On this week’s Flames Central, former Liberty Football players head to the NFL, Liberty Golf wins @ConferenceUSA in dramatic fashion, we get to meet Flames Nation LUNatics’ Super Fan Andrew Carter, & MORE!
0:00 Intro & Recap
0:58 Former Liberty Football Players in NFL
2:50 Liberty Softball vs. Virginia Tech
3:53 Why Liberty? – Elena Escobar
5:46 Baseball vs. Campbell WIN
6:48 Golf Wins CUSA Championship
7:45 Liberty Athletics Honor Graduates
9:33 Flames Central Podcast – Ritchie McKay In-Studio
11:30 BREAK
14:35 Andrew Carter SUPER FAN
21:07 Trevor Johnson resigns from Volleyball
21:39 Warm, Hot, Enfuego
24:30 BREAK
27:34 Final Thoughts
[Music] on this week’s show some Liberty Flames get an NFL opportunity plus a softball flamethrower explains why she transferred to Lu then Liberty golf comes up clutch and we spend time with one of the biggest Flames fans on the planet this is flame Central [Music] [Music] hey there and welcome into our flame Central Studios it’s a busy time of year with championships and graduation but we’ll be here for you through all of the chaos I’m Emily Austin alongside Matt Warner yeah we’ll get you caught up on all the latest around Liberty Athletics including a conversation with Richie McKay about the new look men’s basketball team but first we’re talking football that’s right as many of you know the NFL draft took place last week and just because there weren’t any Liberty football players who heard their names called doesn’t mean they aren’t getting an opportunity to play at the next level the first big news was offensive lineman Xavier gadlin signing as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans still the home of former Liberty quarterback Malik Willis gadlin was a team captain and one of the best leaders for the Flames since transferring prior to the 2022 season season the 63 lineman was a standout performer in the hoola Bowl the East West Shrine Bowl as well as the NFL combine throughout the draft process gadlin has shown his versatility with reps at multiple positions including tackle guard and center and many of us know his personality shined just as bright off the field hopefully the Titans are able to see his value through camp and Beyond yeah and Gatlin not the only flame getting a pro opportunity LIberty Leading tackler in 2020 23 Tyron dpri accepted a mini camp invite to join the New York Jets Dupri had a breakout campaign in 2023 recording 123 tackles the most he’d had in one season before that was only 47 for his efforts Dupri was named the Conference USA defensive player of the year and now he’ll get a chance to show what he can do at the New York Jets rookie mini camp and we’re not done yet safety Brandon bishop and offensive lineman John Graham have also received many Camp invites Bishop with the Indianapolis Colts and Graham with the Miami Dolphins Bishop spent just one season on the mountain he was second on the team in tackles last season with 61 while recording three interceptions meanwhile John Graham was a part of Liberty’s dominant offensive line this past season he started every game at left guard and now we’ll try to make the jump to the next level Switching gears to the diamond Liberty softball didn’t waste anytime making its presence known in its first year in Conference USA the lady Flames finished with a 19 and five C USA Record clenching the regular season title and the number one seed in the conference championships but it isn’t necessarily smooth sailing from here on out Liberty will face top 25 opponents in each of its final four games of the regular season first up is number 16 Virginia Tech and the hokes got it going early with an Addie green two-run shot in the first inning Tech up two nothing and that score will stay the same until the briek going deep this one just out of Mary CLA Wilson’s reach Hoke’s now leading for nothing but Liberty will find life late Bren mcmanis starts off the rally with an RBI triple but Tech Will Go On to hold off the lady Flames Liberty Falls 4 to one well in the transfer portal a student athlete has multiple options to continue his or her collegiate career in our series why Liberty we’ve heard a number of reasons why student athletes chose Liberty and the most common reflects the foundation of this University training champions for Christ and that’s no different for lady flame transfer pitcher alinaa Escobar hi my name is Alena Escobar I play softball and I’m a transfer from North Alabama I think I was just looking for something different I was at North Alabama for 2 years and it just wasn’t the right fit for me and so when I came on my visit I absolutely fell in love with the school in the campus and Dot she’s absolutely amazing what I love about Coach dot is that she is a fireball she is so full of energy and she’s just crazy in the best ways and if you’re not feeling like good that day or you’re not feeling like the most energetic she will provide the energy for you so it’s something to look forward to they were so welcoming and I think that since they’ve already seen me play and we’ve played against them that I feel like there was already a level of respect for me as a player and then personally I’ve just made some of like the greatest friendships here and I really love the girls on the team they are actually some of the best people I’ve ever met Elena Escobar now in the circle for Liberty my faith has really grown since I’ve gotten here because I just have learned so much more about what it means to be a Christian and even like in the game I always just I make sure to pray before every single one of my games and being here I’ve just learned learn so much more about Christ and like what it really means to be a Christian and I think it really shows in the classroom like before every class here we pray and I love it it’s just such a good start like wow it’s such a blessing that I get to be here every day I love hearing those transfer stories well we stay on the diamond but turn to baseball the Flames have about 3 weeks left in the regular season and while it’s been a struggle recently they’re hoping they can still get hot heading into the conference tourn a midweek win over Campbell would be a nice start and if you were late getting to the ballpark for this one you missed a lot Campbell would score twice in the top of the first before Liberty answered with five in the bottom half of the inning highlighted by a three RBI double from John Simmons in the third it was that Simmons guy again a solo shot made it 73 Flames it was his fourth long ball of the season and as it turns out it would be the bats that carried the day in this one Liberty scores in every inning but the fifth as they were aided by 15 Walks from Campbell pitchers the Flames end up taken it by a final of 14 to9 a much needed midweek win for Lu as they’ll now jump back into Conference USA play this weekend from the diamond to the lyns Liberty golf trailed UTEP going into the final day of the C USA championship and like most Liberty programs the Flames were seeking their first Conference USA title and it turned out 3 six holes of match play wouldn’t be enough to name the winner it would take a few big moments from Josh Ryan Austin barbin Isaac Simmons and Ike Joy who led Liberty to extra whole drama and then the Flames end up coming from behind on the final day in dramatic playoff fashion to win the C USA championship this is the program’s eighth conference title since 2011 with the victory the Flames get an automatic bid and will tee off an NCAA Regional from May 13th to 15th well as we are now in the month of May graduation season has begun and that means for many Liberty athletes these are the final days they’ll ever spend on this campus in this capacity and with that in mind the athletic department wanted to send them out right so for the very first time these graduates were honored at a student athlete graduation celebration on Monday 133 graduating student athletes came out to Osborne Stadium athletic director Ian mcau Liberty president Don C had a chance to share their appreciation for these graduates and then it was time for photos food trucks and fun the three FS a great send off for many of these seniors who will remember their time on the mountain fondly like it’s so fun seeing everyone all the friends I’ve made throughout my time here and just um seeing everyone on the team like graduating like we’ve made it and doing it together is just really special it’s just fun to be able to support all the student athletes together rather than individually because then we just get to see all the people who really put so much effort time into not only you know being students but also like athletes at the same time it’s really an accomplishment to be able to be here we wanted to make this a really uh just fun enjoyable uh graduation ceremony for the student athletes and they’ve worked incredibly hard to earn their Liberty degree and today is the day just to relax enjoy some food and fellowship and fun coming here my freshman year and just seeing everyone grow up to now is honestly very touching to my heart because we’ve been through a lot of Trials a lot of tribulations and also a lot of wins and doing homework together or eating food together and it’s just a huge community and I just love it I look back to my freshman year and I kind of see myself as as a boy going into a new country new school and now I feel like I’ve still of course got a lot of room to grow but I feel uh feel like I’ve grown up at T I’ve become more independent and and mature and I I have a lot to thank Liberty University for I been able to accomplish more than I ever thought possible as an athlete but most importantly just as a woman of God like I’ve grown so much in my faith and I truly have Liberty to thank for that so it’s been incredible all congrats to them with so many student athletes turning the page to the next chapter of life it means countless teams will look a lot different next season and that is a fact for Liberty men’s basketball the Flames welcome in four new players this upcoming season so of course we invited head coach Richie McKay on the flame Central Podcast powered by alova mortgage so coach McKay how do you feel about your incoming transfers this portal class if you will like I I’m really excited about them obviously uh you know there’s a transition and the way a team unites and uh bonds you can never predict that you can hope but I I just think that’ll be uh the The Crucible if you will for how far we can go as a as a program in the coming season what we need to find out is who plays well with whom and uh what what kind of tempo we can play with and uh if that added length and size can uh can give us a little different look on either end of the floor and I hope by the Fall we kind of know where we are it’s something that I I feel like we as a staff really really want to to honor that’s the opportunity to be a part of Liberty and and competing for a championship like we that’s that’s who we’ve been what an informative conversation with Coach McKay pretty much the complete opposite of our halftime interviews if a Flames basketball fan then you need to check out this episode if you’re not well you should be some great content it’s the Flames Central Podcast powered by alova mortgage you can download and subscribe wherever you listen to your favorite podcast or you can watch us on the Liberty Flames YouTube channel we drop a new entertaining episode each and every week all right we take a quick timeout but when we come back experience a game with the ultimate Liberty Super Fan plus r mcgibbon joins me for warm hot and Fuego as he names the top a leetes of the week that’s when flame Central returns [Music] [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] at Liberty we train champions for Christ but what does that really mean does it mean having 180 Conference titles over 700 programs and state-of-the-art Facilities no being a champion for Christ isn’t just about being great it’s why we’re great we push harder go farther study longer because we believe in one simple calling to change the world and share the love of Jesus welcome to Liberty University where we train champions for Christ at Liberty University we understand life can be unpredictable and when you need a resilient career your education should withstand any test so we’ve made sure the degree you need is Within Reach by freezing one of the lowest tuition rates in the nation for 8 years and counting and giving scholarships discounts and credit for work you’ve already done because we’re proud of what you do we’ve done this for over 30 years and we know how to help we’re here to help you a college degree is more than a diploma it’s taking control of your future in finding that next step at Liberty University we not only care about your career we also care about your calling and we want to help you learn develop and grow so you can make an impact as a champion for Christ over 600 online programs one you infinite possibilities [Music] [Music] welcome back to Flame Central as Liberty’s athletic department has found more and more Success Through The Years its fan base has grown and become more and more passionate you hear coaches say it all the time homec court advantage is a real thing on the mountain thanks to flames Nation but this next fan you’re about to meet takes it to an entirely different level I present present you Andrew Carter being Liberty Athletics is number one sports fan I’m at as many home games as I possibly can and this is me shooting up for the game as this is my routine grab my hats and I can’t forget my promotional cup get $1 refills in all Liberty sporting events I almost forgot oh lucky socks I am getting suited up for the Liberty versus Western Kentucky softball game first pitch is set for 6:00 for softball I normally arrive at least an hour and a half before first pitch can’t forget about the bobblehead somebody’s got to start these student lines so uh I’m normally one of the first ones in line are you also on the world’s greatest women’s track and field team good stuff my name is Andrew the students are in the stadium welcome Lynch first door to business game day essential Dr Pepper game day essential check one run could mean the difference between Victory and defeat for either [Music] side time now to meet tonight’s starting pitcher for Liberty and that will be the left-hander Halen Yoder she’s really good at changing speeds she’s very calm Collective on the mound very competitive as well backing up as Roberts makes the grab getting 364 pacing the ler line toward third and easy grab by s g that was a good catch not much you can do with a catch like that not much you can do let’s go in with goor on the mound even though she is a freshman she has a lot of experience this year that’s driven toward right field rot will drip back this could be deep enough R from right the throw comes home sail slides in safely and Western Kentucky takes the early one- nothing lead so what if Western Kentucky scored first we’ll answer I have faith I have faith in my team oh this going to be tight out no no way no way no way out by the absolute slimmest of margins go he off CAU the inside corner what a pitch as Jesse swings through it this girl means business big time this girl means business let’s go on a board one away top of the fourth inning one nothing lead for the hill Toppers Line Drive oh double play double play yeah go bet you didn’t see that one coming West Kaki I bet you didn’t see that one coming boom bet they didn’t see that one coming boom this is when the pressure begins to mount for the Flames they’re running out of opportunities here in the bottom half of the sixth inning showing some confidence squaring around as bear perfectly placed [Applause] and that is a disaster of a mistake can hear the Lu starting to Echo throughout the I don’t want to jump too early but this feels like the ball game right here it boils down to Rachel rub this is the best chance that we’ve got to get a run on the board Let it Fly Rachel rub Let it Fly here’s the three 0 downstairs ball four and they wanted no part of Rachel rot and that will bring up Mary CLA Wilson she puts the ball in play and that’s what she needs to do right [Applause] [Music] now field charging on his Weber and she makes the grab ending the inning leaving the Bas is loaded and the Flames despite threatening [Applause] cold strike three a late signal by the Home not even Duke could shut us out not even D I’m at just about every single Liberty athletic sporting event while we may not emerge always on top with the dub a game is a game win or loss upset or blowout like I’m going to be a liberty is number one sports fan thanks to our Josh quig for putting that feature together Andrew this Super Fan man I don’t think he’s missed an event that I’ve ever covered we were just out doing a shoot and there’s a liberty track meet going on and I see him walking by with his cape it doesn’t matter what sporting event he will be there well I like seeing that Andrew and I both share a strong passion for Dr Pepper so that’s number one but these are the kind of fans you want right maybe not everybody’s going to put on the cape but he lives and dies is with every result he cares so deeply about the teams and the athletes and that’s what you want more of right so have enjoyed having him here the last four years Step It Up Flames Nation all right our next update comes from the volleyball court earlier this week head coach Trevor Johnson resigned from his position to pursue other opportunities in his six seasons at Liberty he finished with an 89 and 75 overall record director of Athletics Ian Macau said quote we wish Trevor and his family the very best as they move on to their next opportunity now a national search for the program’s ninth head coach will begin immediately all right time now for warm hot and Fuego Rhett mcgiven is here with us Rhett you took a sabatical last week from the show don’t never do that it it was rough it was rough Rett we survived but glad you’re back glad to be back on this side of this table all right top play player moment from the past week in Liberty Athletics what do you have for us this week start with warm warm adelay Watts Javelin th freshman all right you know what they say speak softly and carry a big stick she’s doing just that here the Freshman going off here as of late a personal best 158 ft 3 in that knocked off last year’s 2023 ecac Champion by 2 feet now get this this freshman okay we already mentioned this we say we’re like in the golden years of Liberty Athletics there’s more gold to be found that’s yeah just keep digging deeper already number three on L’s alltime list for Javin as a freshman wow like yeah why not just go number one this year why not get there yeah let’s do it all yeah bright future ahead for her certainly all right from warm we go to hot who’s your pick Cammy Merkel they took on Jacksonville recently now little little sports trivia for you here do you know what five goals are called in an athletic event I don’t it’s called a glut a glut yeah it’s kind of weird I don’t know maybe we can use that in futurecast hatrick yes then a hall a hall aall and a glut yes now I think isn’t it three strikeouts in baseball is the golden Sombrero so that’s different yeah that would be yeah very different but five goals for Cammy Merkel against Jacksonville unfortunately the Flames would fall in overtime to their arch nemesis they just cannot seem unfortunately to get it done against them but Cammy Merkel ever since McKenzie Layman went down she has been called upon to not only be a secondary scorer but a primary scorer and she’s filled that role pretty well second on the team and goals with 31 they’re going to need more of that and Cammy Merkel with that blazing red hair she can get it done she’s got the fire absolutely all right finally rep INF fuo who’s in Fuego this week it’s KK Madre and this young lady defense to offense all right I kind of listed them here the first one New Mexico State she had that diving catch gets on her knees Chucks it to First with a double play that one was on Sports Center we talked about that then against UTEP another dive into kind of like left center field absolutely robs what looked to be a double would score some runs the third one at the warning track had the had the distance it was just going to go over the fence and she reaches up and grabs it saves a home run and then she gets the offense going as well a two-run shot in game two to kind of get the Flames bats going in that one coming in the home plate she hits the gritty to get the party started as well and uh KK I would almost as a coach if you’re saying okay we’ve got to like pull this ball to right field because anything in left right now she has it absolutely dialed in and it’s just getting there you know Emily starts the show with the gritty many times as well coming into the studio so they have that in common right great job as always much more flame Central coming up after this welcome to Liberty University’s online programs where living out your calling with Integrity is what you train to do and getting ready for the future doesn’t mean missing out on the now because a university is more than buildings and books and an education should set you free not fence you in welcome to Liberty’s Global Campus where distance learning was pioneered and evolved into one of the top ranked schools in the nation we’re protecting your budget your time and your education isn’t just a theory it’s our priority here degrees in your field reflect industry demands and help you get ahead of the competition where College comes to you but you can come to college too game day homecoming graduation day your school your values your experience your choice welcome to Liberty University where we train champions for Christ so you’re looking for a university that’s perfect for you a school that has anything you can possibly need anything you want a place that has the programs you want to stud maybe a few more just in case you change your mind I think I’m going to sign up for the fashion design program all right a place with the state of-the art facilities I mean look at this campus and who doesn’t love Big Time Sports and great recreational activities okay now we’re on a roll somewhere you can hike slide strike shoot climb eat and most importantly eat you want a place that takes you to space okay maybe not but we can teach you how to fly or Pastor a church or run a business and all that with a great view yeah I think I know a place [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] SE start 5 4 3 2 1 [Applause] [Music] all right we are about out of time this week as always for any stories you might have missed go to Liberty flam central.com just because sports are slowly winding down doesn’t mean the flame Central Podcast powered by alova mortgages we will be here we will be here all summer long for Matt I’m Emily we’ll see you right back here next week [Music] you might have heard some things about Liberty University like how we’re just a little Christian School in the middle of nowhere and there’s nothing to do here I mean come on you know us boring boring yeah they say we don’t work as hard think as hard try as hard I object the truth is well we might surprise you
