[TallyW]

D Edcil- I believe in vision and the ability to build something from nothing. It's easy to sit back and complain.... to state the obvious current situation. Leaders rise to the challenge and move others forward. We may never come to an agreement, I'm just glad that the leaders of our school continue to ignore people like you and SJ who would complain about everything and want the school to stay put. When Dr. Falwell started the school he believed that God was calling him to build a University that was equivelant in all ways to BYU and Notre Dame. Major college football and the exposure that comes with it is a part of that plan. He wouldn't be fully following God if he didn't at least set the course to finish the dream. This isn't a new goal. This has always been the goal. As a leader you don't spend time worrying with where you are now... you get the people on board who can make a difference and then bust your tail to make it happen. It will happen. I'm just sorry for those of you who are going to go kicking and screaming over the next 10 years. Once it happens I'm sure you'll talk about all of the terrible things that were done along the way and complain about the facilities or budgets... the complants never end... but as you look back you'll have to acknowledge that you were on the wrong side of history on this one.


As for Alumni... our base is small and many of our alumni are in the ministry and many are still relatively young in their careers. Our oldest crop of students is what? 55 or so? C'mon... you really expect us to have money pouring in from mostly families in their 20's to 40's? I am constantly shocked at how short sighted people on this board can be. As our alumni base grows and the population ages (read: gets deeper pockets) our school will get much more financial support. Although your hypothosis sounds nice it's just flat wrong.


I still see the concerns brought up by the 1AA crowd to be short sighted. We can turn around and win in a matter of 4-5 years... we can get the buildings pretty quick as well... In addition if the student population in Lynchburg DOES reach 20,000 within the next 10-15 years I feel comfortable that we'll be able to support the basic opperating costs. Yes a lot will have to change but so what..... No one is saying that we should play 1-A today. This is a 10-15 year project. All of these concerns can be handled within that time. The student-athelete we'll be recruiting for 1A football is in daycare or kindergarten today. We have time to make the mountain attractive for him.

[LUconn]

We cannot even CONSIDER IA until we are consistent winners

That's just not true.

[A.G.]

IS TOO!

Yes, we can consider it, but to actually attempt to do it would be SUICIDE! We can't even compete in the worst football conference in the US. Perhaps we need to consider the Campbell route and go like Davidson, et al!

[TallyW]

Why would Danny Rocco and Jeff Barber come from Major college football programs to Liberty if they don't believe the administration and the plans are reasonable. No, I don't think either will stay for 10 years but I wouldn't classify either as desperate... I'm sure they could have done other things. I personally believe that the administration put forward a solid game plan to make something great happen at LU. These guys (with all of their previous experience and with their D1A connections) decided that this was a situation that could look great on their resume. If they can turn this sorry program into a winner quickly and set it up for D1A status... they'll look like heros.

They came because they believe in the vision. We will win immediately and then make the necessary steps to move forward.

[bigsmooth]

I have always said that we need to at least be a perennial I-AA playoff team, before we jump to I-A. I would rather win at that level than be like a temple. now if we could get like Navy or a sun belt conference team which i think we could get to, then let's do it ASAP .i think the 10 year plan is a good one, as it will afford LU to try and at least taste I-AA playoff success. i would have to think that when we do finally make the jump that we could snag some virginia talent as we would be the third I-A team in the commonwealth. heck we could go into wva. or maryland as well. i do agree with sly that HS players want to play I-A ball and will go where they can get that chance.

[jcmanson]

Wow, this thread has really gotten off topic in a hurry.

I will be the first one on here saying that I want to make the jump to D-1A, but we have to be realistic. We need to be able to go AT LEAST .500 year in year out before we should even begin discussing how to make the jump. I do think it is realistic to be thinking and planning about it now because that will keep us all pointed in the right direction. If we build a consistent winner at the D-1AA level we will get the people in the seats. I am not worried about attendance. Sure, it sucks when we have 500 people at the games now, but look out our records in MBB and football. Once we build a consistent winner people and students will come out.

As far as getting 1A talent, that too will come when we start winning. It starts by taking small steps. Our next step is to build a consistent winner at the D-1AA level, but while taking these steps you need to know where you are going.

[Stevev]

Right now it appears that some people on this board are happy if we win the Big South. And now all of this talk about going 1A. There is too big of a gap here. It is not even remotely realistic at this stage of the game. Lets at least try to close that gap before all of this 1A talk even starts up.

[Sly Fox]

If we would've waited until we were comptitive in Division II we would've never jumped to I-AA. While our current state wouldn't indiciate, we were once competitive at I-AA. And success at I-AA doesn't have much of anything to do with success at the next level. Its a nice idea but its not a total necessity.

I agree with Steve that there does appear to be a rather wide dispairty. But I think thepoint is to have a longterm vision and begin the process of wroking that direction. In the process you should show the results where we are.

[A.G.]

Sly--have you mixed up the Nitrous Oxide and the Oxygen canisters, again?? If you STINK or are mediocre at I-AA, then why in the world try to absolutely BLOW at I-A?

[Brokeback Flamer]

Why would Danny Rocco and Jeff Barber come from Major college football programs to Liberty if they don't believe the administration and the plans are reasonable. No, I don't think either will stay for 10 years but I wouldn't classify either as desperate... I'm sure they could have done other things. I personally believe that the administration put forward a solid game plan to make something great happen at LU. These guys (with all of their previous experience and with their D1A connections) decided that this was a situation that could look great on their resume. If they can turn this sorry program into a winner quickly and set it up for D1A status... they'll look like heros.

They came because they believe in the vision. We will win immediately and then make the necessary steps to move forward.

This could have been pasted when we had the press conferences for Karcher, Hankinso, Park et. al. I don't see where SJ et al (love that ) lack any vision whatsoever. They are just making the case that there is nothing wrong with being a perennial 1AA powerhouse. It makes a lot of sense financially, geographically and publicity wise. To say that these opinions are those of people without vision is a tad on the harsh side. They do bring up a lot of good reasons why going D1A would not be a wise move, does this make them sluggards and malcontents? It appears they just want what is best for LU. I am somewhat in this camp. The only reason I have seen for going 1A is because Jerry said so. And the defense is if you don't have Jerry's vision you are vanquished (just love that name/car) to the non - leader, complainer pile. Why move to 1A?
As for a time frame, it seems that since we have been a school, LBC, the "10 Year Plan" was to be a "competitivie D1A program within 10 years." That is why Hout got the ax and Sam was brought in. That is why KK was brought in and that is why Rocco was brought in. Some of us see a trend. But of course we are the ones who complain about everything and opinions do not count because we "lack vision". D Edcil might, just ask the Vines Center crowd, but I am not so sure about the rest of us.
Finally, I don't think we can discount the input from current students about cut backs in what we already have. I am pretty sure the top two floors of DeMoss (Which is a great building) are not completed or occupied and I know that the Ericsson/Academic classrooms are being scaled back b/c of $$. Now, I DO believe and have "vision" that we CAN get that rectified (am I allowed to use that word) and should be done.
I am sure somewhere in scripture, torah, koran, soul force mission statement, there is a section on being good stewards of what you have.

[PAmedic]

ok- hypothetically: if we get 8, 9 and/or 10 wins the next 3 years, and get a playoff bid- would you guys support going 1A after 2010?

if winning at our current level truly is the goal, how many seasons would it take? Like SLY said, at one time we were very competetive- before there was a CCU, etc.

If (when) Rocco turns it around, will that satisfy anyone?

[Brokeback Flamer]

ok- hypothetically: if we get 8, 9 and/or 10 wins the next 3 years, and get a playoff bid- would you guys support going 1A after 2010?

if winning at our current level truly is the goal, how many seasons would it take? Like SLY said, at one time we were very competetive- before there was a CCU, etc.

If (when) Rocco turns it around, will that satisfy anyone?

GREAT question!!! I am going to answer no. If that time frame were doubled or tripled then I would be in favor of THINKING about it and looking at more options. I just don't feel 3 years = sustained growth. If we could do that for 6 - 10 years and after a possible coaching change, then I think we would be on the right track. Hopefully, by that time we will have a more secure financial base for the university and athletic department, a better idea of what conference we could land in and the NCAA will have undergone some more favorable changes. Also, in our mythical furute, we would have better facilities, I believe Proto mentioned a new stadium in that time, and hopefully more fan friendly parking!! And then Jerry who would be in his 80's can see his dream realized.
So the short answer is NO. The long answer is "I have a dream/vision" LOL

[Sly Fox]

I am all honesty, if we go beyond ten years it is likely we will no longer have the same NCAA Division I structure. There are rumblings of a complete overhaul of Division I football on the horizon. But that shouldn't proclude us from moving toward our goals IMHO.

[Stevev]

If we can give Wake Forest a descent game, can beat William and Mary in our homecoming game, and could knock off Western Carolina and Towson then I will be a believer. Screw everyone else on our schedule since they are meaningless anyway. That is the way I see it like it or not.

[SuperJon]

ok- hypothetically: if we get 8, 9 and/or 10 wins the next 3 years, and get a playoff bid- would you guys support going 1A after 2010?

if winning at our current level truly is the goal, how many seasons would it take? Like SLY said, at one time we were very competetive- before there was a CCU, etc.

If (when) Rocco turns it around, will that satisfy anyone?

No, I would not support it. Winning in a 3-year time frame is one recruiting class. How would we play after those guys leave and we have to rebuild/reload? If 9/10 wins for 3 years is the criteria, then Coastal should be thinking about going I-A in the next 5 years. In my opinion, here are the current things that need to be met before strongly looking into I-A status:

1) Win the conference
2) Move to a new conference that's better and win it
3) Make the playoffs at least 5 times in a 10 year span.
4) Average 7-9 wins for a 10 year span.

If we can pull these things off then we'll be ready to look into moving up.

[Stevev]

That seems like a more realistic expectation of what is expected rather than just jumping into something that is over our head.

[PAmedic]

wow. SJ you are tough bro!

I disagree a bit though, I think a couple winning seasons indicates the program is on the right track, assuming the recruiting success continued thruout.

I don't know if 7 or 8 winning seasons are THAT much more impressive than 3 or 4 (WBB won the conf 10 yrs in a row and still gets little national respect : I know thats not a perfect illiteration, but just go with it).

I have to agree w/ SLY in that I just don't see the whole 1AA conf thing continuing the way it is for another decade- its a crazy mess now as it is. I could actually forsee doing away w/ AA altogether and having D 1, 2, and 3 like all other sports.

fire away!

[Brokeback Flamer]

GREAT question!!! I am going to answer no. If that time frame were doubled or tripled then I would be in favor of THINKING about it and looking at more options. I just don't feel 3 years = sustained growth. If we could do that for 6 - 10 years and after a possible coaching change, then I think we would be on the right track. Hopefully, by that time we will have a more secure financial base for the university and athletic department, a better idea of what conference we could land in and the NCAA will have undergone some more favorable changes. Also, in our mythical furute, we would have better facilities, I believe Proto mentioned a new stadium in that time, and hopefully more fan friendly parking!! And then Jerry who would be in his 80's can see his dream realized.
So the short answer is NO. The long answer is "I have a dream/vision" LOL[/quote]

Can I at least get some props for a good idea??? Thank you!!

[SuperJon]

There's going to be a shakeup. Everyone knows it's coming.

However, you're going back to assuming the recruiting classes are good. Until proven over a consistent basis, you can't assume anything.

Coastal's first recruiting class are all seniors right now. They're still the main players on the team. True success for Coach Bennett and his staff will be if they can still compete successfully next year when those seniors are gone. It's not safe to assume that they'll be successful because they've never had to go through that situation before. Once they prove they can do it, then it's safe to assume that they'll bring in good recruits every year.

Does that make sense? I'm hoping I got my point across with that example.

[PAmedic]

yup- I gotcha.

I think using Carey Green as an example for recruiting success would be appropriate. He's consistently successful.

[LUconn]

I need someone to explain to me, why success on this level is required to move up to 1A and have success, eventually, there? (Success as in, could compete in the MAAC, not for the BCS) And don't relate it to recruiting, because it is 100% different at that level.

[A.G.]

I always gotta straighten you guys out!

BECAUSE NO CONFERENCE IS GOING TO WANT TO BRING IN A I-AA DOORMAT!

[Brokeback Flamer]

I need someone to explain to me, why success on this level is required to move up to 1A and have success, eventually, there? (Success as in, could compete in the MAAC, not for the BCS) And don't relate it to recruiting, because it is 100% different at that level.

I'll give it a stab, but don't think you can disregard the recruiting angle.
For starters, we need to build a foundation. When other schools have jet rocketed from 1AA to 1A(Central FL, S. FL) they already had an enourmous amount of financial support and everyone knew that they were going to D1A since their inception(Same w/FAU, and THAT was a disaster) Now that we have been around awhile, we need to build a foundation on many fronts before we can launch into a successful D1A program. That is why, IMO, we need succes at this level first.

Now to be cynical, we will probably go D1A before we are ready and try to improve on the fly. After all, from buildings to staffing to students, that is the liberty way!!