Liberty improved to 2-0 for the season and kicked off CUSA play with a thrilling 30-24 victory over New Mexico State. After the game, head coach Jamey Chadwell addressed the media. Here’s a summary of his remarks:
“It felt like nothing was going our way. The first half was quite poor, and although we had chances to score touchdowns, we ended up with field goals instead. Our defense struggled early but really stepped up towards the end of the second quarter and in the third. On offense, it took time to get going, but we emphasize the mentality of ‘strike the stone’ in our program. I told the team in the fourth quarter that this moment would reveal our true character, and they stepped up.”
Quinton Cooley had a strong second half—was there something that allowed you to utilize him more effectively then?
“We had too many three-and-outs, which didn’t help our cause. We probably strayed from the run when we needed it most, often finding ourselves in second-and-long situations where we leaned too much on passing. Quinton gets stronger as the game progresses. It was a back-and-forth struggle with a lot of inconsistency—one good play often followed by a penalty. In those final drives, we decided to pick up the pace, which allowed him to break off some big runs. He didn’t get his usual yardage but kept believing in himself, and I admire his growth in that area.”
Regarding Kaidon Salter’s performance, it was somewhat mixed, but what does his ability to help the team win say about him?
“It’s great that we found a way to win. His last two drives were impressive, and he made significant plays with his legs when we needed to convert. But we need to be more consistent. We’re missing plays because we try to overcomplicate things instead of executing the basics. We had three dropped passes on key third downs that could have changed the game and prevented us from sweating it out until 2:30 am. Those missed opportunities are what disappoint me the most.”
In the locker room, I shared two truths with the team: their character showed in their perseverance, but I also pointed out that we can be a selfish team. When provoked, we respond and take personal fouls that hurt us in critical moments. I take responsibility for that and need to address it. To reach a championship level, we can’t afford to be selfish. It’s something I need to improve.
Have you encountered a team struggling with these issues before, and how do you address it?
“That’s a good question. Clearly, I haven’t handled it well. Last week, we had a lot of younger players, but this time, a veteran player made some mistakes as well. Those penalties are significant. We had a hands-to-the-face penalty, which can happen, but the ones where we escalate by shoving someone afterward—like a penalty for tossing the ball to an opponent—are just careless. These actions are selfish and display fake toughness. I’m worried because this has happened two games in a row. Opponents are looking for any sign of weakness. I can implement discipline, but ultimately it comes down to each individual reflecting on who they want to be. Is it more important to react and retaliate, or do you value your teammates enough to manage your emotions? This isn’t just us initiating these situations; teams are provoking us, and we need to respond better. As the saying goes, they usually catch the second guy.”
Regarding the turnover from Reese and Bazile leading to a touchdown, did that shift the momentum?
“It definitely changed the momentum, although they scored on the next drive anyway. That shift gave us some hope, which was necessary because offensively, we struggled until the final two drives. But then they answered with a score. We didn’t play well enough defensively; we allowed a 70-yard screen pass. We can’t afford to wait until we’re frustrated to start playing well. We need to establish a standard of play throughout the entire game. It doesn’t mean we won’t give up some plays, but we shouldn’t only rise to the occasion when we’re under pressure. I need to work with the defensive staff to understand why we’re lacking that mentality from the start. Is it something in our practice? That’s my challenge to figure out.”
You mentioned it’s tough to win football games, but you managed to pull it off in the fourth quarter. What did you learn about your team?
“Flames’ Quarter. One of my concerns was whether all the new players could come together and maintain their belief in each other in tough situations. We were down by nine with six minutes left, but I realized they trust each other and our core principles. The hard work from our strength program and our summer training paid off in that fourth quarter, and we appeared to be the fresher team. I learned that we do possess that mentality, but my challenge is to ensure that we consistently maintain that level of engagement, not just when we feel the pressure.”
Your defense had a rough start in the first three drives, but they bounced back. What do you think?
“Yeah, the defense kept us in the game. They didn’t start strong, and penalties along with dropped passes hindered our progress in the first half. However, after halftime, while we struggled offensively, the defense played well and gave us a chance to win. They demonstrated their potential, and if we can sustain that level of urgency and energy throughout the game, it’ll make a difference. Even though they put us in a tough spot initially, they prevented it from becoming a disaster and allowed us to regroup in the second half.”
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