A Sea Of Red

I had heard that this was coming, and should be very interesting to see where these guys land....


Virginia Coach Al Groh dismissed linebacker Ahmad Brooks, defensive end Vince Redd and cornerback Tony Franklin from the team on Tuesday.
"It's best for us and the players to move on from these circumstances," Groh said at a news conference in Charlottesville, one day before the Cavaliers begin spring practice.
All three players were potential starters on defense, but Groh said the losses will not affect Virginia's outlook this season.
Franklin, a senior who was expected to start at safety, was arrested for marijuana possession on Dec. 4. Franklin and Redd, a junior and possible starter at defensive end, were among the Cavaliers suspended for violating team rules last season.
"It really doesn't change our prospectus when you consider two of the three players weren't even a part of what the team was able to do in Nashville at the Music City Bowl," Groh said. "It's essential internally that we have the discipline to do things the right way and not just chase talent for talent's sake. That's what we're doing."
Brooks, a senior, led Virginia in tackles as a freshman and sophomore but played in only six games during an injury-riddled 2005. As a sophomore, Brooks was All-ACC and a Butkus Award finalist. But he ballooned to 270 pounds as he struggled to recover from knee and ankle injuries last year.
In January, Brooks announced he would not enter the NFL draft. Now, transfering to a lower-division school or entering the NFL's supplemental draft are options. Brooks, once viewed as a first-round prospect, chose to return in large part, however, because his stock had slipped.
"It is a privelege and not a right to wear a Cavaliers jersey and to represent our university and community," Groh said. "There are certain things that are vital and those things come into sharper focus and are multiplied when you're rebuilding, as we are. That's focus, commitment and dependability

hhhmm I wouldn't mind seeing Ahmad Brooks!!!!!

I read this earlier and wondered who'd be the first to post it. You're right about Brooks. The other two prolly wouldn't fit too well here.

guys, i moved this thread, b/c it it not LU football....follow the rules GMTM anyway ahmad is not coming to LU, he will go to the supplemental draft. i would love to see vince redd come down to lynchburg though.

Being a life-long UVA fan, I am very sad to see these guys go. Brooks will in no way come to a place like LU. I'm sure he will enter the draft as mentioned above. As far as Tony and Vince, they are great athletes ahd have the potential to be great players. However, if what I know about the reasons why they got kicked off the team are true, we should not want any of them to come to represent the Flames. We stand for so much more. I know our God is a forgiving God, but this is different. We shouldn't want athletes coming here who got kicked out of another school for what they apparently did. I think if they were just any other student who was applying here they would not be accepted simply because of what they had done.

i agree JC. i too am a life-long UVA fan, and it is sad to see them go, b/c they were all very talented, but they would need to show they have chnaged a lot to come to LU. brooks and franklin have had marijuana problems, and im not sure why vince redd was let go. im happy that coach groh took care of it like he did instead of trying to sweep it under the rug. UVA played the majority of the season w/o brooks and did ok w/o franklin and vince redd was coming on strong, but they will be just fine. i only hope these guys will learn from their mistakes.

I've moved this thread back to the LU Football forum in light of this item in the Roanoke fishwrap:

Brooks and Co.

Liberty University head coach Danny Rocco said he has requested permission to speak to three football players who have been dropped from Virginia's roster -- Ahmad Brooks, Vince Redd and Tony Franklin -- and that release forms were on his desk by Wednesday morning.

Rocco, previously the assistant head coach at Virginia, was the Cavaliers' lead recruiter on Redd and Franklin. If they were to transfer to a Division I-AA program, they would have instant eligibility, and Redd could play for two more seasons.

http://www.roanoke.com/sports/college/wb/58867

WOW! If Coach Rocco decides that these young men are acceptable at LU, then I will fully support him because I fully support those who hired him. On one hand, I would love to see them come here because they are great athletes and talents, but on the other hand I don't know how their value system matches up with ours here. I'm all for getting the best athletes, but when they have been dismissed from a public university's team, the image that would be cast upon us is not one I believe we would want.

Thanks for the info Sly.

He knows these guys better than any other one else... Redd would proably be the best fit...

i agree about redd. i met him last year at the spring festival, and he seemed like a good character guy, who may have just got up with the wrong people.

We could use a talent upgrade at that position but these people would have to change their ways of doing things. LU has been known to give people second chances. It's the only fair way of doing things.

I can see our entire defense going up in smoke. Instead of Rocky Mountain High, perhaps the theme song could be Liberty Mountain High.

Umm when have moral integrity been a stumbling block for anyone here at LU to gain entrance? Especially when it comes to athletes. LU has a rich traditions of "turning the other cheeck" to athletes actions when accepting them into LU. It goes w/out saying that getting these guys would skyrocket our program. If they are interested they will get in. (Beat THAT AG LOL)

you guys are brutal

brutally funny HAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!

Brokeback is very intuitive. Guess you haven't been spending as much time promoting the DVD release or with the sheep as we've thought.

I certainly think we are turning into that school that has the Al Davis theory of "Just Win Baby" We have definately turned the other way it quite a few situations involving athletes. This has been highlited this past few football season, when we all knew that KK wanted to do the right things, brought in good kids, disciplined them regardless of their positions on the field, but we all knew that it came down to wins.

I am a little concerned if we are bringing in kids that have been kicked out of other schools for drug violations and the such, and we welcome them to LU? I would much rather see the Sam Gado's as opposed to the Eric Green's representing LU.

Another reason it was extremely refreshing to see the WBB team last year. They won, and did it with a group of fantastic girls.

Well said, Nick. It wasn't too many years ago that we had shady enough characters running around the hoops team. The last thing we need are athletes that further separate themselves from the student body. On the other hand, you have to sense that Coach Rocco knows these guys well and wouldn't stick his neck out on thugs unless he felt that they had some redeeming qualities (in addition to their football skills)

i agree with AG. coach rocco is only asking for permission to speak with these players. im sure he will know where their heart is, and if they have changed their lives.

And remember, is it not the sick that need the Great Physician!??!

JF caught wind of this today....he was....intrigued why there was even interest to begin with to say the least

Hear me out:

1. LU has a reputation as being a "Right Wing Fundamentalist" school.
2. We're known as a school who hates gays, is all about rules and is intollerant.
3. We have next to NO crime rate. (on the books at least, I'm aware there are some things not known to the public but in general it's very low)
4. These students would have to sit out a year at least at any other institution.
5. We certainly could be a HUGE influence on these guys, especially if they know ROCCO (a guy they respect) took a chance on them.

THEREFORE:
Picking up these guys would press 'fast forward' on our progress of a 10 year D-1 goal.
Picking up these guys would tell the world that we're about redemption and grace, not bigotry and rage.
Picking up these guys would possibly give them (individually) a new outlook at how they view Christianity.
Picking up these guys would show Rocco that we meant what we said when we gave him the job and 'freedom' to get it done.
Picking up these guys would let other players (who realize they made mistakes at a state school) know that there is an alternative of sorts out there for immediate playing time and exposure AS LONG AS THEY EMBRACE the discipline and love LU has to offer.

I mean honestly, these guys (to my knowledge) were busted mainly for smoking weed, not beating up their girlfriends. What would be better for them? To go to another state school? Or would it be better that a guy like Rocco takes them in under his wing and says "This is what God's all about... I know you, you know me... let's get your life on the right track and play some smash mouth football at the same time. Our University will teach you what it's like to live a life of purpose... you can teach this University what it's like to win at the D-1 level!"

That to me sounds like what we should look forward to.

TallyW wrote:Hear me out:

1. LU has a reputation as being a "Right Wing Fundamentalist" school.
2. We're known as a school who hates gays, is all about rules and is intollerant.
3. We have next to NO crime rate. (on the books at least, I'm aware there are some things not known to the public but in general it's very low)
4. These students would have to sit out a year at least at any other institution.
5. We certainly could be a HUGE influence on these guys, especially if they know ROCCO (a guy they respect) took a chance on them.

THEREFORE:
Picking up these guys would press 'fast forward' on our progress of a 10 year D-1 goal.
Picking up these guys would tell the world that we're about redemption and grace, not bigotry and rage.
Picking up these guys would possibly give them (individually) a new outlook at how they view Christianity.
Picking up these guys would show Rocco that we meant what we said when we gave him the job and 'freedom' to get it done.
Picking up these guys would let other players (who realize they made mistakes at a state school) know that there is an alternative of sorts out there for immediate playing time and exposure AS LONG AS THEY EMBRACE the discipline and love LU has to offer.

I mean honestly, these guys (to my knowledge) were busted mainly for smoking weed, not beating up their girlfriends. What would be better for them? To go to another state school? Or would it be better that a guy like Rocco takes them in under his wing and says "This is what God's all about... I know you, you know me... let's get your life on the right track and play some smash mouth football at the same time. Our University will teach you what it's like to live a life of purpose... you can teach this University what it's like to win at the D-1 level!"

That to me sounds like what we should look forward to.

Tally...are you serious?
OK...I understand the whole forgive and move on but...
Press on towards our goal of Div 1A...at what expense?
Aren't we also telling the world that we are willing to sell our university's morals to take kids that had been kicked out of a state school for their teams violations?
What kind of freedom does Rocco have? To bring in whoever he feels like regardless of the universities positon?
Giving these guys a second chance....call me cynical...but I kind of relate this to someone ho cheats on his/her wife...you all know the saying goes "Once a cheater...always a cheater" I kind of have the same feelings towards this situation.

Yes thes guys were busted for "just" smoking weed. If you are familiar with how the university works...talk to one of the deans, and check out how often a regular student is brought to Light Medical for a drug test, and then kicked out of school for "just" smokign a little weed. They are sent home, not made into athletic heros on the field.

I'm liking this discussion. I see points on both sides of the aisle. I admit having reservations bringing these guys to campus primarily because of potential damage to the school's testimony. But at the same time I agree with Tally that if these guys are wanting to make major life changes then LU would be the perfect place for them to get their acts together. If they are willing to come play under our rules then I don't see any reason not to give them a chance. But then again ...

I'm liking this discussion. I see points on both sides of the aisle. I admit having reservations bringing these guys to campus primarily because of potential damage to the school's testimony. But at the same time I agree with Tally that if these guys are wanting to make major life changes then LU would be the perfect place for them to get their acts together. If they are willing to come play under our rules then I don't see any reason not to give them a chance. But then again ...

I agree it could potentially be damaging but the difference between these guys and a lot of the students already at Liberty is that they got caught. LU is by no means perfect and lots of things go on here that go on at every public school. Even if they aren't willing to make life chances at this moment, once they arrive on campus and have the best bible teachers around and get to see the love of Christ, they won't be able to resist.

Just my .2 cents.

The defensive nature of worrying about 'our testimony' is mute as far as I'm concerned. I'd disagree (like I have before) if LU caught these guys several times doing something wrong and they kicked them out but I think a guy like Rocco would even police this one. He'd HAVE to know he was spending some of his popularity capital by making this move. He'd know it was his tail on the line. In turn, he'd make that abundantly clear to any player he brings in. Not only would that player have to come under "Liberty's standards", they'd have to come under them knowing that Rocco put his neck on the line for them. It's a different ball game. Besides, don't you think there would be other external pressures on these guys? It's a big deal to be denied something you loved. They already have people telling them "You better get your act straight, you're wasting your life this way."

I know for a FACT of average LU students who have been given grace. I also know for a fact that LU can truly be a place of refuge for people getting their life right. Yes it has bad like everywhere else but there is definately an opportunity for growth among anyone who wants it.

To compare a kid who gets caught smoking weed to an adulturer is rediculous. Not to mention LU's freshman class is not a class of all virgins. Let's be honest, most of our student body are kids who've screwed up along the way and have (or are trying to) accepted Christ's forgiveness and are trying to make their lives count. For all the talk about the administration giving the atheletic programs too much slack, I think a lot of posters on this board whitewash the average student population. It's not an "us vs. Them". We're all screw ups and if your junk was ever put out there, you'd for certain be willing to give people a break as long as you felt that it put no students in any immediate danger. This (to me) is one of those cases where with the right structure and accountability, it would help both the school and the players. If Liberty University can't become a place of redemption, what school in the nation can?

I say give Rocco the opportunity to interview them and let him (with advice from administration aka JF) make the call. If they bring them, the University should embrace them. I'm okay with this happening. If the school gets behind these guys AND keeps them accountable it can be a great situation FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST on behalf of everyone.

Besides Nick... Liberty hasn't ALWAYS won with 'fantastic' girls. They got forgiveness and redemption and it was best for EVERYONE involved!