[Purple Haize]

I say - bring on Lehigh... Who's ready for some football?

Man - you guys are wasting your time here. It's his life and the school's decision. I'm selfish - I want to see him play - the school has to live with their decision - and they made it - Respect it. They know much more than we do and I'm not judging anyone when it deals with off the field matters that I have no first hand knowledge.

On the field issues - go for it - that's our business... We are sports fans, not school administrators, coaches, counselors, law enforcement, AD's, etc... I hope Asa can sure up a defensive line that struggled last week to stop the run...

Why? They obviously don't respect their own mission statement. They don't respect the rules. They don't respect their reputation. They don't respect the truth. They don't respect those who think LU should be something more than you 'avg football team' So why should we respect the decision? You are right, they made it and have to live with it. There is nothing we can do about it. But we most certainly do not have to respect it.

[elcid83]

I know you guys don't need to get a lecture from a Citadel grad and the Dad of a Gardner-Webb football player, but, I really expected Liberty to handle the Asa Chapman situation the right way. It's disappointing that he will be finishing this season as a Flame. He doesn't deserve that opportunity. For your coach to give him that opportunity wreaks of desperation.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

[prototype]

I say - bring on Lehigh... Who's ready for some football?

Man - you guys are wasting your time here. It's his life and the school's decision. I'm selfish - I want to see him play - the school has to live with their decision - and they made it - Respect it. They know much more than we do and I'm not judging anyone when it deals with off the field matters that I have no first hand knowledge.

On the field issues - go for it - that's our business... We are sports fans, not school administrators, coaches, counselors, law enforcement, AD's, etc... I hope Asa can sure up a defensive line that struggled last week to stop the run...

Why? They obviously don't respect their own mission statement. They don't respect the rules. They don't respect their reputation. They don't respect the truth. They don't respect those who think LU should be something more than you 'avg football team' So why should we respect the decision? You are right, they made it and have to live with it. There is nothing we can do about it. But we most certainly do not have to respect it.

I just know that we are judging someone without the full story or a one-on-one conversation. For me, IMO, that is wrong. Who are we to say that if we don't reinstate him and it comes out that the whole thing was wrong and then he sues Liberty for taking away his ability to compete and any chance at making money? I know that is far fetched, but in a crazy world - anything is possible... There is power in knowing the whole story and we might be getting a lot of info, but maybe talking to Asa - they feel this is the best thing for him?

I had a friend at Liberty make a very stupid decision, because he was young and a college student trying to be cool. This decision could have destroyed his life - most people agreed... But one man, went to court, got on the stand and pleaded to give the guy a second chance, or in this case a 3rd and 4th chance. That man was Jerry Falwell and that event changed him forever. He now is using that experience to change the lives of young adults that could make the same immature decision(s). I'm not condoning Asa's actions, I'm just saying that some very good men, that I respect, met with him, spoke with him, prayed with him and made the decision to give the guy another chance.

[Purple Haize]

How many decisions are actually made when we know the whole story? Very few. We all have these wonderful feel good stories in our background. We also have the tragic stories in our background as well. So relaying a third party story is not really relevant.
What is relevant is the mission of LU and how this story has unfolded. What we do know flies in the face of what many feel LU stands for. The ham handed and somewhat contradictory response by the powers that be only lend to this sense of discontent. Another way to put it is this : there is a fine line between 2nd chances and taking advantage of the situation.

[prototype]

I know you guys don't need to get a lecture from a Citadel grad and the Dad of a Gardner-Webb football player, but, I really expected Liberty to handle the Asa Chapman situation the right way. It's disappointing that he will be finishing this season as a Flame. He doesn't deserve that opportunity. For your coach to give him that opportunity wreaks of desperation.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

Sure hope your son doesn't make any mistakes... You're the Judge and the Jury. And all the way from NC too. Man you must have eyes/sources everywhere...

By the way - it should be "Go Running Bulldogs" Runnin isn't a word, it's a 2Pac song...

[christhecoolguy]

i call this a cover-up. they need to win games. plain and simple.

[Purple Haize]

Really? You are bringing a persons family into the debate?

[JMUDukeDawg]

I know you guys don't need to get a lecture from a Citadel grad and the Dad of a Gardner-Webb football player, but, I really expected Liberty to handle the Asa Chapman situation the right way. It's disappointing that he will be finishing this season as a Flame. He doesn't deserve that opportunity. For your coach to give him that opportunity wreaks of desperation.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

Sure hope your son doesn't make any mistakes... You're the Judge and the Jury. And all the way from NC too. Man you must have eyes/sources everywhere...

By the way - it should be "Go Running Bulldogs" Runnin isn't a word, it's a 2Pac song...

FWIW, this is going to be the reaction of the majority of outsiders. I was wondering if there were any regulations dealing with players convicted of felonies (to see if this might be a retroactive issue if Chapman were to play this year and be convicted). I couldn't find any, but what I did find were a number of universities' Student-Athlete Conduct Policies. I believe all of them stated that once a student-athlete is charged with a felony, he is immediately suspended from athletic activities. Liberty's response to this situation flies in the face of what virtually every other university would do (and in some cases is mandated to do based on its own policies).

While I'm keeping an open mind, there would have to be some extraordinary circumstances for this not to be a poor choice. He has another year of eligibility, redshirt him, let him stay in school (there's your "grace" for those that are pleading that as a reason) and see what happens. Football's a privilege; by allowing him to play, you're saying that being charged with a felony is not serious enough to take away that privilege. Again, there may be circumstances out there that alleviate these issues, and I have enough respect for LU and especially Rocco that I think this has been considered so I'm willing to listen, but until those facts are made public it comes off to me as a poor choice.

[jack_sparrow81]

Some of the posters on here need to revisit their messages on the BYU thread because it seems we base our opinions whichever way the winds blow. I don't understand some of the logic here. The people that keep stating the reputation and the beliefs are at stake here are the same people that were defending playing music with questionable lyrics during the games on the other thread

[Purple Haize]

Shows what you know JMU! We do things different here because we can! Then we justify it by using phrases like Gods Grace.
So stick that in your non drug paraphernalia pipe and smoke it! ( but don't inhale!)

[christhecoolguy]

i think everyone is taking this a bit too far.

[prototype]

Really? You are bringing a persons family into the debate?

What? He mentioned his son He brought his family in to it. Just poking fun at the outsider who's even more disconnected than everyone on this board...

I didn't go on their message board back in 2002 and tell them how to handle their academic scandal...

[flamesfilmguy]

I really could write a novel on this. All i'm going to say as a future donor to athletics and as a former staff member of the football team this disappoints me greatly. I am starting to lose respect for men I truly looked up to all through my time at LU. DR and JFJR where big influences on me when I was at LU. This situation and how it is being handled is going to turn out to be a black eye to the athletics department and the school itself. I pray we don't wind up on ESPN but from articles already posted in dallas and LA i'm afraid thats coming. Doc would preach on burning the school down before letting it turn into another Baylor university or other "baptist" colleges that have lost their focus. This seems like a step in the wrong direction. If this is allowed now what will be allowed 3-5 years down the road?

[Purple Haize]

Some of the posters on here need to revisit their messages on the BYU thread because it seems we base our opinions whichever way the winds blow. I don't understand some of the logic here. The people that keep stating the reputation and the beliefs are at stake here are the same people that were defending playing music with questionable lyrics during the games on the other thread

Music is not illegal. You can't get arrested for playing ACDC. I'm not even sure you can get reps for it anymore. This situation deals with School policy violations and not music. If it was against stated school policy to play secular music then you would be close to having a valid point.

[flamesfilmguy]

Bj i love you man but come on you can't tell me you are seriously defending the school on all this. I know somewhere in that heart of yours you know this stinks to high heaven. We all have a very REAL concern for OUR school. As SJ said I love my school more than any player, coach or administrator. So I want to be able to defend my school but when I look at this rationally I can't see a reason from any angle that this could go away without being detrimental to the schools reputation and mission.

[flamesfilmguy]

annnnd you deleted your post

[BJWilliams]

You know Purple, you could take the time to actually write the person who had th epower to put all this to bed before it became an issue...oh wait, youre not going to becasue youd much rather be a no name keyboard jockey who feels like they know better than the people in the administration who make decisions to affect this university day in and day out, a VAST majority of which we probably never hear about, and that you somehow are this great moral authority on matters of this nature.

Edit: I didnt delete the original post...

Mod Edit: My mistake, I didnt mean to. Thought the X was the foe button

[BJWilliams]

Bj i love you man but come on you can't tell me you are seriously defending the school on all this. I know somewhere in that heart of yours you know this stinks to high heaven. We all have a very REAL concern for OUR school. As SJ said I love my school more than any player, coach or administrator. So I want to be able to defend my school but when I look at this rationally I can't see a reason from any angle that this could go away without being detrimental to the schools reputation and mission.

And you know what FFG...youre right. That is why I had to take the time to do my best "say it aint so Joe" and ask someone who would know a thing or two about this situation. When this person (who I wont name but its someone who if I did youd know pretty much instantly) explained things as best as they legally could, it allowed me to give much more pause before I passed judgement on the situation

[SuperJon]

While I'm keeping an open mind, there would have to be some extraordinary circumstances for this not to be a poor choice. He has another year of eligibility, redshirt him, let him stay in school (there's your "grace" for those that are pleading that as a reason) and see what happens. Football's a privilege; by allowing him to play, you're saying that being charged with a felony is not serious enough to take away that privilege. Again, there may be circumstances out there that alleviate these issues, and I have enough respect for LU and especially Rocco that I think this has been considered so I'm willing to listen, but until those facts are made public it comes off to me as a poor choice.

This is one of the best posts in this entire thread.

Grace and second chances don't have to require football.

Sit him for a year. The NFL will still be there next year. You give him a support system and let him show he's committed to turning his life around and to changing. Give him a year under that support system so that when he's released into pro football and has a crap ton of money he will know what is right and what is wrong and it will have been engrained in him for a year. Not to mention he'd be 3/4 of the way through a master's degree by that time too. Not only do you get the roots of the support system firmly established but you set him up better for life after football too.

To me, that's a second chance.

[flamesfilmguy]

While I'm keeping an open mind, there would have to be some extraordinary circumstances for this not to be a poor choice. He has another year of eligibility, redshirt him, let him stay in school (there's your "grace" for those that are pleading that as a reason) and see what happens. Football's a privilege; by allowing him to play, you're saying that being charged with a felony is not serious enough to take away that privilege. Again, there may be circumstances out there that alleviate these issues, and I have enough respect for LU and especially Rocco that I think this has been considered so I'm willing to listen, but until those facts are made public it comes off to me as a poor choice.

This is one of the best posts in this entire thread.

Grace and second chances don't have to require football.

Sit him for a year. The NFL will still be there next year. You give him a support system and let him show he's committed to turning his life around and to changing. Give him a year under that support system so that when he's released into pro football and has a crap ton of money he will know what is right and what is wrong and it will have been engrained in him for a year. Not to mention he'd be 3/4 of the way through a master's degree by that time too. Not only do you get the roots of the support system firmly established but you set him up better for life after football too.

To me, that's a second chance.

This!

[SuperJon]

Mod Edit: My mistake, I didnt mean to. Thought the X was the foe button

Hahaha. So basically Smoothie, HMO, or Manson just admitted to trying to foe Beej. At this point I don't blame them.

[WinterIsComing]

You know Purple, you could take the time to actually write the person who had th epower to put all this to bed before it became an issue...oh wait, youre not going to becasue youd much rather be a no name keyboard jockey who feels like they know better than the people in the administration who make decisions to affect this university day in and day out, a VAST majority of which we probably never hear about, and that you somehow are this great moral authority on matters of this nature.

Edit: I didnt delete the original post...

JFJR didn't make the decision according to his own press release. He merely reviewed it to ensure The Student Conduct Office treats every student on campus equally. That way, when the next average student gets in trouble, he can ask Jeff Barber and Coach Rocco to plead on his behalf to the Student Conduct Office for assistance in self reporting, instead of their hardline RA/RD.

[Purple Haize]

You know Purple, you could take the time to actually write the person who had th epower to put all this to bed before it became an issue...oh wait, youre not going to becasue youd much rather be a no name keyboard jockey who feels like they know better than the people in the administration who make decisions to affect this university day in and day out, a VAST majority of which we probably never hear about, and that you somehow are this great moral authority on matters of this nature.

Edit: I didnt delete the original post...

First of all I'm using a tablet so I'm note sure I am a keyboard jockey. Touchscreen twinkle toes maybe
Secondly, I have already proven that while eating Left over Kettle corn, listening to a conference call, with ESPN on and playing tug of war with my puppy I can come up with a better press statement then whatever PR person did. So that is a point for me.
Thirdly, I am getting my information the same way everyone else is. I see no reason to seek out top secret classified information on the subject. Im not a big fan of the 'I know something you don't know' approach.
Fourthly, if someone 'in the know' wants to come and enlighten the board with something more than ' we know something you don't know but can tell you for legal reasons ' then they know how to get here.
Fifthly, I like the Col Jessup approach you take at the end. How dare I question the manner in which decisions are made. You WANT me on that mountain, you NEED me on the mountain .
Sixethedly, the 'outsiders' are a representation of what the non LU world sees and thinks of how the powers that be handled this situation. They seem overwhelmingly skeptical to me.

[Purple Haize]

While I'm keeping an open mind, there would have to be some extraordinary circumstances for this not to be a poor choice. He has another year of eligibility, redshirt him, let him stay in school (there's your "grace" for those that are pleading that as a reason) and see what happens. Football's a privilege; by allowing him to play, you're saying that being charged with a felony is not serious enough to take away that privilege. Again, there may be circumstances out there that alleviate these issues, and I have enough respect for LU and especially Rocco that I think this has been considered so I'm willing to listen, but until those facts are made public it comes off to me as a poor choice.

This is one of the best posts in this entire thread.

Grace and second chances don't have to require football.

Sit him for a year. The NFL will still be there next year. You give him a support system and let him show he's committed to turning his life around and to changing. Give him a year under that support system so that when he's released into pro football and has a crap ton of money he will know what is right and what is wrong and it will have been engrained in him for a year. Not to mention he'd be 3/4 of the way through a master's degree by that time too. Not only do you get the roots of the support system firmly established but you set him up better for life after football too.

To me, that's a second chance.

Winner winner chicken dinner! Unless of course our AD and or coach are not planning on staying long enough to deal with the repercussions

[prototype]

BJ/Haize - It's time to settle this once and for all. I have pulled some strings and got this all lined up. I guarantee that we could get at least 100 people from Liberty to see this...