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Liiiberty: Flames’ resurgence spotlights coach Jamey Chadwell, despite Vrbo Fiesta Bowl loss

GLENDALE: The Liberty Flames used Monday’s cold desert air to reflect on their historic season as they looked back on the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. One year ago, a coach was hired. New players. The odds were stacked against a university that qualified for a New Year’s Six bowl game while making the switch to an FBS program in 2018. Even though the Jamey Chadwell-led team didn’t expect to lose 45-6 to the No. 8 Oregon Ducks in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, the season still seemed like a victory for them.

Senior linebacker Tyren Dupree stated, “It’s not easy to get a new coach in January and then flip the whole roster before fall camp.” “Hats off to these coaches and the teammates who bought in,” I said. Kaidon Salter, the quarterback, offered his teammate’s viewpoint. “We have a roster transfer, coaches arrived in January, and we are bringing in players from all over the world,” Salter stated. “It was really important for us to bond with them and get to know a lot of our players, and I think that’s what brought us to this point today.” It was Chadwell who made the difference.

Before he embarked on a perfect regular season with Liberty, he grew accustomed to success at his previous destination. He led the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers to a 39-22 record in five seasons and won the 2021 Cure Bowl against Northern Illinois. Although media accounts reported Chadwell saying he was “content as ever” in Conway, South Carolina, he moved to Lynchburg, Virginia, in December 2022.

With Liberty, the native of Tennessee moved from one successful squad to another. But given what former Liberty coach and current Auburn coach Hugh Freeze achieved for the program, Chadwell had a difficult assignment ahead of him. Before departing for Auburn following the 2022 season, Freeze went 34-15 in Lynchburg and won each of the three bowl games. There was uncertainty after Freeze left. Luckily for the Flames, Chadwell proved to be their spark.

Liberty became one of just four universities nationwide to finish the regular season unbeaten and ranked in the Top 25. During the Fiesta Bowl media day, Chadwell stated, “This is our fifth year of FBS football and they made the choice to make that jump five years ago.” “To be able to play in a New Year’s Six bowl within a five-year period is arguably unprecedented.” Chadwell’s statement is as authentic as it gets. Eleven or more teams finished with a final College Football Playoff ranking, including the other New Year’s Six bowling teams. Despite Liberty entering the Fiesta Bowl as a nearly eighteen-point underdog, Chadwell expressed gratitude for the chance and instructed his squad to savor the occasion.

Liberty played a standout team in Oregon. The Ducks were a likely CFP semifinal player had they beat Washington in the Pac-12 Championship in December.

Monday, Oregon proved why it belonged in that conversation. After a dismal first quarter, in which the Ducks scored three points, the offense woke up. Oregon responded with a 28-point second quarter in which quarterback Bo Nix had 257 passing yards and four touchdowns.

The script kept rolling in the Ducks’ favor as a Tez Johnson’s receiving touchdown opened the third quarter. Oregon dominated the rest of the way.


 

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