Liberty is top pick in Big South

Liberty University has been picked to repeat as Big South Conference champions, according to a panel of league coaches and media members.

The Flames received 12 of 13 first-place votes, it was announced today at the Big South Football media luncheon in Charlotte.
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League commissioner Kyle Kallander also announced that the league will receive an automatic bid to the national playoffs for the first time in 2010.

Liberty collected 77 points in the voting, and was followed by Coastal Carolina (58), Gardner-Webb (52), newcomer Stony Brook (38), Charleston Southern (30) and VMI (18). Charleston Southern received the only other first-place vote.

VMI's new coach is Sparky Woods, formerly head man at both South Carolina and Appalachian State and most recently an assistant at Alabama.

Flames running back Rashad Jennings was picked as the preseason offensive player of the year, while Gardner-Webb linebacker Mario Brown was the choice on defense.

-- Stan Olson