Flames notes

By Chris Lang
Sports writer
Published: October 11, 2008

Kyle O’Donnell was only on the field for a handful of plays Saturday at Williams Stadium, but it was enough to help the sophomore linebacker shake off the some rust after a seven-week absence from the field.
O’Donnell, who was slated to be Liberty’s starting linebacker after spring practice, missed the Flames’ first five games while recuperating from surgery to repair the MCL in his right knee. He was a part of Liberty’s nickel package Saturday, lining up at the linebacker spot opposite back Ian Childress.
O’Donnell made one tackle and had a quarterback hurry. The stats didn’t matter to him, though. He was just happy to be back on the field.
“After seven weeks of watching your team go 5-0 and have good practices week in and week out, it’s a good feeling to get back out there and get in the mix,” O’Donnell said.
For the Flames, there was a silver lining to O’Donnell’s injury. It forced some younger players to develop quickly, and they responded. Sophomore Chad Brown, who took O’Donnell’s place in the starting lineup, has been one of Liberty’s steadiest performers. Doncel Bolt and Mike Connolly both have had to learn the system quickly, and Bolt especially has filled his role well.
“One week he plays a bunch, one week he plays four plays,” Liberty coach Danny Rocco said. “But he’s given us everything he’s got.”
O’Donnell and Brown will share time for the rest of the season, while Bolt and Pierre Tinsley will continue to serve as backups for Nick Hursky at the other linebacker spot.
In the spring, Rocco raved about O’Donnell’s athleticism. He’s adept at stopping the run and dropping back to cover intermediate passing routes. With him healthy, it gives the Flames an added boost of depth.
“O’Donnell’s a great player and a great athlete,” Hursky said.
Instant replay?
There was some discussion among the Big South’s coaches and administrators over the summer about utilizing instant replay during conference football games.
There’s one problem, of course: Not all of the conference’s games are televised. Big South schools all video stream their football games on the Internet, but the technology is not there yet to use the video stream feeds for replay purposes.
So don’t expect and red handkerchiefs to fly from the sidelines just yet. That doesn’t mean the Big South isn’t looking to institute replay in the future, though, Big South commissioner Kyle Kallander said Saturday.
“Really, it’s an expense issue,” Kallander said. “For every game, you want to make sure you have the personnel to carry it out. There’s a whole expertise issue there as well, as the FBS conferences have seen. You’ve got to have the right people in the right places.
“I think in the future, it will happen. I think as the video streaming and that technology evolves, the possibility is there to do that.”
Bevins the punter
If it’s not one kicker, it’s another.
Earlier in the week, Liberty place kicker Matt Bevins hurt his right ankle walking down the steps, and his status for Saturday’s game was questionable. Bevins handled all kicking duties, save for kickoffs, which went to Ben Shipps.
By the time the game started, Bevins had another duty added to his list — punting. Mike Larsson injured his quad in pre-game warm-ups and he was unavailable to kick. Bevins performed well, punting four times for an average of 41.8 yards. He had a long of 50 yards and placed two punts inside the Stony Brook 20.
“Late in the game, he rode a couple out inside the 20 yard line,” Rocco said. “So I was real happy with his performance.”
Extra points
Zach Davis, Liberty’s starting left tackle, didn’t play after suffering a shoulder injury in pre-game warm-ups. “He was kind of nursing it mid-week, but he went out there pre-game and really set it back beyond where it ever was,” Rocco said. “So we’re going to have to take a real close look at him.” … Stony Brook never made it inside Liberty’s 20. The Seawolves’ deepest penetration was Liberty’s 23. … Liberty is one of three remaining unbeaten FCS teams, and the lone full-scholarship unbeaten team. Sacred Heart moved to 6-0 with a win Saturday at St. Francis (Pa.). San Diego (5-0) played Morehead State in a late game Saturday.