PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. — Liberty’s quick rise has culminated with the best season in its short history as a Football Bowl Subdivision program.
The Flames are undefeated, have a Conference USA trophy back home in Virginia, and will play in a New Year’s Six bowl for the first time in Monday’s Fiesta Bowl against No. 8 Oregon (11-2), the Pac-12 runner-up.
They’ve done it through an unbreakable bond sparked by tragedy.
“It became a true, true brotherhood, and you can kind of watch it grow throughout the year, especially when we get into a tough moment in a game,” Liberty co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach Newland Isaac said. “You can kind of see those guys come together alongside one another as a team. It’s probably the reason why we’re 13-0.”
Liberty opened preseason practices with the extra dose of enthusiasm a new coach brings to a program.