Football prepares for midweek games

Liberty athletics has experienced a great deal of change this year. Making the jump to CUSA as well the hiring of Jamey Chadwell as the new head coach for the Flames football are the most notable shifts in the fall semester. 

One unique change is set to make its way to the program in the near future — the introduction of midweek football games on select Tuesdays and Thursdays in October. 

Liberty hosts its first midweek game Thursday, Oct. 5, against Sam Houston, branding it as “Midweek on the Mountain.”

“The rationale behind the midweek games is to gain national exposure on TV,” Sports Information Director, Todd Wetmore, said. 

CUSA has a contract to broadcast games on CBS, and a statement on CUSA’s website reads, “The 2023 season also marks the debut of Conference USA’s midweek scheduling model, primarily during the month of October, with CBS Sports Network carrying 10 games and ESPN carrying nine games this season during that timeframe on linear networks ESPN2 and ESPNU.”

The midweek games will provide Liberty with national exposure on a scale that the Mountain has only seen a few times before, such as bowl games and the iconic Liberty victory over BYU. 

“I’m excited about it” Chadwell said in a press conference. “It’s unique to play on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and having the opportunity to get your brand out, showcase your players, showcase your university is definitely a positive. It’s great to be on TV, because the players want to be on it.”

To accommodate the crowds on campus, afternoon classes on the day of a game have been moved to an online format. Parking lots will be closing early on gamedays. A full guide of what parking lots will be affected can be found online at libertyflames.com/sports/2023/9/26/midweek-on-the-mountain.

The Flames are set to play two midweek home games against Sam Houston Oct. 5 and Middle Tennessee Oct. 17. Liberty will also travel for two midweek games this year, against Jacksonville State Oct. 10 and WKU Oct. 24.

Wilson is a sports reporter for the Liberty Champion