gieloMen’s Hoops update
News & Notes took a break last Friday with it being the day after Christmas, and since we last met the Flames have gone 2-2. Albeit the wins came over Central Penn and Cincinnati Christian. Being in one of the worst conferences of Division I basketball, nothing matters other than conference play though. Liberty tipped off conference action on New Year’s Even with a loss to Campbell. The Flames scored just 46 points and barely reached 30% shooting from the field. At 2-8 against Division I competition this season, Coach Layer and company will be happy to welcome Presbyterian to the Vines Center on Saturday night. The Blue Hose are 0-10 against Division I teams this season after opening conference play with a 81-64 loss at home to Gardner-Webb on Wednesday. If Liberty were to only win one game the rest of the season, it will come on Saturday.

Women’s Hoops update
Meanwhile, the Lady Flames improved to 3-0 in Big South play with a 67-55 road win against UNC-Asheville earlier this week. The win came after a tough trip to Minnesota December 20th and 21st where Liberty lost to Minnesota and #1 South Carolina. 3 conference games this week for the Lady Flames beginning on Saturday at home against High Point.

Perritt was the 2013 Big South Tournament MVP

Perritt was the 2013 Big South Tournament MVP

Baseball ranked #23 in preseason poll
Liberty’s baseball team has been ranked #23 by Collegiate Baseball’s Fabulous 40 preseason baseball poll. This marks the 2nd straight season the Flames were selected among the 40 teams in the preseason as Liberty was ranked #35 a season ago. Alex Close & Ashton Perritt, who have been named to the 2015 Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American teams, lead the Flames into the 2015 season which begins February 13th.

3 Flames named All-Americans
The Sports Network recently released their football All-American teams with 3 Flames named. Jacob Hagen and John Lunsford were each named to the 1st team while Darrin Peterson was named to the 2nd team. This is the 3rd All-American nod for Hagen following his stellar 2014 senior football season while Lunsford and Peterson pick up the All-American nomination for the first time in their career.

foutz1Foutz rated as a Top 100 prospect in Virginia
Liberty football commit Zac Foutz has been rated by Roanoke.com as one of the top 100 high school football seniors in the state of Virginia.  The 6’4″ 223 pound tight end is listed as the 42nd best prospect in the state. Foutz has also been named 1st team All-State as a tight end by Virginia Preps. Several other uncommitted prospects on the Roanoke.com list should be familiar to you as well including Chuck Davis and Cody Banks. Both have received offers from Liberty. One other prospect who has committed to an FCS school is ranked higher than Foutz in Charles Tutt who is ranked #40 and has committed to JMU. Tutt is 1 of 6 James Madison commitments who made the list.

Shashaty finishes Liberty career
According to an Instagram post & tweet from Liberty holder and backup quarterback Javan Shashaty, he has finished his football career at Liberty. Shashaty was 15/17 passing for 205 yards and 1 touchdown during his career, but will be most remembered for his 26 yard scamper to pick up a first down on a fake field goal against JMU in the playoffs in 2014. He has 2 years of eligibility remaining.

Hagen named 2014 FlamesNation POY
Congratulations to Liberty football safety Jacob Hagen who was selected as FlamesNation’s Player of the Year for 2014. Hagen is a repeat winner after being selected as FlamesNation POY in 2013. We received over 150 votes to help determine the winner among the 3 finalists – Hagen, John Lunsford, and Josh Woodrum. Thank you to all who voted!

Rashad on ABC on New Year’s Eve
Liberty alum Rashad Jennings was on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve show. Rashad has made numerous appearances on various media outlets during the past year while he has been playing for the New York Giants in the media capital of the world.

FlameFans Thread of the Week
We’ve been discussing all of the action of all the bowl games in this week’s FlameFans Thread of the Week, Bowl Games. Come join us as we continue to discuss the games over the next week or so.