Welcome from the cozy confines of the City Stadium press box, where I actually have a bit more space to work with than I did in the Williams Stadium press box. Of course, that will all change Oct. 2 when the Taj Mahal opens on campus.

There was some concern among city folks that Liberty students would blow this game off because it wasn’t on campus. Uh, no. When I drove up around 9:45 a.m., students were lined up at about every stadium entrance, and Flames Sports Network staffer Nick Pierce tells me students have been out here tailgating since 5 a.m.

So I assume the full 10,000 fans that are allowed in the stadium will be here.

First off, if you want in-game updates, follow me on Twitter —@ChrisLangLNA.

Some links for this morning as you get ready for the game:

* St. Francis coach Chris Villarrial says some of his players are nervous for game week, but they’ll be OK, Hugh Conrad of the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat writes.

* Coastal Carolina faces a mountainous task today in Morgantown, the Myrtle Beach Sun News’ Ryan Young writes.

* CCU freshman fullback Jeff Allen is returning home for today’s game, Young writes.

* According to Charleston Southern coach Jay Mills, the Buccaneers have been through “hard labor” for the last nine months, and now they’re ready for delivery, the Charleston Post & Courier’s David Shelton writes.

* The Shelby Star’s Alan Ford gives a quick look at today’s Gardner-Webb/Brevard game.

* Greg Auman of the St. Petersburg Times offers a scouting report of tonight’s Stony Brook-South Florida game.

Now, your usual accumulation of pre-game thoughts and nuggets:

1. The Liberty media relations staff was kind enough to include the game book from the last game played here at City Stadium, the Flames’ 9-7 win over Eastern Illinois on Oct. 7, 1989. I think I was a month into my freshman year of high school at that point. (Side note: I’m old.) Your scoring plays, just for fun:

EIU—Broc Montgomery 2 run (D’Alexio kick)
LU—Pat Nelson 3 run (kick failed)
LU—Jason Harrell 34 FG with 36 seconds left.

Both teams finished with 334 yards of total offense. Liberty’s QB reps were split between Robby Justino and Paul Johnson. Charles McCray was the Flames’ leading rusher.

2. I went with a fairly conservative pick for this game (Liberty 34, St. Francis 10) for a number of reasons. Teams playing their first game for a new coach rarely lay down and take a 56-0 beating. In my time here, Liberty hasn’t blown anyone away in a season opener yet, even the Division II teams it has played. And there’s still some uncertainty with the run game and the secondary receivers. Plus, I don’t think LU will throw the book at St. Francis, so to speak. Look for a fairly vanilla offense and for the Flames do what they need to do to get through this game healthy and with a victory.

3. So if you were a betting man (and the blog does not condone gambling, it just gives information), I guess I would suggest you take the Red Flash to cover. According to betus.com, Liberty is a 33 1/2-point favorite today.

4. This St. Francis team is very Pennsylvania-Ohio-New Jersey centric. There is only one Virginia player on the roster, kicker Josh Thiel, who went to Heritage High School in Leesburg.

5. Thiel is also the name of a Division III school in Greenville, Pa.

6. One of St. Francis’ starting cornerbacks, Michael Brown, is listed at 145 pounds. For reference, Liberty’s kicker—Matt Bevins—is listed at 185.

7. Liberty is 16-7 when opening the season at home. The Flames haven’t lost a home opener since losing 23-3 to Western Carolina in 2002.

8. This is also the first time the Flames have opened at home against a Division I team since then, so take that for what it’s worth.

9. Three coaches on St. Francis’ staff are graduates of Robert Morris, whom the Flames will play two weeks from now.

10. St. Francis tailback Jude Yearwood is listed as the starter for today’s game, but he has been limited in practice due to an undisclosed injury, so he is a game-time decision. If Yearwood can’t go, Kyle Harbridge will get the start.

11. St. Francis linebacker Scott Lewis is the active career leader in tackles in all of the FCS.

12. Wow. St. Francis’ backup right guard Lloyd Hill is listed at 6-foot-3, 400 pounds. If he stood next to Asa Chapman, we would start having to call Asa, “Tiny.“

OK, that’s it for now. Follow on Twitter for in-game updates.