Moderators: jcmanson, Sly Fox, BuryYourDuke
HarrisburgFlame wrote:I can offer both sides of the equation because of my experience. I went to Liberty back in the Fall of 86 (17 years old when I enrolled). I thought I could play D-I baseball and wanted to stay close to home and give it a shot. I had been going to LU/LBC athletic events forever - I considered myself to be a Flames fan. I liked everyone I met and really liked Coach Richardson. They ran us through drills and Coach R came to me after about a week of try outs and cuts and told me to go to the bullpen and throw with Coach Mincey. I had been working as an outfielder but I was a pitcher in high school and I thought this is my chance to get noticed. Only thing was after the high school season, playing ball all summer, pitching in the Dixie Majors playoffs when I shouldn't have - my arm was shot. When we went to the pen I had nothing on the ball. No movement - everything was flat. I did manage to break off a nice curve or two - my change up was my fastball. I could throw in the high 70's low 80's but I wasn't close to having anything on the ball that was D-I. I told Coach M my arm was bugging me. After practice they told me to rest for the Fall and try again. I was still pretty disappointed because at that time in my life I wanted to play ball and that's about it. Liberty had a darn good program back then too for baseball.fh3[fh93[u h9uvhr9uq[vh 30h48888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
I liked the people I met at LU - the girls were smoking hot back in the day. Everyone was so nice. I got busted once or twice for throwing in a dip - but that was the extent of my behavioral issues there. But I really wanted to play ball and rather than chance getting cut in the spring I applied to a smaller college - got accepted - finished my year at LU and then left for greener pastures. What I didn't know was that in just that short amount of time at Liberty - those lessons would be with me for the rest of my life. I was raised a Christian but developed more in one year of "Bible Boot Camp" than in my previous years combined. So off I went, made the baseball team at the other school and started partying. A little too much partying. I had made the grades at LU because they helped keep me straight with the rules. I had been going to chapel and getting a nice dose of tips for good daily living. Now I playing ball with 22 guys who liked to knock down the booze 4 or 5 nights a week. I almost flunked out. One night a bunch of us got locked up for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. We had a good baseball team - we had some hard drinkers too. I struggled academically because I liked bar hopping, running smack on the chicks - all the "college" activities (no drugs though - never my thing). Had I been in a better environment I probably wouldn't have struggled as much. I needed someone to stay on me because I was pretty immature.
I finished school and went on to coach for a few years before moving into the "real world". I matured a bit. Started a family, and so on and so forth. The lessons I learned through my spritual development at LU haunted me in that I knew I was underachieving where it counted most. A few years ago I enrolled at Penn State for my MBA. About that time LU was playing SJU in the NCAA basketball tourney. Living up here in PA I found myself getting into it wih the locals about LU. You would not believe some of the ignorance when it comes to Liberty. Even at work - guys would get on me about being a "Falwell guy". As odd as this seems I felt called to finish what I started - I left PSU and enrolled at LU for my MBA. I wanted a degree from Liberty. I wanted Liberty on my consulting bio that is sent to prospective clients. I wanted to be in a program where I could share business principles with other like minded people. I have no regrets on that decision.
I do think I would have gained more academically and spiritually had I stayed at Liberty. I always felt like I missed out not staying at LU the first time. LU is a special place and the lessons I learned while there led me to listen to the voice leading me. I got involved in a growing local church. Started taking the lead on my kids with spiritual development. Granted these aren't Liberty's ideas - they are God's - but I had them pounded into my head while at LU. It stuck with me. My wife has been to Liberty a few times and we would love to see all three of our kids go there. LU stands for something in a day that it is hip to stand for something wrong. When those girls made the Sweet 16 run a few years ago it was sweet in more ways than one. I'm a sports nut and we're a sports culture. I hope to see one day where our sports are on the national scene. Let everyone see for themselves what LU is all about. I know where I am sending my money and what kind of program I chose to support.
I pray your son will make a good decision. I just felt like I should offer my two cents. If nothing else, hang on the board with us. We need all the positive karma we can get.
Go Flames.