Monmouth University (0-1) at Liberty (0-1, 0-0 Big South)
Saturday, September 7, 2013; 7:00 p.m.
Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, Va.
Radio Coverage: Shore Sports Network, WOBM 1160AM and 1310AM, shoresportsnetwork.com
Matt Harmon (Play by Play); Eddy Occhipinti (Color Analyst)
Ticket Info:
For tickets call 434-582-SEAT or visit HERE for more information.
Directions to Williams Stadium
For Directions to Williams Stadium visit HERE
Television:
ESPN3.com and The Watch ESPN App for iPhone and Android
Streaming Video:
The game can be viewed for free online on the BIG SOUTH NETWORK
Game Preview on Hawk Vision:
Watch Coach Callahan Interview
**A full game preview is available at www.GoMUHawks.com**
A look at the game:
Monmouth enters tonight's game with Liberty looking for its first win of the 2013 season after facing the number two team in the country in national title contender Montana State last weekend. Like Monmouth, Liberty is also looking to break into the win column after losing a seven point contest to FBS opponent Kent State last weekend. The Hawks will be going to the not-so-friendly confines of Williams stadium where Liberty owns an impressive non-conference record.
The Hawks got off to a slow start against the Bobcats, whose quick strike offense put the game out of reach by halftime. The good news for Monmouth was that new quarterback Brandon Hill settled in towards the end of the first half, leading the Hawks on a scoring drive. Monmouth outscored the Bobcats by a 21-3 margin in the second half, with the defense getting a number of early stops while Hill moved the Hawks down the field. Junior back Julian Hayes scored the first touchdown of the 2013 season from three yards out en route to his sixth 100-yard rushing performance. Hill tossed TD passes to Eric Sumlin and Elijah Phillips while racking up 240 yards through the air. Defensively, eight players saw their first action for the Hawks, while a total of 10 defensive players took their first snaps for the Hawks (including 4 starters).
Liberty kicked off its season with an FBS opponent in Kent State last weekend as it has in four of the last five seasons. The game was a defensive battle in the first half with the Flames trailing 7-3 going into halftime but took the lead with 7:25 to play in the third quarter on a Josh Woodrum to Gabe Henderson 11 yard TD. Kent State rallied to score 10 points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead touchdown with 4:28 to play. Woodrum completed 14-of-22 passes for 189 yards, with 106 yards going to sophomore Darren Peterson. UVA transfer Clifton Richardson led the Flames on the ground with 12 runs for 45 yards. Liberty, Monmouth's future Big South conference mate, is looking for its third consecutive Big South title.
The coaching matchup:
Kevin Callahan is in his 21st season at Monmouth as the Hawks' head coach. Callahan owns a 114-92 career coaching record, all with Monmouth. Callahan is one of 21 active head coaches in the FCS with over 100 career victories and his 114 victories ranks 15th among active FCS coaches. The only coach in Monmouth history, he has led the Blue & White to five conference championships, in 1996, 1998, 2003, 2004 and 2006. Callahan has earned NEC Coach of the Year accolades in 1998, 2003 and 2006. Prior to arriving in West Long Branch, Callahan served as defensive coordinator at Colgate for eight seasons and at Wagner for three years. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Albany (1977-79) and Syracuse (1980) before becoming a Seahawk assistant in 1981.
Liberty is led by Turner Gill, who just began his second season at the helm of the Flames. In his first season leading Liberty, he put together a 6-5 season, including five wins in conference play. He coached Liberty to a tie for a first place in the Big South in 2012. Prior to joining Liberty, Gill spent time as the head coach at the University of Buffalo and the University of Kansas. His longest coaching stint, however, came at Nebraska, where he was the quarterbacks coach from 1992-2003 and the wide receivers coach in 2004. Gill played quarterback for the Cornhuskers from 1980-83, leading them to three consecutive Orange Bowl appearances.
Inside the MU-LIBERTY series:
Today marks the first time that Monmouth and Liberty have met on the gridiron. The Hawks, who will join the Big South Conference in 2014, are 0-2 all time against the Big South, with two losses to Coastal Carolina.
Did You Know?
Monmouth cornerback Tevrin Brandon's four pass breakups against the Bobcats ranks him second in the country behind Eastern Illinois' D.J. Bland who had six in week one. Brandon, a UConn transfer, is also one of MU's kick returners and is listed as the backup punt returner.
HAWKS TO JOIN THE BIG SOUTH IN 2014
In February of 2013 Monmouth University officially accepted a invitation to join the Big South Conference as an associate member in the sport of football. With most of the Big South schedule already set, the Hawks were forced to play an independent schedule for the first time since 1995. The Hawks will get an early look at the Big South tonight when they face future conference rival Liberty University under the lights at Williams Stadium. The Hawks signed a four-year deal with the Big South and will compete for the league's auto bid to the FCS Playoffs with the Flames, Coastal Carolina, Charleston Southern, Presbyterian and Gardner Webb.
HAYES MOVES INTO SIXTH ALL-TIME IN RUSHING
With his 135 yard game at Montana State last Thursday, junior running back Julian Hayes jumped two spots to sixth on the Monmouth all-time career rushing yards list. Hayes, who now has rushed for 1,599 yards at MU, passed former backs Bobby Smith and Bobby Giles with his performance against the Bobcats. He now sits 352 yards behind Joe Migliore, who is 5th all-time with 1,951 career yards, and is 641 yards shy of 2nd place all time. The 135 yard outburst was Hayes' sixth career 100+ yard rushing contest, good for fourth all-time at MU in 100 yard games. Hayes was named a CFPA honorable mention running back of the week for his Week 1 performance.
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