishLynx timing system has greatly increased the abili-ty to host high-level high school and NCAA meets at the facility as well as atthe university’s outdoor track complex.

Liberty Softball Field

Esbenshade-Hershey Tennis Center

Al Worthington Stadium

Matthes-Hopkins Track Complex


Athletic Administration

L I B E R T Y F L A M E S

DDrr.. JJeerrrryy FFaallwweellllLiberty University Founder and Former Chancellor (1933-2007)

At the age of 22, having justgraduated from college in Juneof 1956, Jerry Falwell returned tohis hometown of Lynchburg, Va.,and started Thomas RoadBaptist Church with 35 mem-bers. The offering that first

Sunday totaled only $135.Falwell often said about the first collection, “We thought

we had conquered the world”. Today, Thomas Road Churchhas 24,000 members and the total annual revenues of allthe Jerry Falwell ministries total over $200 million.

Within weeks of founding his new church in 1956,Falwell began the Old-Time Gospel Hour, a daily localradio ministry and a weekly local television ministry.Nearly five decades later, this Old-Time Gospel Hour isnow seen and heard in every American home and onevery continent except Antarctica. Through the years, overthree million persons have communicated to the Falwellministries they received Christ as Lord and Savior as aresult of this radio and television ministry.

In 1967, Falwell implemented his vision to build aChristian educational system for evangelical youth. Hebegan with the creation of Lynchburg Christian Academy, aChrist-centered, academically-excellent, fully-accreditedChristian day school, providing kindergarten, elementaryand high school.

In 1971, Liberty University was founded. Today, over27,000 students from 50 states and 80 nations attendthis accredited, liberal arts Christian university. Falwell’sdream has become a reality. A pre-school child can nowenter the school system at age three, and 20 or moreyears later, leave the same campus with a Ph.D., withoutever sitting in a classroom where the teacher was not acommitted follower of Jesus Christ.

Falwell was also publisher of the National LibertyJournal, a monthly newspaper which is read by over200,000 pastors and Christian workers, and the FalwellConfidential, a weekly e-mail newsletter to over 500,000pastors and Christian activists.

In June 1979, Falwell organized the Moral Majority, aconservative political lobbying movement which the presssoon dubbed the "Religious Right." During the first twoyears of its existence, the Moral Majority attracted over100,000 pastors, priests and rabbis and nearly seven mil-lion religious conservatives who mobilized as a pro-life,pro-family, pro-Israel, and pro-strong national defense lob-bying organization.

The Moral Majority chose California Governor RonaldReagan as "their candidate" for President in 1980, regis-tered millions of new voters, and set about to inform andactivate a sleeping giant - 80 million Americans commit-ted to faith, family, and Judeo-Christian values.

With the impetus of the newly organized Moral Majority,millions of people of faith voted for the first time in 1980and helped elect Ronald Reagan and many conservativecongressmen and senators. Since 1979, about 30% of

the American electorate has been identified by mediapolls as the "Religious Right". Most recent major mediasurveys have acknowledged these "faith and values" vot-ers re-elected George W. Bush in November 2004.

Though perhaps better known outside Lynchburg forpolitical activism, Jerry Falwell's personal schedule con-firmed his passion for being a pastor and a Christian edu-cator. He often stated his heartbeat was for training youngpeople for every walk of life.

Falwell, who went home to be with the Lord at the ageof 73 on May 15, 2007, was married to Macel for 49years and they have three grown children and eight grand-children.

JJeerrrryy FFaallwweellll,, JJrr..Chancellor/President

Jerry Falwell, Jr. was born inLynchburg, Va. on Father’s Day,June 17, 1962. He attendedLynchburg Christian Academyand Liberty University, graduatingwith a bachelor of arts in reli-gious studies in 1984.

He obtained his Juris Doctordegree from the Virginia School of Law in 1987. Falwell, Jr.is licensed to practice in all Virginia state courts, U.S.District Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts ofVirginia, United States Court of Appeals for the FourthCircuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Falwell, Jr. has engaged in the private practice of law inLynchburg since 1987 and has served as the GeneralCounsel of Liberty University, Thomas Road Baptist Church,Liberty Broadcasting Network, and Jerry Falwell Ministriessince 1988.

Falwell, Jr., and his father, Dr. Jerry Falwell, workedtogether closely since 1988 in the management and over-sight of the University and all the Falwell ministries. Inrecent years, he has assumed more and more of theresponsibility for the day-to-day management of the organ-ization from his father who, along with the LibertyUniversity Board of Trustees, named him Vice-Chancellor ofthe University in 2003. He has served on Liberty’s Boardof Trustees since 2000.

Falwell, Jr. has also played a key role in the develop-ment of the real estate in the vicinity of the Universitythrough the recruitment of many national retail andrestaurant chains to the area. These developments havegreatly enriched the lifestyle of the University community.

Falwell, Jr. is a member of the Board of Directors andthe Executive Committee of the Lynchburg RegionalChamber of Commerce and was named as the 2006Business Person of the Year for western Virginia by theBlue Ridge Business Journal.

He married Becki Tilley of Chapel Hill, N.C., in 1987.They have three children: Jerry Falwell, III (Trey), born1989, Charles Wesley, born 1993, and Caroline Grace,born 2000, and have lived on a farm in Bedford County,Va., since 1987.

DDrr.. RRoonnaalldd GGooddwwiinnExecutive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Ronald Godwin serves asExecutive Vice President andChief Operating Officer for LibertyUniversity. However, for a total ofmore than 15 years, Dr. Godwinhas worked directly for theChancellor of Liberty University

via many of Liberty’s affiliated ministries.During a long administrative career, he has held a vari-

ety of leadership positions including two presidencies ofprivate Christian colleges, Executive Vice President of theWashington Times, Executive Vice President of the MoralMajority, President of Jerry Falwell Ministries, President ofLiberty Broadcast Network, President of Liberty UniversityFoundation and more recently, Dean of the Helms Schoolof Government and Senior Administrator of ResidentialRecruiting.

Godwin received his bachelor of arts from Bob Jones,his masters of science from Old Dominion, and his Ph.D.in Post-Secondary Planning and Management from FloridaState.

Godwin and his wife, Carol Stanley Godwin, are mem-bers of Thomas Road Baptist Church and both serve onthe board of the Liberty Godparent Home. They currentlyreside in Forest with Godwin’s 97 year old father, Jacob M.Godwin.

JJeeffff BBaarrbbeerrDirector of Athletics

Jeff Barber was named theDirector of Athletics at LibertyUniversity on Jan. 23, 2006,becoming the 10th Director ofAthletics in the history of theUniversity.

The University has chargedBarber with the future leadership

of the athletics department and the building of a strongfinancial basis for the department which will guide LibertyUniversity athletics into the ranks of the elite NCAADivision I athletic programs in the nation.

Barber has wasted little time making an impact atLiberty, as in less than two years, he has been instrumen-tal in guiding Liberty on a path to the next level of colle-giate athletics.

He has spearheaded athletics facility improvement proj-ects in nearly every athletics venue, highlighted bychanges to Williams Stadium. During the summer of2006, the football program’s on-campus playing facilityreceived the latest in playing surfaces as FieldTurf wasinstalled, while numerous other smaller projects were initi-ated to aesthetically improve the appearance of the facili-ty.

However, Barber’s chief facility accomplishment sincejoining the Flames in 2005 was overseeing the completion




of the Williams Football Operations Center. The new48,000-square foot state-of-the-art home base for thefootball program is one of the nicest FCS (formerly I-AA)football-only facilities in the nation.

In addition to Barber’s athletic facility achievements,the new Director of Athletics has spurred a dramaticincrease in Flames Club memberships and season ticketsales for football and basketball.

Membership collections for the Flames Club, theAthletics Department’s booster club organization, reachedan all-time new high during the 2006-07 campaign asLiberty surpassed the $200,000 mark for the first time inthe organization’s history. 2006 season ticket sales forfootball were four times as high as the previous year, put-ting Liberty on track to sell over 1,000 football seasontickets in 2007.

Barber brought a wealth of experience in the areas ofathletic fundraising and administration to LibertyUniversity, including 25 years in the athletic industry.

Barber came to Liberty after spending 11 years atSouth Carolina, including his last three years as SeniorAssociate Athletic Director for Development/GamecockClub Executive Director.

Barber served on the senior management team atSouth Carolina for nine years, helping raise more than$14 million annually, while working closely with legendaryfootball coaches Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier

Barber supervised the solicitation and receipt of over$85 million during his tenure at South Carolina, settingrecords each year in annual gifts to the Gamecock Club,which was at 16,500 members when he finished. He wasalso responsible for all major gifts to the Gamecock Clubwhich exceeded $15,000 annually and developed thatlevel of giving from 21 members to 137 at his time ofdeparture.

Barber joined the athletics department at SouthCarolina in 1996 as an Assistant Athletic Director forDevelopment and was promoted to Associate AthleticDirector/Gamecock Club Executive Director in 1999.

Prior to his days at South Carolina, Barber served fiveyears at Furman in Greenville, S.C., starting as ExecutiveDirector of the Paladin Club in 1991, before being pro-moted to Senior Associate Athletic Director for ExternalAffairs in 1994.

While at Furman, Barber was responsible for the collec-tion of $14 million in revenue from annual giving, capitalgifts and endowed gifts, while guiding the Paladin Club togifts totaling $3.75 million and set records for five-con-secutive years. He was also the chairman of the FurmanPro-Am Golf Endowment Tournament, which totaledreceipts of $6.5 million.

Barber got his start in collegiate athletic administrationat his alma mater as the Assistant Director of EastCarolina’s Pirate Club in 1987. While serving four yearswith the Pirates, Barber participated in the receipt ofannual giving of $4 million to the Pirate Club, while organ-izing and managing Pirate Club actions and Pirate Pro-Amfundraisers.

Before joining the staff at East Carolina, Barber servedthree years in major and minor league baseball as he wasthe Assistant General Manager of the Columbia Mets in

Columbia, S.C. (1985-86) and Director of Operations forthe Montreal Expos Spring Training Camp in West PalmBeach, Fla. (1986-87).

After graduating from East Carolina, Barber served as ahealth and physical education teacher in Columbia, S.C.for four years (1981-85), while coaching football and bas-ketball.

Barber graduated cum laude at East Carolina in 1981with a bachelor of science degree in health, physical edu-cation and recreation. In 1997, he continued his educa-tion with a degree from the Sports Management Institute,graduating as class spokesman.

Barber, a native of Greenville, N.C., is married to theformer Donna Dacus and the couple has three children –Katie (12), Lindsay (10) and Jay (9).

MMiicckkeeyy GGuurriiddyyAssociate Athletics Director – Internal Operations

A veteran of the athleticsdepartment, Mickey Guridy isentering his 15th year of serviceat Liberty and currently serves asthe Associate Athletics Directorfor Internal Operations, a posi-tion he was promoted to on July

1, 2006. He served as the Interim Director of Athleticsfrom Nov. 2005 to Feb. 2006.

As the Athletics Department’s Internal OperationsDirector, Guridy oversees the day-to-day business opera-tions of the athletics department in terms of budgets andhuman resources. He oversees event management andworks closely with the Director of Athletic Facilities toensure facilities are maintained and upgraded. He is alsoin charge of special projects for the athletics department.

Prior to his current position, Guridy served as theAssistant Athletic Director for Business Operations fromJuly of 2005 to Nov. of 2005. In Nov. of 2005, Guridy wasnamed the Interim Director of Athletics and served in thecapacity for four months.

During his tenure at Liberty, he has also served threeyears as Assistant Athletic Director for Football Operations(2002-04), five years as Assistant Athletic Director forBudget and Marketing (1997-2001) and four years as theticket office manager and executive director of the FlamesClub (1993-96).

While working with the football program as the Directorof Operations, Guridy was responsible for the footballbudget, scheduling, team travel and training, camp organi-zation, while also working closely with the athletic depart-ment's marketing department to further the promotion ofthe Flames' football team.

As the Director of Budget, he monitored the budgetarydealings and expenditures for each sport and oversaw theday-to-day business operations of the athletics depart-ment. As the marketing director, Guridy was responsible formarketing the 17-sport athletic department by gainingadvertising, corporate sponsorships and exposing LibertyAthletics to the public.

He was responsible for Liberty’s marketing efforts from1997-2002, which paid great dividends for the athleticdepartment. Because of his efforts, football home averageattendance reached an all-time high, averaging over10,000 fans in 1998, which ranked in the Top-35 of NCAADivision I-AA.

Overall basketball attendance led the conference everyyear and the 1997 home attendance was ranked in theTop-100 of the country. During the 2000 football season,Guridy was instrumental in providing a family fun atmos-phere at Williams Stadium called “Liberty Land”.

Also during his tenure at Liberty, Guridy has been themarketing and tournament director for the Big SouthBasketball Tournament (1995-98), the operations directorfor the Virginia High School League State BasketballTournament for five years and has also worked with theTour DuPont, the Old Dominion Athletic ConferenceBaseball Tournament.

A native of Mechanicsville, Va., Guridy completed hisbachelor’s degree in sport management in 1993 fromLiberty and completed his master's degree in businessadministration at Averrett College in Sept. 2000.

Guridy, and his wife Erin have two sons, Sam and Abe,and reside in the Lynchburg area.

KKrriissttiiee BBeeiittzzAssociate Athletics Director - Academic Affairs for Athletics

Kristie Beitz enters her secondyear as a part of the LibertyAthletics Department senior staffmanagement team after beingnamed Associate AthleticsDirector - Academic Affairs forAthletics in July of 2006.

In her role, Beitz directs the Academic Affairs for theAthletics Department, which oversees each student-ath-letes’ academic progress, including academic advising andtutoring, while serving as the liaison between the student-athlete and the University’s academic community.

Beitz and her team of academic coordinators workclosely with each athletic program in an effort to assureevery student-athlete is given the opportunity to earn adegree and secure a meaningful career after graduation.

During her first year at the University, Beitz was instru-mental in guiding the academic efforts of Liberty’s athlet-ics programs. Over 35 percent of Liberty’s student-athletesachieved a 3.0 or higher GPA, earning a distinction on theBig South Presidential Honor Roll.

Liberty also had 12 out of 18 squads post a 3.0 orbetter team GPA, with the women’s basketball posting a3.508 team GPA, which was fifth nationally as ranked bythe Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.

Six different student-athletes were named to variousESPN The Magazine CoSIDA Academic All-District teamswith Arlene Zelinskas earning the top honor as the trackand field standout became the 11th student-athlete inathletics department history to be named a ESPN TheMagazine CoSIDA Academic All-American.




Beitz came to Liberty after serving three years as amember of the Office of Academic Affairs for Athletics atVirginia where she was a study skills specialist and aca-demic coordinator. As a member of the Cavaliers’ athleticsdepartment, Beitz assisted the student-athletes with timemanagement, study skills and organizational techniques,while also serving as an academic advisor and in theareas of recruiting.

Prior to her days at Virginia, Beitz was a special educa-tion teacher and coordinator at Glenvar High School inSalem, Va. for six years. While at Glenvar, Beitz taughtclasses in earth science, biology and English.

Beitz received her bachelor’s degree in social sciencesfrom Radford as she attended the Big South institution ona field hockey scholarship and served as team captain hersenior year.

The native of Richmond, Va., later continued her educa-tional pursuits, earning her master’s degree in specialeducation from Radford and an education specialistdegree in administration and supervision from Virginia.

DDrr.. WWiilllliiaamm GGrriibbbbiinnNCAA Faculty Athletic Representative

Dr. William Gribbin is in his18th year of service as Liberty’sNCAA Faculty AthleticRepresentative to the NationalCollegiate Athletic Association(NCAA). He is responsible forverifying eligibility of the student-athletes and acts as a liaison

between the academic and athletic communities.An ex-officio member of the Faculty Senate Athletic

Committee, Gribbin also chaired the steering committee ofLiberty’s self-study for NCAA certification. He currentlyserves on the Big South Conference’s ComplianceCommittee.

Gribbin has served as the Dean of Liberty’s School ofCommunications from its beginning in 1984, and hastaught English since arriving at Liberty in 1980. He cur-rently teaches the English methods course and supervisesstudent teachers.

He graduated from Edinboro University of Pennsylvaniain 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in English Education andreturned to Edinboro to earn his master’s degree inEnglish Education in 1971. Gribbin earned a Ph.D. in edu-cation administration from The Pennsylvania StateUniversity in 1977.

Gribbin and his wife, Phyllis, reside in Forest, Va.

BBrruuccee CCaarreeyy Assistant Athletic Director for Television Media

Bruce Carey is entering his fifthyear as a member of the athlet-ics department and serves thestaff as Assistant Athletic Directorfor Television Media. His day-to-day athletic responsibilities areto handle all aspects of further-

ing the department’s television coverage on a local,national and world wide level and to serve as a liaisonbetween the university and other media outlets in the areaof television.

Since joining the athletic staff, Carey has been instru-mental in dramatically expanding the department’s televi-sion coverage, including the oversight of the broadcast ofeach home football, volleyball, women’s basketball andmen’s basketball games.

Over the last three years, Carey produced several BigSouth Conference football and basketball games on theBig South Television Network, as well as, postseasongames for the 2005 Big South Basketball Championship.

Carey is a veteran in the television broadcast field andhas served as the producer and senior cameraman for theLiberty Broadcasting Network since 1981. Highlights ofCarey’s Liberty Broadcasting Network sport career includeserving as the producer of the first-ever ESPN televisedon-campus event (men’s basketball against EastTennessee State on Jan. 10, 1991), producer of the first-ever baseball and volleyball home broadcasts and theaddition of an NCAA football package to the INSPTelevision Network in 1999.

The Who’s Who In Television Broadcast award winnercarries over 29 years of freelance sport television experi-ence and has worked for such networks as ABC, CBS,ESPN, TNT, TBS, TNN, MSG, Fox Sports, Comcast andJefferson-Pilot/Raycom, covering numerous collegiateevents, as well as, events for the NHL, NBA and the WPBA.

Spotlighting Carey’s career sport coverage wouldinclude events such as the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the AmosAlonzo Stagg Bowl, the McDonald’s All-American game,the 2001 Final Four NCAA Volleyball Championships, theVirginia State Golf Championships, the 2003 NCAADivision III Baseball and Basketball Championships, aswell as, collegiate conference championships such as theACC soccer championships and the Southern Conferencebasketball championships.

Carey has been recognized by his peers as a four-timeTelly Award winner, including a Telly Award for his docu-mentary entitled “The Perfect Season”, highlighting theLiberty University women’s basketball undefeated 1997-98 season. He was also given a Communicator Award forhis documentary entitled “Beyond Bataan”.

The native of Washington, D.C., Carey graduated fromDanville Community College in 1971 with an associate’sdegree in drafting and design technology and has graduat-ed with an ICS degree in television and VCR repair.

Carey and his wife, Julia, are the parents of three chil-dren, Michelle, Vanessa and Krystle.

KKeevviinn KKeeyyssAssistant Athletics Director – External Operations

Kevin Keys is currently in histhird year as Liberty UniversityAssistant Athletics Director forExternal Operations after rejoin-ing the staff in August 2005.

Keys, who brings a wealth ofathletic experience and expertise

in the area of external relations, oversees the Flames’sports marketing and promotional programs as his pri-mary function. He also oversees sports information, non-business aspects of the ticket office operations, the annu-al golf tournament and Flames sports broadcasts. Hecame to Liberty after working for five years as a vice presi-dent at Morgantown Printing and Binding in Morgantown,W.Va.

During his tenure year, Keys has more than doubled thesponsorship revenues generated for the department eachyear and refocused the effort to brand the department inall areas of public image. He has also served on severalUniversity committees that concentrated on public imagesuch as the University style guide, branding efforts, e-com-merce and licensing. Keys is the University's licensingcoordinator in cooperation with Licensing Resource Group.

Keys is no stranger to Liberty or to the athletics depart-ment as the 30-year veteran of intercollegiate athleticsstarted his career in 1973 as a statistician for the men’sbasketball program. He was promoted to assistant sportsinformation director in 1975, also handling coverage forthe football and baseball programs. After graduation in1977, he was named the school’s first-ever sports infor-mation director and remained in the position until 1985,which allowed him to see the department grow from theNCCAA level to NCAA Division I status.

During his tenure, Keys produced 44 publications whichreceived CoSIDA honors at the regional and national lev-els, including 11 “Best in the Nation” awards. Keys alsowas instrumental in establishing the Flames SportsNetwork, which broadcasts all football and men’s basket-ball games. He established and produced the athleticsdepartment’s first-ever corporate marketing program.

Keys quickly became active on the regional and nation-al scene as he served as the president of the NAIA-SIDAfrom 1982-84 and was honored with the 1984 IkePearson Award, signifying the top SID in the NAIA ranks. In1983, Keys played a significant role in the creation of theVirginia Sports Information Directors Association, the firstorganization of its kind in the nation. In 2002, Keysreceived the VaSID Distinguished Service Award, honoringindividuals with over 20 years of sports service in theCommonwealth of Virginia. He also served as the informa-tion director for the Mason-Dixon Athletic Conference forthree years.

Upon leaving Liberty in 1985, Keys moved toMorgantown, W.Va., and joined the West Virginia Universityathletics department staff as the sports publicationsdirector, a position he held for 15 years. While under hissupervision, 72 publications were recognized by CoSIDA




for excellence at the regional and national levels, includingsix which received “Best in the Nation” distinction.

In his position, Keys administered the production of allprinted materials for the athletics department, totalingover 150 publications annually and worked as a coremember of the Communications Group which handled allexternal affairs aspects for the BCS athletic program.During his tenure at West Virginia, he co-authored a bookchronicling the history of the Mountaineer football pro-gram.

The Beltsville, Md., native has officiated basketball andsoftball for more than 25 years and worked at least onestate playoff basketball game in West Virginia 11-straightyears, including the high school championship in 2000.

Keys and his wife, Lori, a native of Lynchburg, have twochildren, Josh, 22, who graduated from Liberty last springand is currently an assistant women’s basketball coach atthe College of Charleston, and Jamie, 21, who is currentlyattending Liberty.

BBoobb GGooooddDirector of Athletics Development &Flames Club

Bob Good is currently in histhird year as a member of theLiberty University AthleticsDepartment, having joined thestaff as Director of AthleticsDevelopment & Flames Club inAugust 2005.

His responsibilities include the growth and manage-ment of the Flames Club, coordination of capital cam-paigns, and cultivation of major gifts. The majority ofGood’s time is devoted to the Flames Club, which hasgrown in annual fund membership from 90 members con-tributing $53,000 in 2004, the year before his arrival, to281 members contributing $243,000 in 2006.

At the start of the 2007 football season, Flames Clubmembership was on pace to double from the previousyear. Good also oversees the Student Flames Club, whichhad 557 members in the inaugural 2006 year, and theFlames Kids Club.

Good brings a wealth of business experience to theLiberty University campus, having spent 15 years in vari-ous levels of leadership at CitiFinancial, a leading Fortune100 lending company. He got his start with the organiza-tion in March 1990 as a branch manager in VirginiaBeach, Va.

In February 1998, Good was promoted to an areatraining director, where he served as a leadership trainerfor 60 branches and 250 employees in five states whilebased out of Wilmington, Del.

He was elevated to the position of district manager inJune 1999 and managed nine lending branches through-out Northern Georgia and Southeastern Tennessee, whileheadquartered in Atlanta. Good moved closer to the areain May 2002 when he was assigned as a district managerin Roanoke, Va. He served in this role until joining theLiberty University athletics department two years ago.

Good is no stranger to Liberty or its athletics program,as he received his bachelor’s of science in finance in1988 and was a four-year member of the wrestling team.He finished his wrestling career with over 30 career victo-ries, including a 20-14 record his senior season. Goodwon the 1988 NCAA South Regional and qualified for theNCAA Division II National Championships, where he fin-ished the event in ninth place.

Good also played a part in the return of the wrestlingprogram to Liberty University, having served as the chair-man of the former Liberty Wrestling Foundation from2002-05. Under his direction, the organization raised over$60,000 to help underwrite the return of wrestling to theUniversity.

The native of Lynchburg is a 1983 graduate of LibertyChristian Academy and is married to the former TraceyGreene, a former Liberty University cheerleader and also a1988 graduate. The couple has three children - Patrick(13), Sydney (10) and Conner (8).

TToodddd WWeettmmoorreeAssistant Athletic Director forAthletic Media Relations

Todd Wetmore is entering hiseighth year as head of the Officeof Athletic Media Relations andhis third year as AssistantAthletic Director for AthleticMedia Relations, a position hewas promoted to July of 2005.

Wetmore, who is in his 11th year of full-time servicewithin the athletics department, started as an AssistantSports Information Director in 1998 and was promoted toSports Information Director in December of 1999.

In July 2005, the office underwent a name change,going from Sports Information to Athletic Media Relationsto better clarify the office’s role within the athletic depart-ment, and Wetmore received his latest promotion.Originally, he joined the office as a student assistant in1993 and maintained the position for four years.

Wetmore’s current primary duties include the distribu-tion of information for Liberty’s 18-sport athletics program,as well as the athletics department’s liaison with themedia. Wetmore serves as the editor of the school’s ath-letic publications and coordinates all media efforts for thefootball, wrestling and softball teams.

After joining the Sports Information staff on a full-timebasis in 1998, Wetmore was instrumental in the creationof the athletic department's first web page. The onlineservice which, provided timely results, up-to-date statisticsand player and coach biographical information for each ofLiberty's athletic teams, gradually improved under hisguidance. In February 2004, Wetmore finished a year-longproject to completely redesign the site and helped launchLibertyFlames.com, the new official site of the athleticsdepartment.

In 2002, Wetmore’s Liberty University football mediaguide cover was judged as “Best in the Nation” by CoSIDA,while his 2003 and 2002 football game day programs

were judged as “Second Best in the Nation” and “ThirdBest in the Nation” by his peers. Wetmore has had a totalof four publications received recognition as he assistedalso with the 1997 Flames football game program, whichwas named “Second Best in the Nation”.

Wetmore is a member of the College Sports InformationDirector’s of America (CoSIDA) and the Virginia StateSports Information Directors (VaSID). He has served asvice chair of the Big South Conference Sports InformationDirectors (2001-02), chair of the Big South ConferenceFootball Sports Information Directors (2002-03) and vice-chair of the Big South Conference Football SportsInformation Directors (2004-05).

Wetmore received his bachelor's degree in sport man-agement in 1998 from Liberty. The Killingworth, Conn.,

native resides in the greaterLynchburg area.

MMiikkee HHaaggeennDirector of Compliance

Mike Hagen is the newestmember of the athletics depart-ment senior administrative staffafter being promoted to the posi-tion of Director of Compliance in

May of 2007.Hagen began his professional career as a graduate

assistant in the Compliance Office during the 2004-05athletics season, a position he held until his promotion tohis current position.

Hagen serves as the liaison between the University andNCAA services as well as the Big South Conference. He isresponsible for educating the athletic administration,coaches and boosters on current NCAA rules and regula-tions, as well as overseeing compliance issues set forth bythe NCAA to all coaches and student athletes. He alsohandles all transfer and eligibility processes.

Hagen is no stranger to the University nor the athleticsdepartment as the former student-athlete was a four-yearmember of the Flames’ track and field program.

During his time as a trackster, Hagen served as a teamcaptain, focusing on such events as the decathlon, polevault and hurdles. He posted back-to-back sixth-place fin-ishes in the decathlon as a freshman and sophomore atthe Big South Outdoor Track Championship (2002 and2003) and a third-place finish in the hurdles in the 2004Big South Outdoor Championship.

Hagen was a part of a program which won four-consec-utive Big South Indoor Championships and three BigSouth Outdoor titles. As a senior, Hagen capped off hiscareer by finishing fourth in the pole vault at the indoorconference championship and sixth in the outdoor titleevent.

The native of Eaton, Colo., graduated with a bachelordegree in sport management from Liberty in 2005 andreceived his masters degree in business managementfrom Liberty in 2007.

Athletics Department Staff


Jeff AlderMen’s Soccer Head Coach

Ashley BecraftMen’s Basketball

Administrative Assistant

Lance BinghamTrack & Field

Associate Coach

Andy BloodworthWomen’s Basketball

Assistant Coach

Ryan BombergerAthletic Media Relations

Associate Director

Madeline BosekAthletic TrainingAssistant Trainer

Vincent BriedisAthletic Media Relations

Assistant Director

Steve BrissonAthletics

Assistant Athletics Facilities

Chris BrownFootball

Assistant Equipment Manager

Paul CarmanyAthletic Media Relations

Assistant Director

Chris Casola Athletic Training

Head Trainer

Jesse CastroWrestling

Head Coach

Tom ClarkFootball

Defensive Coordinator

Bev ColeFootball


Andy Coleman Football

Academic Coordinator

Jesse CopsAthletic TrainingAssistant Trainer

Tommy CromwellMen’s Basketball

Director of Operations

Adam DeyoWomen’s Basketball

Director of Operations

Megan DiFerdinandAthletics


Jason EakerMen’s BasketballAssistant Coach

Barry FinkeAthletic TrainingAssistant Trainer

Bill GillespieStrength & Conditioning

Director

Adam GodwinWomen’s SoccerAssistant Coach

Ed GomesFootball

Director of Spiritual Development

Josh GoodmanAthletics

Director of Athletic Facilities

Anne GoudeauStrength & Conditioning

Assistant Coach

Carey GreenWomen’s Basketball

Head Coach

Laurie GulluscioAthletics

CHAMPS/Life Skills Coordinator

Frank HicksonFootball

Assistant Coach

Greg JimmersonTrack & Field

Assitant Coach

Chris JohnsonTennis

Head Coach

Kari KanagyFootball - Recruiting

Assistant/Player Services

Scott LawrensonAthletic TrainingAssistant Trainer

Dale LayerMen’s BasketballAssistant Coach

Blaine McCorkleStrength & Conditioning

Assistant Coach

Ritchie McKayMen’s Basketball

Head Coach

Shane MillerStrength & Conditioning

Assistant Coach

Mike MorrisFootball

Head Equipment Manager

Shane PinderVolleyball

Head Coach

Albie PowersMen’s Golf

Assistant Coach

Michael PrettymanTrack & Field

Assistant Coach

James Price Women’s Soccer

Head Coach

Kristen RifeWomen’s Basketball


Marshall RobertsFootball

Assistant Coach

Danny RoccoFootball

Head Coach

Buck Romero Men’s Basketball

Academic Coordinator

Becky RudnickVolleyball

Assistant Coach

Paul RutiglianoFootball

Assistant AD/Football Operations

Nick SchnabelBasketball

Assistant Coach

Les SchoferAthletics

Staff Photographer

Aaron SchreinerAthletic TrainingAssistant Trainer

Kris SennettAthletics

Business Manager

Alexis SherardWomen’s Basketball

Assistant Coach

Dean ShortMen’s Soccer

Assistant Coach

Charles SkalaskiFootball - Assistant

Coach/Recruiting Coordinator

Pat SoleWrestling

Assistant Coach

Brad SoucieMen’s BasketballAssistant Coach

Heather StephensWomen’s Basketball

Assistant Coach

Jessica StephensAthletic TrainingAssistant Trainer

Brandon StreeterFootball

Assistant Coach

Pete SundheimFootball

Associate Head Coach

Jeff ThomasGolf

Head Coach

Brant TolsmaTrack & FieldHead Coach

Jim TomanBaseball

Head Coach

Jennifer VadenVolleyball

Assistant Coach

Tuesday Van EngenSoftball

Assistant Coach

Scott WachenheimFootball

Assistant Head Coach

Danny WengerFootball

Video Coordinator

Paul WetmoreSoftball

Head Coach

Dave WilliamsStrength & Conditioning

Assistant

Chad WiltFootballAssistant Coach

Robert Wimberly FootballAssistant Coach

Steve WoofAthletic TrainingAssistant Trainer

Heather ZealandTrack& FieldAdministrative Assistant

ATHLETICSSince joining the Big South Conference in1991, Liberty has won 74 conference champi-onships, averaging nearly five league titles perseason.

Liberty has won five Big South Sasser Cups(1998, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003), award-ed annually to the most successful athleticprogram in the league, making Liberty the sec-ond-highest honored program in the confer-ence’s history.

Liberty had 157 student-athletes named to theBig South Presidential Honor Roll at the con-clusion of the 2006-07 season. Over 35 per-cent of its student-athletes recorded a 3.0 GPAor higher in the classroom during the academicyear.

Cross country/track and field competitorArlene Zelinskas was a CoSIDA Academic All-America second-team selection in 2007,Liberty’s 11th CoSIDA Academic All-Americanin athletic department history. Zelinskas wasalso one of six student-athletes to earnCoSIDA Academic All-District and VaSIDAcademic All-State honors.

Kevin Mahan (men’s soccer), MandeeWheelock (women’s soccer) and ArleneZelinskas (outdoor track and field) werenamed Big South Scholar-Athletes of the Yearin their respective sports, and 17 Liberty stu-dent-athletes were named to various Big SouthAll-Academic teams.

Arlene Zelinskas capped off a stellar Libertyathletics career last year as she was namedthe recipient of the Mac Rivera/Rock RoyerAward, an award given annually to honorLiberty’s top graduating senior student-athlete.

FOOTBALLUnder the direction of Big South Coach of theYear Danny Rocco, Liberty tied for the bestturnaround in the nation last year, posting afive-win improvement from 2005 to 2006.

Liberty picked up its first win over a nationally-ranked football program since 1997 with its34-20 victory over No. 24 Charleston Southernat Williams Stadium.

Liberty rewrote the attendance record book in2006, setting single-game and single-seasonrecords, while ranking No. 13 nationally inaverage home attendance.

MEN’S BASKETBALLLarry Blair finished his career this past yearwith 2,211 points scored, making him the BigSouth Conference’s all-time leading scorer andsecond-best scorer in program history.

MEN’S GOLFThe men’s golf team holds the distinction ofbeing the only athletics program in Liberty’shistory to garner an at-large berth to a NCAAChampionship, doing so twice over the pastfive years (2003 and 2006).

WRESTLINGThe wrestling program quickly reestablished itspresence on the mats last year, claiming theNCAA East Regional title and sending four stu-dent-athletes to the NCAA NationalChampionship in its first year back after a 12-year hiatus.

SOFTBALLThe Lady Flames have won 77 games over thelast two years (41 in 2006 and 36 in 2007),

including the most-notable wins in programhistory with victories over No. 6 Michigan,No. 10 Baylor, No. 23 Hawaii and No. 24

Virginia Tech (twice).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALLThe Lady Flames ranked No. 7 in the nation

with a 3.508 team GPA for the 2006-07 academic year, the highest ranking in

program history.

Sophomore Megan Frazee was invited to theUSA Basketball Women’s National Team Trials

after earning first-team VaSID All-State and All-Big South honors.

VOLLEYBALLKallie Corbin captured the VaSID State Rookie

of the Year and Big South Freshman of the Yearawards. Along with Autum Black, the duo

comprised the first pair in program history to receive VaSID second-team all-state

mention in the same season.

CROSS COUNTRYThe men’s and women’s cross country squads

swept the Big South team titles for the firsttime since 1992, with Josh McDougal winning

his third-straight individual Big South championship.

TRACK AND FIELDThe men’s outdoor track team captured its

second IC4A championship in program history, and its first since 1996.

Josh McDougal won five All-America honorsbetween cross country and track, bringing

his career total to 11. The junior also joinedthe sub-4:00 mile club and became

the fifth-fastest all-time collegiate performer at 5,000 meters.

BASEBALLFor the third-straight season, the diamond

Flames won 30 or more games, only the second time in the 33-year history

of the program.

With pitcher Michael Solbach and outfielderGarrett Young being drafted in this year’s Major

League Baseball Draft, Liberty has now hadplayers selected in every MLB Draft since 1999.

WOMEN’S SOCCERFor the fifth time in the last eight seasons, theLady Flames played in the Big South Women’s

Soccer Championship title game.

MEN’S SOCCERFor the first time, the men’s soccer program

had two players sign contracts with profession-al teams. Liberty’s all-time leading scorer

Darryl Roberts signed with Sparta RotterdamFC of the Dutch League’s Division I, and OseiTelesford signed a contract with the Chicago

Fire of Major League Soccer.

TENNISLast year, Jonita Randolph became the

winningest player, male or female, in Libertytennis history and the program’s first ever

Big South Player of the Year.


Flames Football Honor Roll


All-AmericansFirst Team1978 Kim Raynor, running back

Churchmen’s1982 Mitchell Clark, running back

NAIA1982 John Sanders, linebacker

AFCA (Kodak)1983 Earl Rector, tight end

NAIA1985 Kelvin Edwards, wide receiver

National Strength Coaches AssociationWinfred Hogans, offensive line

Associated Press Little All-AmericanSteve Clark, defensive back

Associated Press Little All-AmericanJoe Seamster, defensive back

Associated Press Little All-American1986 Mark Mathis, cornerback

AFCA (Kodak)1987 Mickey Paige, linebacker

Football Gazette1995 Andrew McFadden, return specialist

Football GazetteSports Network

1998 Jesse Riley, linebackerAssociated Press

2000 Jason Wells, defensive endFootball Gazette

Second Team1977 Scott Goetz, offensive line

Churchmen’sKim Raynor, running back

Churchmen’s1978 Dave Hertzler, free safety

Churchmen’sEd Landis, Jr., nose guard

Churchmen’sRupert Wright, offensive line

Churchmen’sRod Gladfelter, defensive back

Churchmen’sSteve Kearns, tight end

Churchmen’s1986 Mark Mathis, cornerback

Football Gazette1989 Eric Green, tight end

Associated PressDonald Smith, cornerback

Sports Network1990 Keith Hatcher, offensive line

Associated Press1991 Pat Nelson, wide receiver

Associated Press1997 Rodney Degrate, defensive line

Football Gazette1997 Jesse Riley, linebacker

Football Gazette1998 Jesse Riley, linebacker

Football GazetteThird Team1988 Mickey Paige, linebacker

Football Gazette1995 David Long, linebacker

Football Gazette

1997 Rodney Degrate, defensive lineThe Sports Network

Honorable Mention1981 Mike Forslund, quarterback

NAIAGreg Mosely, running back

NAIAAssociated Press Little All-American

1982 John Sanders, linebackerNAIA

1984 Fred Banks, wide receiverAssociated Press Little All-American

1985 Kelvin Edwards, wide receiverAssociated Press Little All-American

1988 Paul Johnson, quarterbackFootball Gazette

1995 Sedrick Watkins, defensive backFootball Gazette

1996 Jesse Riley, linebackerFootball Gazette

1997 Stacy Nobles, running backFootball Gazette

1997 Torrey Rush, defensive backFootball Gazette

1997 Trey Sartin, offensive lineFootball Gazette

1997 Jerome Wicker, defensive lineFootball Gazette


Ulysses Moore, offensive lineFootball Gazette

Torrey Rush, defensive backFootball Gazette


Billy Seals, linebackerFootball Gazette

2000 Biff Parson, quarterbackFootball Gazette

2001 Jay Kelley, place kickerFootball Gazette

Dre Barnes, running backFootball Gazette

Big South All-ConferenceFirst Team2002 Dre Barnes, running back

Aaron DeBerry, defensive lineKendrick Howard, linebackerAndre Jerry, safetyJay Kelley, punter

2003 Dre Barnes, running backAaron DeBerry, defensive lineC.J. Moore, defensive backMarlon Roman, long snapperThomas Smith, offensive line

2004 Sean Boyle, offensive lineSam Gado, running backSeth Reichart, defensive lineThomas Smith, offensive lineNick Vaughn, linebacker

2005 Noah Crouch, punterJason Horn, defensive lineZach Terrell, running back

2006 Wynton Jackson, return specialistRashad Jennings, running backManny Rojas, linebackerStephen Sene, offensive line

Second Team2003 Sean Boyle, offensive line

Seth Reichart, defensive lineNick Vaughn, linebacker

2004 Dre Barnes, running backNoah Crouch, punterMarkus Ferguson, offensive lineErick Harris, defensive backC.J. Moore, defensive back

2005 Patrick Calvary, defensive backChris Luck, tight endManny Rojas, linebackerBrandon Turner, wide receiver

2006 Steven Ackley, defensive lineE.L. Estes, defensive backRyan Greiser, defensive backJason Horn, defensive lineStevie Ray Lloyd, linebackerChris Luck, tight endEddie Pinigis, offensive lineZach Terrell, running backBrandon Turner, wide receiverJarrett Winfrey, offensive line

Academic2002 Jay Cline, tight end2003 Jay Cline, tight end2004 Sam Gado, running back2005 Brock Farrel, quarterback2006 Ryan Greiser, defensive back

Big South Player of the YearOffensive2003 Dre Barnes

Big South Rookie of the Year2005 Zach Terrell

Big South Coach of the Year2006 Danny Rocco

Don Hansen’s National Football Gazette – All-RegionSecond Team2002 Dre Barnes, running back

Kendrick Howard, linebacker2004 Seth Reichart, defensive line2006 Wynton Jackson, return specialist

Stephen Sene, offensive line

Third Team2003 Dre Barnes, running back2005 Jason Horn, defensive line

Zach Terrell, running back2006 Steven Ackley, defensive line

Wynton Jackson, wide receiverRashad Jennings, running backStevie Ray Lloyd, linebackerManny Rojas, linebacker

Honorable Mention2006 Jason Horn, defensive line


Flames Football Honor Roll


CoSIDA Academic All-AmericansFirst Team1982 Jeff Benson, quarterback

Kelly Bush, fullbackBilly Lord, defensive back

1998 Jarrod Everson, defensive line

Second Team1982 Mark DeMoss, placekicker1997 Jarrod Everson, defensive line2004 Jay Cline, tight end

NCAA I-AA All-IndependentFirst Team1996 Damon Bomar, linebacker

Rodney Degrate, defensive line1997 Rodney Degrate, defensive line

Courtney Freeman, wide receiverJesse Riley, linebackerTrey Sartin, offensive line

1998 Stacy Nobles, running backJesse Riley, linebackerTorrey Rush, defensive back

1999 Jarrod Everson, defensive line2000 Ben Rogers, punter

Second Team1996 Ben Anderson, quarterback

Courtney Freeman, wide receiverJesse Riley, linebacker

1997 Jamie Christian, linebackerTorrey Rush, defensive back

1998 Jamie Christian, linebackerUlysses Moore, offensive line

2000 Gavin Kralik, wide receiverRandall State, defensive backJason Wells, defensive end

2001 Dre Barnes, running backAdrian Hall, punt returnKendrick Howard, linebackerJay Kelley, placekickerDaniel Thomas, wide receiver

Independent Defensive Player of the Year1998 Jesse Riley, linebacker

East Coast Athletic Conference All-StarsFirst Team1991 Pat Nelson, wide receiver1994 Daniel Whitehead, placekicker1995 Andrew McFadden, return specialist

Second Team1997 Rodney Degrate, defensive line

Virginia Sports Information Directors(VaSID) All-StateFirst Team1983 Kelvin Edwards, wide receiver1984 Kelvin Edwards, wide receiver

Mitch Lucas, offensive lineFred Banks, wide receiverBill Kagey, kickerTroy Rice, defensive lineJoe Seamster, defensive back

1985 Kelvin Edwards, wide receiver1986 Mark Mathis, defensive back

Wayne Haddix, defensive back1987 Mickey Paige, linebacker

Kenny Smith, punter1988 Tom McCutcheon, center

Charles McCray, running backRichard Shelton, defensive backMorgan Hout, Coach of the Year

1989 Eric Green, tight endDonald Smith, return specialist

1991 Pat Nelson, wide receiver1995 Andrew McFadden, return specialist1997 Courtney Freeman, wide receiver1998 Jesse Riley, linebacker2002 Dre Barnes, running back2003 Thomas Smith, offensive line2006 Wynton Jackson, return specialist

Second Team2003 Dre Barnes, running back2005 Jason Horn, defensive line

Zach Terrell, running back2006 E.L. Estes, defensive back

Ryan Greiser, defensive backStephen Sene, offensive lineJarrett Winfrey, offensive line

Rookie of the Year2005 Zach Terrell, running back

Roanoke Times All-State TeamFirst Team1997 Courtney Freeman, wide receiver

Trey Sartin, offensive lineRodney Degrate, defensive line

1998 Jesse Riley, linebacker2003 Dre Barnes, running back

Thomas Smith, offensive line

Second Team1997 Ulysses Moore, offensive line

Ben Anderson, quarterbackStacy Nobles, running backTorrey Rush, defensive back

1998 Jarrod Everson, defensive lineStacy Nobles, running backUlysses Moore, offensive line

Torrey Rush, defensive back2003 Sean Boyle, offensive line

Jay Cline, tight endAaron DeBerry, defensive line

NCAA I-AA National Player of the Week1996 Lawrence Worthington (Delaware State)1997 Jesse Riley (Delaware State)

Jamie Christian (Norfolk State)2000 Biff Parson (East Tennessee State)2001 Adrian Hall (Gardner-Webb)

Jay Kelley (Wingate)Biff Parson (South Florida)Daniel Thomas (Wingate)

2004 Erick Harris (Chattanooga)

Flames in Postseason PlayBlue-Gray Game1985 Kelvin Edwards, wide receiver1986 Wayne Haddix, defensive back

Senior Bowl1986 Wayne Haddix, defensive back1989 Eric Green, tight end

Hula Bowl1989 Eric Green, tight end

Martin Luther King All-American Classic1989 Donald Smith, defensive back

Sam Rutigliano, head coachBob Leahy, assistant coach

Mitchell Clark David Hertzler Ed LandisWinford Hogans

Billy Lord Mark Mathis Joe SeamsterJohn Sanders

Flames In The Pros


Name, Position (Years at LU)Team (League) YearsAnderson, Ben/QB (1994-95-96-97)

New York Giants (NFL) 1998Portland Forest Dragons (AFL) 1999

Banks, Fred/WR (1982-83-84)Cleveland Browns (NFL) 1985-86Miami Dolphins (NFL) 1987-93

Barrie, Sebastian/DL (1990-91)Green Bay Packers (NFL) 1992Arizona Cardinals (NFL) 1993-95San Diego Chargers (NFL) 1995Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) 1996Arizona Rattlers (AFL) 2000-03San Jose Sabercats (AFL) 2004-05

Basso, Phil/QB (1981-82-83-84)Indianapolis Colts (NFL) 1985

Brown, Jeff/DB (1979-80-81-82)Washington Federals (USFL) 1983-84

Burns, Travis/DB (1998-99-2000-01)Quad City Steamwheelers (AFL) 2004-05

Carswell, Dwayne/TE (1991-92-93)Denver Broncos (NFL) 1994-06

Clark, Steve/DB (1982-83-84-85)Buffalo Bills (NFL) 1985

Degrate, Rodney/DL (1994-95-96-97)Portland Forest Dragons (AFL) 1999Toronto Argonauts (CFL) 1999

Edwards, Darnell/WR (2003-04-05)Columbus Lions (WIFL) 2007

Edwards, Kelvin/WR (1982-83-84-85)New Orleans Saints (NFL) 1986Dallas Cowboys (NFL) 1987-88

Ferguson, Markus/OL (2002-03-04-05)Albany Conquest (AFL2) 2007

Forslund, Mike/QB (1979-80-81-82)Washington Federals (USFL) 1983

Gado, Sam/RB (2001-02-03-04)Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) 2005Green Bay Packers (NFL) 2005Houston Texans (NFL) 2006

Goede, Chris/OL (1991-92-93-94)San Antonio Texans (CFL) 1995

Eugene Goodman/RB (2001-02-03-04)Columbus Lions (WIFL) 2007

Green, Eric/TE (1985-86-87-88)Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) 1990-94Miami Dolphins (NFL) 1995Baltimore Ravens (NFL) 1996-98New York Jets (NFL) 1999-00

Haddix, Wayne/DB (1983-84-85-86)New York Giants (NFL) 1987-88Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL) 1990-91Cincinnati Bengals (NFL) 1991-92Cleveland Browns (NFL) 1993

Haith, William/DB (1999-2000-01-02)Manchester Wolves (AFL) 2005

Harris, Erick/WR/DB (2001-02-03-04)Amarillo Dusters (AFL) 2005Rhein Fire (NFL Europe) 2005Amsterdam Admirals (NFL Europe) 2006

Inverso, Glenn/QB (1977-78-79-80)New York Jets (NFL) 1981Chicago Bears (NFL) 1982

Jennings, Butch/RB (1994)New York Giants (NFL) 1995

Jones, Rennie/WR (1982-83-84-85)Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) 1985

Kagey, Bill/PK (1982-83-84-85)Dallas Cowboys (NFL) 1986

Kearnes, Steve/TE (1976-77-78-79)British Columbia Lions (CFL) 1980-82

Kinard, Leroy/RB (1988-89-90)New York Jets (NFL) 1991-92

Mathis, Mark/DB (1983-84-85-86)St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) 1987-88Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) 1989-91British Columbia Lions (CFL) 1992

McConnell, Wes/DB (1989-90-91-92)Shreveport Pirates (CFL) 1993-94

McFadden, Andrew/WR/RS (1995-96)St. Louis Rams (NFL) 1997Indianapolis Colts (NFL) 1998Portland Forest Dragons (AFL) 1999-00

McKnight, James/WR (1991-92-93)Seattle Seahawks (NFL) 1994-98Dallas Cowboys (NFL) 1999-00Miami Dolphins (NFL) 2001-03

Nelson, Pat/WR (1988-89-90-91)Orlando Predators (AFL) 1992New York Jets (NFL) 1992-93

Nimako, George/RB (1991-92)Toronto Argonauts (CFL) 1993-94, 97-00

Nivens, Roosevelt/OL (1991-92-93-94)Baltimore Stallions (CFL) 1995Dallas Cowboys (NFL) 1996

Paige, Mickey/LB (1985-86-87-88)Washington Commandos (AFL) 1989-90

Parson, Biff/QB (1989-99-2000-01)Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL) 2002

Rush, Torrey/DB (1996-97-98-99)Barcelona Dragons (NFL Europe) 20001

Sartin, Trey/OL (1995-96-97)Indianapolis Colts (NFL) 1998-99

Shelton, Richard/DB (1984-86-87-88)Denver Broncos (NFL) 1989Seattle Seahawks (NFL) 1989-90Montreal Machine (WLAF) 1991-92Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) 1992-93-94

Smith, Donald/DB (1986-87-88-89)Minnesota Vikings (NFL) 1990-91Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) 1992-94Memphis Maddogs (CFL) 1995Toronto Argonauts (CFL) 1996-00

Washington, Desmond/DB (1997-98)Florida Firecats (AFL) 2001-05Cincinnati Jungle Kats (AFL2) 2007

Williams, Lauren (WR) (2003-04-05)Rhein Fire (NFL Europe) 2007

Active Players listed in Bold


Dwayne Carswell


Flames with Professional Postseason Honors

Year Name, Team Honors1990 Wayne Haddix, NFL Pro Bowl

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Eric Green NFL Rookie of the YearPittsburgh Steelers Selected to the NFL All-Rookie Team

by the NFL Players Association, USA Today,United Press International (UPI),Pro Football Writers Association,

Pro Football Weekly, Football Digest,Football News, The National

1994 Eric Green NFL Pro BowlPittsburgh Steelers

1997 Dwayne Carswell Captain of the Special TeamsDenver Broncos First Flame to play in a Super Bowl

First Flame to win a Super Bowl1998 Dwayne Carswell Captain of the Special Teams

Denver Broncos First Flame to play in two Super BowlsFirst Flame to win two Super Bowls

Flames in the Draft/Free Agent

Flames In The Pros


Sam Gado

Fred Banks

Richard Shelton

Kelvin Edwards

Eric Green

George Nimako


Flames In The Pros


Flames Professional Draft History

Year Player Round/Free Agent Team1980 Steve Kearnes 4th Round British Columbia (CFL)1981 Glenn Inverso Free Agent New York Jets (NFL)1983 Jeff Brown 18th Round Washington Federals (USFL)

Mike Forslund 21st Round Washington Federals (USFL)1985 Fred Banks 8th Round Cleveland Browns (NFL)

Phil Basso Free Agent Indianapolis Colts (NFL)1986 Kelvin Edwards 4th Round New Orleans Saints (NFL)

Steve Clark Free Agent Bufffalo Bills (NFL)Rennie Jones Free Agent Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)

1987 Wayne Haddix Free Agent New York Giants (NFL)Bill Kagey Free Agent Dallas Cowboys (NFL)

1989 Mickey Paige Free Agent Washington Commandos (AFL)Richard Shelton 10th Round Denver Broncos (NFL)

1990 Eric Green 1st Round Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL)Donald Smith 10th Round Minnesota Vikings (NFL)

1991 Leroy Kinard Free Agent New York Jets (NFL)1992 Sebastian Barrie Free Agent Green Bay Packers (NFL)

Wes McConnell Free Agent Shreveport Pirates (CFL)Pat Nelson Free Agent Orlando Predators (AFL)

1993 George Nimako 4th Round Toronto Argonauts (CFL)1994 Dwayne Carswell Free Agent Denver Broncos (NFL)

James McKnight Free Agent Seattle Seahawks (NFL)1995 Roosevelt Nivens Free Agent Baltimore Stallions (CFL)

Chris Goede Free Agent San Antonio Texans (CFL)Butch Jennings Free Agent New York Giants (NFL)

1997 Andrew McFadden Free Agent St. Louis Rams (NFL)1998 Ben Anderson Free Agent New York Giants (NFL)1998 Andrew McFadden Free Agent Indianapolis Colts (NFL)1998 Trey Sartin Free Agent Indianapolis Colts (NFL)1999 Ben Anderson Free Agent Portland Forest Dragons (AFL)1999 Andrew McFadden Free Agent Portland Forest Dragons (AFL)1999 Rodney Degreate Free Agent Portland Forest Dragons (AFL)

Toronto Argonauts (CFL)2001 Torrey Rush Free Agent Barcelona Dragons (NLF Europe)2002 Biff Parson Free Agent Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL)2004 Sam Gado Free Agent Kansas City Chiefs (NFL)2007 Lauren Williams Free Agent Oakland Raiders (NFL)

Jeff Brown Glenn Inverso Steve Kearns Andrew McFadden Biff Parson

James McKnight

Wayne Haddix

Documents

Equipment Staff Football Equipment Department Facts€¦ · Ford Field in Detroit, where Super Bowl XL was played in 2006. Seating capacity at Williams Stadium is 12,000 with seating