Moderators: jcmanson, Sly Fox, BuryYourDuke
Ed Dantes wrote:The administration paid a chunk of change for the tournament, and wanted to be able to recoup their costs.It seems interesting to me that Liberty PAID to host the tournament. I don't see how that can be true, since the BSC process of site selection involves a bid process with any desiring school.
Ed Dantes wrote:Mel Hankinson was, for those who don't know, terminated in a rather unusual way.Ed...KG was TOLD to leave the letter as Mel has mysteriously left town...the letter had to be left b/c the new coach was already hired and the announcement had to be made. It had nothing to do with KG "not having the stones to outright terminate the guy." He was simply the messenger.
He just went 5-25 or so, and wrapped up the year as the worst team in the nation. At the same time, Liberty secured the rights to the Big South Conference tournament (which had been held at neutral sites to much embarrassment).
The administration paid a chunk of change for the tournament, and wanted to be able to recoup their costs. That meant that Liberty wasn't allowed to stink again, because a bad LU would mean bad crowds and that would mean lousy revenues.
Hankinson had a year left on his contract, and his team would be losing its best player (Chris Caldwell). The only recruit we had coming in was some white guard who was averaging two points per game on a small Christian school in Roanoke. Times were tough, so we let Hanky go.
Of course, the athletic director at the time, Kim Graham, didn't exactly have the stones to outright terminate the guy (even though the decision wasn't his, it was Falwell's, with Pres. Borek)... so he leaves a CERTIFIED LETTER on Hankinson's desk over the weekend, saying that he'd been fired.
Hankinson, being the man that he is, announced that he was getting his lawyers involved -- and was going to sue Liberty for "wrongful termination"!
(boy, that case would've been open-and-shut!)
Fumblerooskies wrote:I would love to know how KG would have known Mel "mysteriously" left town?? Did he drive by his house? I mean Mel said he had no knowledge it was coming.....i mean its called a phone pick it up and leave a message if someone isn't unavailable. Do unto others right......if KG had stones he wouldn't have let that go down that way messenger or no messenger.Ed Dantes wrote:Mel Hankinson was, for those who don't know, terminated in a rather unusual way.Ed...KG was TOLD to leave the letter as Mel has mysteriously left town...the letter had to be left b/c the new coach was already hired and the announcement had to be made. It had nothing to do with KG "not having the stones to outright terminate the guy." He was simply the messenger.
He just went 5-25 or so, and wrapped up the year as the worst team in the nation. At the same time, Liberty secured the rights to the Big South Conference tournament (which had been held at neutral sites to much embarrassment).
The administration paid a chunk of change for the tournament, and wanted to be able to recoup their costs. That meant that Liberty wasn't allowed to stink again, because a bad LU would mean bad crowds and that would mean lousy revenues.
Hankinson had a year left on his contract, and his team would be losing its best player (Chris Caldwell). The only recruit we had coming in was some white guard who was averaging two points per game on a small Christian school in Roanoke. Times were tough, so we let Hanky go.
Of course, the athletic director at the time, Kim Graham, didn't exactly have the stones to outright terminate the guy (even though the decision wasn't his, it was Falwell's, with Pres. Borek)... so he leaves a CERTIFIED LETTER on Hankinson's desk over the weekend, saying that he'd been fired.
Hankinson, being the man that he is, announced that he was getting his lawyers involved -- and was going to sue Liberty for "wrongful termination"!
(boy, that case would've been open-and-shut!)
Rocketfan wrote:Messages were left and went unanswered...KG did what KG was instructed to do.Fumblerooskies wrote:I would love to know how KG would have known Mel "mysteriously" left town?? Did he drive by his house? I mean Mel said he had no knowledge it was coming.....i mean its called a phone pick it up and leave a message if someone isn't unavailable. Do unto others right......if KG had stones he wouldn't have let that go down that way messenger or no messenger.Ed Dantes wrote:Mel Hankinson was, for those who don't know, terminated in a rather unusual way.Ed...KG was TOLD to leave the letter as Mel has mysteriously left town...the letter had to be left b/c the new coach was already hired and the announcement had to be made. It had nothing to do with KG "not having the stones to outright terminate the guy." He was simply the messenger.
He just went 5-25 or so, and wrapped up the year as the worst team in the nation. At the same time, Liberty secured the rights to the Big South Conference tournament (which had been held at neutral sites to much embarrassment).
The administration paid a chunk of change for the tournament, and wanted to be able to recoup their costs. That meant that Liberty wasn't allowed to stink again, because a bad LU would mean bad crowds and that would mean lousy revenues.
Hankinson had a year left on his contract, and his team would be losing its best player (Chris Caldwell). The only recruit we had coming in was some white guard who was averaging two points per game on a small Christian school in Roanoke. Times were tough, so we let Hanky go.
Of course, the athletic director at the time, Kim Graham, didn't exactly have the stones to outright terminate the guy (even though the decision wasn't his, it was Falwell's, with Pres. Borek)... so he leaves a CERTIFIED LETTER on Hankinson's desk over the weekend, saying that he'd been fired.
Hankinson, being the man that he is, announced that he was getting his lawyers involved -- and was going to sue Liberty for "wrongful termination"!
(boy, that case would've been open-and-shut!)
RagingTireFire wrote:In terms of contract disputes, I'm not sure how legally binding a voicemail is.It must be binding enough, you never heard of an actual lawsuit filed...just threats.
HenryGale wrote:I was addressing Rocket's ludicrous suggestion that you can fire someone over the phone so long as you "leave a message". Hanky didn't sue because there was a letter which, by definition, was in writing and is legally binding.RagingTireFire wrote:In terms of contract disputes, I'm not sure how legally binding a voicemail is.It must be binding enough, you never heard of an actual lawsuit filed...just threats.
RagingTireFire wrote:I wasn't saying fire him over the phone, but if i were KG i would have left him a message at least to come to my office first thing on Monday before he found a random letter on his chair. Plus wasn't his son on staff at the time, im sure he knew where his dad was and would have responded with " he mysteriously disappeared". You assumed what i meant RTF, this is what happens after hours of staring at pictures of Michelle Obama- haha.HenryGale wrote:I was addressing Rocket's ludicrous suggestion that you can fire someone over the phone so long as you "leave a message". Hanky didn't sue because there was a letter which, by definition, was in writing and is legally binding.RagingTireFire wrote:In terms of contract disputes, I'm not sure how legally binding a voicemail is.It must be binding enough, you never heard of an actual lawsuit filed...just threats.
LUconn wrote:man, has anybody gone to see his wiki entry yet? Look at his head coaching history and record. How on earth did he get hired here?Asst for 6 years at WVU
LUconn wrote:man, has anybody gone to see his wiki entry yet? Look at his head coaching history and record. How on earth did he get hired here?
Sly Fox wrote:In my experience with the Falwell family over the past 30+ years, they have never been shy about stating what they believe and standing by it. If anything it should be on their family crest.
mdman wrote:i played for Mel...Joan was cool!I love his wife to death. she's AWESOME!