A Sea Of Red

I know it is early in the Season, I know the team is working hard and had some off season set backs, I know there is more to Liberty than winning. With all that in mind-here is a what I see from the CheapSeats. I have been tracking NCAA baseball and Sofball for a while. I am pretty sure the goal is always to field a competitive team. I waited to comment until the Notre Dame game. Notre Dame is not ranked, but played the # 1 ranked team recently and lost in extra innings by one run. It would have been bad for Oklahoma to lose this early to an unranked team. BUT this was a clear indicator of how good they are but still un ranked. Notre Dame is #2 ranked in the Big East. As you can see by the Mercy rule Score against our Liberty Lady Flames ..... We are not even close to being a competitive team against the better D1 schools. (Not winning mind you but competeting) The team has had several early "run rule" games against even weaker teams. I think if this is the way it is going to stay they should get the staff some help with recruiting or (and I don't know if it is possible) Eliminate the scholarships and drop to a division
2 or 3 team. Sorry I don't mean to be a downer but I am way up here in the CheapSeats

In relationship to the resources we have I think we do a great job. We are actually very competitive in our Conference which is the same standard we hold all of our other sports to.

Also...are you trying to subliminally promote a website or something? +1 to PH's comments...we have been very solid in conference which to be frank is probably our only way to have a chance to get in the tournament. If we do poorly there this year, youll probably see some reevaluation happening this summer

BJWilliams wrote:Also...are you trying to subliminally promote a website or something? +1 to PH's comments...we have been very solid in conference which to be frank is probably our only way to have a chance to get in the tournament. If we do poorly there this year, youll probably see some reevaluation happening this summer

I disagree with the last BJ. I don't think you can measure the negative mental impact the softball field fiasco has played on this team. It's very difficult to get pumped up and excited after something like that happens.

BJ
Sorry to annoy you - not promoting any thing.

Reasons for CheapSeats.
All viewpoints are valid and often educated BUT we are on the outside looking in as spectators
( I especially need to remember that)
So I remind myself and everyone else that I am not only looking at it from the outside BUT from far away (way outside) which is usually the Cheapest Seat offered with a limited view.

It is also a challenge to find a way to end short comments with CheapSeats.

COMMENT
I am sure the Softball staff has a recruiting plan, they know who is graduating and who is the next in line for a position and maybe plan out more than a year at a time. Hopefully the can have players stay through the plan. Even winning a birth to the NCAA tournament through the division, will put you in competition with ranked teams SO is the plan to just compete within the division? It would seem a necessity to be building towards competing at a higher level.... (?) but maybe that's the secret plan. I hope so... The view of the score board doesn't change whether your in a Good Seat or a CheapSeat.
(need the shades because there is not cover up here)

Look at our facilities. Look at ND facilities. Which would you choose?

Purple Haize wrote:Look at our facilities. Look at ND facilities. Which would you choose?

The CheapSeats at ND?

adam42381 wrote:

Purple Haize wrote:Look at our facilities. Look at ND facilities. Which would you choose?

The CheapSeats at ND?

As I told Monseiur Seats, I pony up the money for the good seats. Sorta like a SeatDiva

Ph I wanted to ride shotgun with you, sounds like your connections might be able to get me a better seat....
CheapSeats, looking to upgrade ( for free if possible )

LU can hit the ball, they lack a dominant pitcher. The new freshman looks promising. She pitched a nice game today against ECU. However, you can't have a team ERA of >5 and win games.

It goes back to recruiting, before calling for the coaches jobs, give the coaches the same tools the Football, WBB, MBB, Baseball, LAX, FH.

As far as comparing LU to ND... they have no problem drawing top players... I am willing to bet the ND coach has never had anyone ask "ND who, where is that?".

BJWilliams wrote:Also...are you trying to subliminally promote a website or something? +1 to PH's comments...we have been very solid in conference which to be frank is probably our only way to have a chance to get in the tournament. If we do poorly there this year, youll probably see some reevaluation happening this summer

He's one of the Sklar brothers.

The LU softball team needs a complete "makeover" in all facets of the program. (funding, stadium, coaching)

Eighty wrote:LU can hit the ball, they lack a dominant pitcher. The new freshman looks promising. She pitched a nice game today against ECU. However, you can't have a team ERA of >5 and win games.

It goes back to recruiting, before calling for the coaches jobs, give the coaches the same tools the Football, WBB, MBB, Baseball, LAX, FH.

As far as comparing LU to ND... they have no problem drawing top players... I am willing to bet the ND coach has never had anyone ask "ND who, where is that?".

Eighty
In my original post I said they need to get the staff some help recruiting. I wouldn't blame anyone if the resources were being withheld, but if they are not enough resources, someone needs to be demanding some help if the desire is to be competitive. I would hold team staff accountable if they aren't making that request loud and often and so far (in my opinion) they are not making that kind of noise out at the softball program.. But I admit the sound doesn't carry well up in the CheapSeats.

For whatever the reason, softball seems to receive less attention than any other sport at LU. I do not know the details on number or scholarships NCAA allows, or if LU gives the max amount.

But I do know softball starts and ends with pitching. Beat down the high school and travel ball trails when recruiting, and find an ace of staff who gives you a good chance to win every time out.

Hey Ball Coach

Agreed! But I know a few athletes from the west coast that are now playing in other programs that said they never saw Liberty at any travel show cases or big tournaments. Do you think that is due funds or scholarships ( I know you said you didn't know about them ) it will be impossible to compete if they don't carry the same kind of scholarship funding as other D1 programs. I know when funding is tight you have to go with what you can get.. I get what I pay for...CheapSeats.

Good observations. There's a big tournament every summer in Denver, CO, where teams from all over the nation converge. LU should have a coach at this tournament every year, and take up residence for the week.
Softball is a sport where LU should excell. With LU's standards, finding softball players who meet them should be fairly easy, especially when compared to other sports. Most good high school softball players are good girls, with good grades and character.
I have a friend who is Head Coach at one of the top schools in the country. We talk recruiting a lot. When the opportunity arises, I will ask him his opinion of what LU needs to do to improve.

The budget is lowland the facility is worse then some church league/ public parks. They were just promised a new facility then had it taken away. They pay the coach very little in comparison. So the 2 questions to ask before you complain about the staff are:
If it comes down between us and another school, will our facility help land them? No.
Can you attract a coach to come to LU who can do a better job with the facility and resources currently at our disposal then this staff? No.
If you are a kid and you see UVA's facilities and ours, you'd chose UVA. Heck you'd chose ANY facility over ours. If you bring a top flight coach in to look at the job and show them the facilities, salary, resources and commitment level, will it lure them away from their present post? Please.

Ph. All valid points. Haven't seen the facilities in a while and it's as you say, BUT. Why isn't someone in the admin's face saying something? Is that the AD? The head coach? Players? I guarantee other sports would at least bring it up. Heck sounds like we're loader than they are and we're in the CheapSeats....

I would like to make an invalid point.

jbock13 wrote:I would like to make an invalid point.

That would be ANY point you make!

Young. No Seniors

Let go over the Roster again and see what’s missing, it’s not talent. It’s playing time and maturity.
The infield has no returning starters; the out field has 2 juniors. LUSB is on wave recruiting. LU currently has loaded up the last 2 recruiting classes. Those girls came to Liberty because they could start and play here not set the bench for 2 years before they get on the field. The last two classes came on the vision and the message that Jeff Barber is sending out. “We are moving up.”

LU pitchers where recruited on the promise that they would be behind Kat and she would pitch the meat of the schedule. She left.

Young

This year will be rough, then next 2 years will be better. But look ahead, then you are going to have 2 down years because of these larges recruiting classes.

Purple Haize wrote:The budget is lowland the facility is worse then some church league/ public parks. They were just promised a new facility then had it taken away. They pay the coach very little in comparison. So the 2 questions to ask before you complain about the staff are:
If it comes down between us and another school, will our facility help land them? No.
Can you attract a coach to come to LU who can do a better job with the facility and resources currently at our disposal then this staff? No.
If you are a kid and you see UVA's facilities and ours, you'd chose UVA. Heck you'd chose ANY facility over ours. If you bring a top flight coach in to look at the job and show them the facilities, salary, resources and commitment level, will it lure them away from their present post? Please.

Great post! Also, LU was at the tournament in CO, as well as VA, GA & FL this summer.

No they weren't. ballcoach says so!

and we all know he is NEVER wrong...