Game No. 11 - Nov. 15, 2008 Gardner-Webb Bulldogs (5-5, 2-2 Big South) Football Quick Facts Locati on: Lynchburg, Va. vs. Enrollment: 11,311 Founder: Dr. Jerry Falwell President/Chancellor: No. 22/24 Liberty Flames Jerry Falwell, Jr. Vice Chancellor/COO: (8-2, 4-0 Big South) Dr. Ronald Godwin Director of Athleti cs: Jeff Barber Founded: 1971 Lynchburg, Va. - Williams Stadium - 7 p.m. Nickname: Flames Colors: Red, White and Blue Today’s Game Gardner-Webb hoisted back-to-back trophies Football Began: 1973 The Flames enter tonight’s match-up in 2002 and 2003, while Coastal Carolina All-Time Football Record: with Gardner-Webb having already claimed reeled off three straight championship 180-191-4 (.485) their second straight Big South Conference seasons in 2004, 2004 and 2006. Affi liati on: championship. The outcomes of both Liberty’s NCAA Division I FCS and Gardner-Webb’s games from last week Back against the Bulldogs Conference: Big South Stadium: Williams Stadium gave the Flames this year’s trophy. Liberty Tonight’s meeti ng will mark the 15th ti me Capacity: 12,000 won 38-26 at VMI, while Gardner-Webb the Flames and the Bulldogs have squared Surface: FieldTurf dropped a 23-18 decision at home to Coastal off on the gridiron, making Gardner-Webb Carolina, giving the Flames a two-game lead in Liberty’s second-most frequently played 2007 Record: 8-3 Conference Record: 4-0 (1st) the conference standings with one game left . opponent. Since the series was renewed in Off ensive Formati on: 2000, the Bulldogs have won fi ve out of the Two-Back Set Coach’s Corner last eight meeti ngs, giving Gardner-Webb Defensive Formati on: 3-4 In just three seasons at Liberty, head an overall 8-5-1 series edge. Last year, the Lett erwinners Returning/Lost: 38/21 coach Danny Rocco has taken the Flames Flames capped of their fi rst-ever Big South Starters Returning/Lost: 12/14 from 1-10 (in 2005) to back-to-back Big South championship season with a 31-0 shutout Head Coach: Conference championships. The third-year over the Bulldogs in Boiling Springs, N.C., on Danny Rocco (Wake Forest, ‘84) skipper has posted a 22-10 record since taking Nov. 17, sealing Liberty’s league ti tle. Record at Liberty: over the program, helping him garner Big 22-10 (Third season) Overall Record: South Coach of the Year honors in both 2007 Home Sweet Home 22-10 (Third season) and 2008. Last year, the Flames were 8-3 and Tonight, the Flames welcome visiti ng a perfect 4-0 against Big South foes. Gardner-Webb to Williams Stadium, a facility Media Informati on Steve Patt on is the elder statesman of Liberty has called home for the past 20 Radio the Big South coaching ranks, having guided seasons. Liberty rallied for a 37-19 victory Stati on: WRVL 88.3 FM Play-By-Play Broadcaster: Gardner-Webb to a 77-53 record over the past over Towson State on Oct. 21, 1989, and has Jerry Edwards 12 seasons. The 17-year coaching veteran won 65 percent of its contests since, having Color Commentator: led the Bulldogs to consecuti ve Big South posted a 71-38 record at the on-campus Paul Ruti gliano championships in 2002 and 2003, garnering facility. Last year, the Flames went undefeated Sideline Reporter: Jamie Hall Stati sti cian: H.J. Owen Coach of the Year honors both seasons. at home for the second ti me in program Engineer: Chris Wygal history, posti ng a school-record 6-0 mark, en Producer: Mark Edwards Twice as Nice route to their Big South ti tle run. Liberty’s victory over VMI last weekend, Television coupled with Gardner-Webb’s loss to Coastal Saturday Night Lights Stati on: WTLU, MASN, FamilyNet, RTN13.2 Carolina, gave the Flames the Big South Under head coach Danny Rocco, the Play-By-Play Broadcaster: Mike Conference ti tle for the second straight Flames are 11-3 in night games. Since 1976, Tilley season. Liberty is one of three programs Liberty has compiled a 53-65-3 record in night Color Commentary: Ray Jones in league history to win consecuti ve ti tles. games. Sideline Reporter: Samantha Steele vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. North Greenville Glenville State Western Carolina No. 23 Young. St. Coastal Carolina Stony Brook Lafayett e Charleston So. Presbyterian VMI Gardner-Webb Elon Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 13 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1 Nov. 8 Nov. 15 Nov. 22 Home - W/ 49-10 Home - W/ 44-27 Away - W/ 19-16 Away - W/ 31-28 Away - W/ 43-38 Home - W/ 33-0 Home - L/ 21-35 Home - W/ 42-0 Away - L/ 28-31 Away - W/ 38-26 Home - 7 p.m. Home - 1 p.m. Liberty University In Broad Daylight Raising Up No. 71 Head Football Coach Under head coach Danny Rocco, the Prior to the start of the Flames’ contest Danny Rocco Flames are 11-7 in games played during the against Tusculum on Sept. 1, 2007, Liberty Quick Facts day. Since 1976, Liberty is 113-114-1 in day ceremonially honored founder Dr. Jerry games. Falwell, who had passed away the previous Biographical Informati on Birth date: July 16, 1960 May, by starti ng a new game day traditi on. Wife: Julie Sensati onal Sellouts Members of the University Police force raised Children: Two - David (16) and Amy (14) For the 11th-straight home game, the a No. 71 fl ag underneath the Liberty Flames Hometown: Hunti ngton, Pa. Flames fi lled Williams Stadium beyond fl ag above the South end zone, just prior to College: Wake Forest, 1984 capacity, as 14,365 fans packed into the on- the team taking the fi eld, bringing the 14,925 Record at Liberty: 22-10 (Third season) campus facility against Charleston Southern fans in att endance to their feet. Overall Record: 22-10 (Third season) on Oct. 25. The att endance fi gure was the The new traditi on has become a seventh largest in the 20-year history of the permanent part of the Flames’ pregame Coaching Experience: 2005-Present : Liberty (head coach) stadium. Since head coach Danny Rocco has ceremonies at all home football games. A 2003-05: Virginia (associate head arrived at Liberty, the Flames have fi lled diff erent person/group will receive the honor coach/linebackers) Williams Stadium beyond capacity 13 out of of raising the fl ag at each game. Today’s 2001-02: Virginia (assistant head 17 games. Liberty has posted a 14-3 record honoree will be a representati ve from coach/linebackers/recruiti ng coordinator) during those contests, averaging 13,267 fans Liberty’s 2007 Big South Conference football 2000: New York Jets (assistant per home game. championship team. linebackers/special teams) 1998-99: Maryland (outside Att ending to the Nati onal Numbers This year’s honorees: linebackers/assistant special teams) 1997: Texas (special teams Following its 11th-consecuti ve sellout Aug. 30 (North Greenville) – Jerry Falwell, Jr., coordinator/defensive ends) crowd at Williams Stadium in the Flames’ 42-0 LU President and Chancellor 1994-96: Texas (outside linebackers) shutout over Charleston Southern on Oct. Sept. 6 (Glenville State) – Josh McDougal, 1991-93: Boston College (defensive line) 25, Liberty ranks as one of the nati on’s elite former LU cross country/track and fi eld 1988-90: Tulsa (outside linebackers) 1987: Colorado (assistant linebackers) FCS programs in terms of home att endance standout 1986: Wake Forest (defensive line) fi gures. The Flames now rank No. 6 nati onally Oct. 11 (Stony Brook) – SAAC, LU’s Student- 1984-85: Wake Forest (defensive in fi lling stadium capacity (122.73 percent), Athlete Advisory Committ ee graduate assistant) No. 11 in total home att endance (73,639) and Oct. 18 (Lafayett e) – Representati ve from the Bowl Games As A Player: No. 12 in average home att endance (14,728). Parents’ Club Foundati on 1983: Mirage Bowl (Wake Forest) Oct. 25 (Charleston Southern) - 1980: Fiesta Bowl (Penn State) Natural Versus Arti fi cial Surfaces Representati ve from Alumni Offi ce 1979: Liberty Bowl (Penn State) Under head coach Danny Rocco, the Nov. 15 (Gardner-Webb) - Representati ve Bowl Games As A Coach: Flames are 16-7 on arti fi cial turf and 6-3 on from the 2007 Big South Championship team 2005: Music City Bowl (Virginia) natural grass. Overall, Liberty is 97-108-4 on 2004: MPC Computers Bowl (Virginia) natural grass and 76-75 on arti fi cial turf. The Noti ng the Streak 2003: Conti nental Tire Bowl (Virginia) Flames play their home games at Williams Liberty had its 11-game winning streak 2002: Conti nental Tire Bowl (Virginia) 1996: Fiesta Bowl (Texas) Stadium, which has an arti fi cial surface, as snapped on Oct. 18 with a 35-21 loss to 1995: Sugar Bowl (Texas) new state-of-the-art FieldTurf was installed Patriot League contender Lafayett e. Below is 1994: Sun Bowl (Texas) prior to the start of the 2006 season. Liberty a breakdown of where the streak ranked on 1993: Carquest Bowl (Boston College) has posted a 14-3 record at home since the the program, conference and nati onal scenes 1992: Hall of Fame Bowl (Boston College) 1989: Independence Bowl (Tulsa) new surface was installed. heading into the contest against the Leopards: • It was the longest winning streak in Championships Won: Overti me Update program history (bett ering a 10-game winning 1996: Big XII Conference (Texas) The Flames enter today’s game having streak which spanned the 1988 and 1989 1995: Southwest Conference (Texas) 1994: Southwest Conference (Texas) posted a 3-5 record in overti me games.