A few quick hit notes following Liberty’s season opening rout of Old Dominion, 52-10:

  • We’ll have a separate post later tonight/tomorrow detailing the game day environment. Everything from the sights and sounds around campus including the tailgating scene, thoughts on game day operations, the crowd, the new stadium, the new video board, and so much more. To put it simply, the environment clearly had an FBS feel to it, much more than so than in previous years.
  • At approximately 4:30, a severe thunderstorm approached campus as the campus sirens sounded. This was just shortly after the gates opened at 4:00, forcing the fans out of the stands. Rain poured for about 15 minutes or so before clearing. Flashes of lightning continued to light up the sky until about 5:30. The all-clear signal was given just a few minutes after 6 as the gates were opened again. While it may have turned away a few walk-up fans, the student body still showed out very well. The official attendance was listed at 20,425.
  • Liberty got on the board quickly and used the early game momentum to jump out to a quick 14-0 lead, a lead they wouldn’t vanquish throughout the night.
  • After those two touchdowns on the first two drives, the Flames’ offense stalled the rest of the first half and was unable to sustain drives long enough for any more points. The defense, however, held their ground, limiting the Monarchs to just 10 first half points. ODU did have two field goal attempts in the 2nd quarter that both missed wide right. The Monarchs could have, probably should have, been leading 16-14 at the half.
  • The defense was the story of the game, keeping the Monarchs from scoring in the 2nd half. Terrific performance by Robert Wimberly’s revamped defensive unit.
  • DJ Stubbs. Wow. What a performance by the true sophomore. In Damian King’s absence, he exploded for 155 yards and a touchdown.
  • After bragging that he was the fastest player on the team on this week’s RedSpin podcast, Kentory Mattews showed it on his 57 yard burst for a touchdown. That score put it at 24-10 and the rout was on. The Flames scored 31 points unanswered in the 2nd half. Matthews finished the game with 101 yards.
  • We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention AGG. Gandy-Golden had 53 yards, but 3 of his 6 receptions were touchdowns. He also drew at least 4 pass interference penalties.
  • Oh yeah and Buckshot – 25/36 passing for 345 yards and 4 touchdowns.
  • What a game for the Flames’ debut at the FBS level! At Army next week. Let’s go! We’ll have much more on this game, but enjoy it tonight!