LU Notebook: Stadler the latest major college transfer to make an impact for Flames

When Alex Stadler accepted a scholarship offer to play football at Alabama after his senior year at Bealeton’s Liberty High School, he chose the Crimson Tide over 25 other offers.

He envisioned a long career in Tuscaloosa, but once he got to campus, he realized things weren’t meant to be. The coach who had recruited him, Mike Shula, had been fired, making way for the hire of Nick Saban. Stadler never played a snap at Alabama, redshirting in 2006 before deciding to transfer.

“It was a bunch of things,” said Stadler, who has started the last two games at right guard for Liberty in place of the injured Britt Stone. “Really, it was just me not being happy where I was. I think that has a lot to do with it. If you’re not happy somewhere, I don’t care what you’re doing, you’re not going to be successful at what you do.”

When Stadler chose to transfer, he took visits to two schools — Liberty and Coastal Carolina, the Flames’ opponent Saturday night.

“Coach (Danny) Rocco saw me interacting with people on my official visit,” Stadler said. “He told me he just felt like I belonged here. I felt like that too. It was a good situation.”

Stadler made it to Lynchburg in time for spring practice but suffered a knee injury and missed a good chunk of the spring season. He earned a spot in LU’s seven-man line rotation and worked his way into the starting lineup when Stone went down.

Rocco raved about Stadler’s play in the Western Carolina game, and the 6-foot-5, 310-pound sophomore put together another solid effort last week at Youngstown State.

“It’s been awesome,” Stadler said. “I wanted to play and get in the rotation. I always prepared myself during spring and during camp to play a lot. If someone went down, I wanted to be there to fill the gap. My number was called, and I had to step up and step in.”

MacDowall in?

Coastal Carolina quarterback Zach MacDowall has been upgraded to probable for Saturday’s game, the Myrtle Beach Sun News reports, though running back Eric O’Neal and top receiver Trent Usher are still listed as questionable.

MacDowall, a Wake Forest transfer, has been the most effective Chanticleer quarterback this season, completing 42 of 72 passes for 577 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. Will Richardson, who started last week at North Carolina A&T, has completed 22 of 39 passes for 249 yards and two interceptions.

“MacDowall has shown the ability to be the more efficient thrower,” Rocco said. “If they throw the ball seven, eight, nine, 10 times in a row, they’re more apt to do it with MacDowall. But they’re both capable.”

Freshman Jamie Childers, who was named the starter coming out of spring practice, is slowly working his way back from a bout of viral meningitis.

He has yet to complete a pass in four attempts.

Wrong ball

When Liberty center Mike Godsil looked down as the Flames started their two-minute drill in the fourth quarter at Youngstown State last Saturday, he noticed something strange: YSU’s logo on the football.

Each team is allowed to use its own balls, and Godsil didn’t want to use the unfamiliar Penguins balls, so he quickly called a timeout.

Rocco wasn’t happy that LU had to waste one of its timeouts.

“I went to the referee and said, ‘This could cost us the game here,’” Rocco said. “That put us down to one timeout. I think the official really wanted to go and take it back, but I don’t think I made enough of a stink about it.”

Extra points

Liberty ranks in the top 15 nationally in six different categories — kickoff returns (6th), rushing offense (9th), punt returns (11th), scoring offense (12th), total offense (13th) and pass efficiency (14th). … LU’s Rashad Jennings ranks third nationally with 145.3 rush yards per game, and Jonathan Crawford is fourth nationally with a 38.6-yard kickoff return average. … LU right tackle Josh Weaver (groin) and kicker Matt Bevins (hip flexor) have been limited in practice, but both are expected to play Saturday. If Weaver can’t go, Justin Vargas and Antonio Tassara will see more time. If Bevins can’t go, Ben Shipps will handle extra points and short field goals and punter Mike Larsson will handle kickoffs and long field goals.