Flames Football fans bring the heat during Fiesta Bowl pep rally

The Cypress Court at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort in Arizona was transformed into a Flames pit Saturday afternoon as Flames Football fans filled up the courtyard — even spilling over to the balconies of the nearby hotel rooms — for a pep rally as the anticipation rises for Liberty’s matchup against the Oregon Ducks in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day.

Although more than 2,000 miles from Lynchburg, the desire to see Flames Football on one of college football’s biggest stages on Monday is burning bright red amongst the many fans who traveled cross country to attend the game.

“Oh not a doubt,” said Clay Owens (’02), when asked whether he was making the trip to see the Flames in Glendale on New Year’s Day. “We have a daughter (Abby) in school here in the band and my wife (Laura) is getting her doctorate degree online. So as alumni and students, it was something we had to do.”

The travel stories differ from family to family, but the whole Owens family, Clay said, made the cross-country trip by car after spending Christmas with family in Georgia.

Owens remarked on the Flames’ incredible journey from his time in school to where they stand now — on the brink of fulfilling a founder’s vision.

“Things have come so far since then,” Owens said. “I always knew there was a vision for greatness and that it was building. God was always going to do great things and to see it come to pass like this is just amazing.”

Flames fans flew. Flames fans drove. But regardless of the mode of travel, Flames fans have turned out.

“We were a little worried at first with the game being so far away,” said Director of Alumni Engagement Greg Tilley. “But then we just continued to hear from people who said they were coming out, and now it’s just incredible.”

Jeff Helgeson (’88, ’90), a former Flames wrestler in the earliest days of the program, made the trip through the Flames Club and recalled his days as a student, adding it was “really hard to comprehend” then that Liberty would one day play on the big stage.

When he saw the Flames were selected to play in the Fiesta Bowl, Helgeson said he immediately reached out to some of his old wrestling teammates to encourage them to make the trip.

“They’re coming out,” he added. “One former teammate from Michigan and another one coming from Iowa. We knew we had to come out.”

On stage at the pep rally, university and athletics leadership took turns in thanking the fans for making the trip, and for the support of the administration, alumni, and former football players and coaches that will carry the team through Monday’s game.

President Dondi Costin charged fans to use the weekend in Arizona as evidence of God making all things possible.

“When somebody tells you that planting a seed isn’t worth the effort because it takes too long to grow, you remind yourself of this day,” Costin said. “This day is evidence that for 52 years, people have been praying and fasting and believing in God that this day would come.”

Chancellor Jonathan Falwell said he’s been asked this question a lot recently: “What would your dad (Liberty Founder Jerry Falwell) say if he could see this going on?”

“My answer is always the same,” Falwell said. “He would say, ‘I told you so,’ because years ago he made the declaration.”

“We’re here because we have an amazing God who has brought us to this place,” he added. “And because of His great power and His great love, on Monday, we’re going to do him proud and show the world that you can be Christian and you can still be better.”

Prior to Falwell and Costin, Director of Athletics Ian McCaw took the microphone, and added some background on the testimony that the Flames players have already left behind them just a few days into their trip.

McCaw read an excerpt from an email written by a 25-year worker of the Fiesta Bowl, who said the Liberty team has been the “most genuine, authentic and nicest group of players, coaches, staff, and families I’ve ever encountered.”

McCaw said the team has another opportunity to leave an impression on the field Monday night.

“We are so proud of this football team. We’re proud of all of the Champions for Christ that are here to support them when we’ve got the opportunity to make another impression … on the field and in the stands, and turn that into the home of the Liberty Flames.”

Like the others who took the microphone at the pep rally, Flames Football Head Coach Jamey Chadwell took the opportunity to thank those who built the foundation for Monday’s game to be possible.

“We stand on your shoulders,” he said. “On Monday, when we run out of that tunnel, we’re representing ourselves, we’re representing our families, but we’re also representing you as well. Because you laid the foundation for what’s to come.”