College Sports Established
1971
Location
Lynchburg, Virginia
College Name
Liberty University
Collegiate History
2015 - Present / NCAA Division I
Conference History
2018 - Present / ASUN Conference
2015 - 2018 / Big East Conference
2015 / Independent
Nickname
Flames - The Liberty Flames are an NCAA Division I college athletics program that competes in the Big South Conference. The school is based out of Lynchburg, Virginia, and was founded in 1971 as an extension of Lynchburg Baptist College. While Liberty University has only been around since 1985, its athletic teams have long held their iconic nickname - the Flames.
So where did this name come from? It turns out that there's quite a story behind it! In 1972, when then-Lynchburg Baptist College was looking to establish an athletic program for its students and faculty members who had served or were currently serving in Vietnam War, they honored those veterans by adopting "Flames" as their team nickname. This decision was made because many military aircraft used during this conflict featured flames on them – most notably seen on US Navy F-4 Phantom II fighter jets which were widely used by both American forces and their allies during combat operations over Vietnam from 1965 until 1973 (the same year Liberty University began).
This connection between war aircrafts featuring flames with our university’s sports teams has remained strong ever since; hence why we still proudly call ourselves “Liberty Flames” today!
In addition to honoring those brave men & women who fought for our country overseas back then through such symbolic representation of firepower & courage embodied within these jets, choosing “Flames” also serves another purpose: To remind us all here at home just how precious freedom truly is – something which can never be taken away no matter what life throws your way!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1973
- 2000
- 2007
- 2019
-
Liberty University fields its first football team
In 1973: Liberty University fields its first football team and plays its first game against Fork Union Military Academy. -
The Liberty Flames baseball team wins its first Big South Conference championship
In 2000: The Liberty Flames baseball team wins their first Big South Conference championship, earning their first bid to the NCAA Tournament. The team is coached by Dave Pastors. -
Liberty Flames football team wins its first Big South Conference championship
In 2007 The Liberty Flames football team wins its first Big South Conference championship. -
Liberty Flames men’s basketball team wins its first ASUN Conference championship
In the 2018-2019 season, the Liberty Flames men’s basketball team won their first ASUN Conference championship. They earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament, where they upset the 5th-seeded Mississippi State Bulldogs in the first round for their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory. The Flames were led by head coach Ritchie McKay and guard Caleb Homesley, who scored a career-high 30 ...
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* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Flames
The Liberty Flames are a college sports team with a long and proud history. Founded in 1971, the Flames had competed at the NCAA Division I level since 1988, when they joined the Big South Conference. The University has seen great success over its nearly 50-year history as an NCAA program; it boasts multiple conference championships in men’s and women’s basketball, football, and baseball/softball.
Liberty has also produced some of the nation's top athletes over its lifetime, including NFL Pro Bowlers Antonio Gandy-Golden (Washington Redskins) and Mike Brown (Cincinnati Bengals). In addition to these two standouts, several former Liberty players have gone on to play professional sports worldwide, including Major League Baseball pitcher Pat McAfee who currently serves as an analyst for ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcasts.
In recent years, Liberty has become known for its high caliber of athletic programs across all levels of competition, from club teams to Division I athletics, including 24 varsity teams ranging from cross country running to volleyball & wrestling, among many other disciplines such as golf & soccer. The university is no stranger to tournament appearances either, having made numerous trips into March Madness during their time in D1 with five total appearances since 2003, along with four NIT bids throughout that same span - most recently making it back into postseason play by winning 2019 ASUN Tournament Championship Game versus North Florida Ospreys!
Overall there is no denying that this school knows how to produce quality athletes while still maintaining academic excellence - something not always found amongst collegiate institutions today but certainly appreciated here at Sports Fan Magazine! So if you're looking for a place where your student can excel both athletically & academically, then look no further than our friends up north: The Liberty Flames!
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