[PeterParker]

At the conclusion of the UFL/OSU game, the marquee players from the teams that seemed to have a faith caused me to wonder about the many marquee players that opt out of an LU career. One of the posts in the game thread alluded to this, so I thought it would be interesting to start a thread that could keep a running tally of high caliber/marquee players whose worldview syncs with Liberty's. Granted, I am aware that LU's athletic status (among other reasons noted on here by many posters including me) are cause for those players going to the elite programs. If LU were twenty years (or more? opinions?) more advanced in terms of its athletic offering, institutional reputation, etc., can LU ever be the college of choice for these marquee players?

How about a running list:

(Two high profile position players on college football's top team; others from OSU)


1. Tim Tebow, U. of Florida, involved in FCA; parents missionaries

2. Chris Leak, U. of Florida, involved in FCA, community involvement & academically sound.

3. Jim Cordle, Ohio State, involved in FCA

4. Joe Gantz, Ohio State, involved in FCA


more...?

[Sly Fox]

I'm reading Shaun Alexander's autobiography right now. He would've been a prime target back int he day.

[Libertine]

In some cases, we have gone after guys like this, specifically and most recently Tebow at Florida. The other side of the coin is that these kids whose talents can take them far beyond the FCS level and who are solid Christians can quite often be more effective leaders and more influential at secular institutions. Coming out of high school, I personally felt that God was directing me to Liberty but that's certainly not the case w/ everybody.

[thepostman]

I am not a fan at looking at high profile colleges and finding the "christian kids" and wondering what might of been...the fact of the matter is that Christian kids want to play at the highest level just like non christian kids...we are a I-AA school and until that changes we aren't going to get these kind of players unless we real them in early....its just the way it is and I don't blame these kids one bit....

[ATrain]

^^Countdown to Medic rant in:
5
4
3
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1

[thepostman]

yeah and he can rant away, i can't even keep the new names straight...so it will just stay with I-A, I-AA...sorry

[Libertine]

I'm certainly not saying we shouldn't recruit these kids. In fact, far from it! I don't see any reason why a kid who can play and wants to grow as a Christian shouldn't come here. My point is that there are factors that enter into where these kids end up that are far outside of the simple expediency of "he's a Christian kid who can play so he should go to a Christian school with a team" .

[SuperJon]

I agree with Lib. We should go after these kids, but if they choose the lights and glamour of a big school over us then we can't fault them at all. Instead of saying, "Man, they should've been here" we should be praying that they can use their faith and impact someone at the school they actually end up going to.

[LUconn]

right but if one of our goals is to be the non-cult BYU, it's nice to keep a running tally of talented players that we can one day have a shot at recruiting. (because of being DIBS). These new names are funny. It was like Street Fighter II. They had Street Fighter II, Street Fighter II Turbo, Street Fighter II Tournament Edition. I always just wondered why they didn't call it Street Fighter III.

[thepostman]

oh yeah, i hope you guys aren't thinking i don't think we should go after them, of course we should go after them, but after they choose a bigger school we can't sit back and moan about it, because like you said SJ, who could blame them?? But by all means go after these kids, because I am sure there will be a few that will say yes to us

[Libertine]

right but if one of our goals is to be the non-cult BYU, it's nice to keep a running tally of talented players that we can one day have a shot at recruiting. (because of being DIBS). These new names are funny. It was like Street Fighter II. They had Street Fighter II, Street Fighter II Turbo, Street Fighter II Tournament Edition. I always just wondered why they didn't call it Street Fighter III.

I...have...no idea. Are you posting on two boards at the same time, LUConn?

The odd thing is that I find myself agreeing with you on all counts.

[PAmedic]

yeah and he can rant away, i can't even keep the new names straight...so it will just stay with I-A, I-AA...sorry

FBS/FCS

not that hard, man

[thepostman]

yeah and he can rant away, i can't even keep the new names straight...so it will just stay with I-A, I-AA...sorry

FBS/FCS

not that hard, man

maybe not that hard, but when you already think its stupid they changed it in the first place its not really a priority to keep them straight

[LUconn]

right but if one of our goals is to be the non-cult BYU, it's nice to keep a running tally of talented players that we can one day have a shot at recruiting. (because of being DIBS). These new names are funny. It was like Street Fighter II. They had Street Fighter II, Street Fighter II Turbo, Street Fighter II Tournament Edition. I always just wondered why they didn't call it Street Fighter III.

I...have...no idea. Are you posting on two boards at the same time, LUConn?

The odd thing is that I find myself agreeing with you on all counts.

I post on like 10 boards at the same time. Every post as coherent as the next.

[PeterParker]

To try to bring this full circle, my point in starting the thread was not to suggest that LU would've, could've, or should've landed that type of marquee/caliber of player...we all know that LU in its present incarnation can't with the exception of a McDougal here and a Feenstra there. My point was to see on the current landscape how high of a caliber team one could build with current high marquee faith-based players to see what that team might look like (as an exercise other than the heated debates concerning coaches in other threads.) For example:


Submit your picks...

Offense

Quarterback: Chris Leak or Tim Tebow Univ. of FL

Running Back:

Full Back:

Tight Ends:

Center:

Offensive Line:

Kickers:

Etc.:

Defense

Safety:

Corners:

Linebackers:

Defensive Line:

Etc.:

[Cider Jim]

It was rumored that CHRIS WEBER made an offical recruiting visit to LU during the Jeff Meyer era. Now there's a Christian player that would have changed LU basketball in a heartbeat, had Meyer been successful in signing him.

[PAmedic]

who just got sent to never-never land by the Sixers. The LAST PLACE Sixers.

Fox Philly reporting last nite he will likely never play in a Sixers uni again (ala Iverson)

[Ed Dantes]

Story that may or may not be apocryphal:

Back in LU's football heydey, a young, Christian player was considering going to LU. He visited Florida State, told Coach Bowden about this, and Bowden replied that this player could do a lot more (faith-wise) being a high-profile Christian at a secular university than he could at a school like LU. Player opted to go to FSU.

That player's name? Anyone? Any guesses?

Charlie Ward, who would later win the Heisman Trophy in 1993.

And now you know the rest of the story.

[TDDance234]

Maybe on Shaq's next workout trip, we con him into being a recruiter for this team?