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At first it was going to be a banner year, But, in the end, allhopes of a winning season washed down the James River — along with about $100,000 worth of equipment.

The James River swallowed TreasureIsland, November 5 — and with itthe football complex — afterfivestraight days ofrain caused extensiveflooding throughout Virginia. Shoes, pads, uniforms, everything went down theriver.

Head coach Morgan Hout had no choice. With two games left, he called ita season.

The season'sstarthad found Libertyfansexcited When former LU standout Fred Banks caught a touchdown passfor the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football, the cheering sounded across campus

And Banks' oldteam wasfaring well, too. After losing to West Georgiabythreepointsin the first game, the Flames quicklybounced back, winning three straight. They romped Mars Hill, racking.up 23 points while giving up only seven

Then, they made history. In a bone-crunching match on the Dukes' home turf, Liberty downed James Madison, 9-3, and let allofVirginiaknow that Flames football had arrived. It was the first time Liberty had beaten a Division I school.

Capping off a great start, theFlamesbeat Wofford,15 to 9

On campus, pride surged. The local paper printed half a page of letters to the editor from angry fans, who com- j plainedabout negativecoverage of the JMU game. While

• the paper implied Liberty had won because ofJMU mistakes, fans argued that a tough Flamedefensehad caused the turnovers.

The early season was not flawless, however. Morgan Hout spent the first few games lookingfor a quarterback. Halfway through the second game, he gave freshman Paul Johnson a chance. After just halfa game,Houtknew he had found hisquarterback But the JMU DukesbrokeJohnson'sjaw in two Senior Amos Horton filled in for theremainderof the season,

Hout'srelentless pushto build a Division Iprogram caught some big time media attention.The Washington Post did an article on the football program as did ABC Sports'Jack Whitakker.

At mid-season,however, Liberty's momentum slowed and thenbacktracked. Thelastfour games saw one tieand three losses

The FlamestiedDivisionI East Tennessee State, 23to23,Two weeks later, Southern Connecticut spoiled Homecoming by beating the Flames by two points

Then politics mixed withfootball South-Africa bashing had become the favorite pastime of the liberalacademic world. Professors at Lenoir-Rhyne demanded thegame with Liberty be canceled because of Dr Falwell's well publicized opinions

Libertyplayedthegame,but not before Lenoir-Rhyne'sathletic director assured Morgan Hout that police protection would not be necessary for his Flames.

Injury was added to insult when Liberty fell, 18-16, Finally, inwhat became the last game, Presbyterian Collegedumped Liberty, 3-0, Wallowing in a mud bowl at City Stadium, the Flames had no idea the rain falling on them thatday would not stop until it had washed away the restof the season.

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Flames'offense,under Jacob Pope (above,center),preparesto runagainst West Georgia in nighttime season opener Against So Connecticut (below farleft) Pope breaks atackle A pressured Amos Horton(leftcenter) launchesapassintothe Connecticut secondary,and Wayne Haddix (above) snagstheConnecticut quarterback James Brooks(left) eyes the goal line as § two West Georgia tacklerstrytobring him down

Touchdown!Mark Mathis(36) and Wayne Haddix (right) celebrate Wayne's score against So Connecticut State, LU's Homecoming opponent Coach Morgan Hout,fist clenched,urgeshis team to keep thinking, fighting. Haddix (below,bottom) blocksa So.Connecticut extrapoint attempt and (acrosspage)a prone Flame tacklesan Owl. In the rainagainst Presbyterian, fullback Gerald Green strugglesforyardage.On a dryerday, summer roommates Jacob Pope,Bill Kramer, Steve Clark, Kenny Smithclaimfirst place for the Flames and flaunttheirstreetaddress (1111)