[jmdickens]

Most of this debate boils down to the young versus the not so young.

The older guys have seen some winning and plenty of losing, so they exercise great patience when it comes to burying the coach.

The young guys see one losing season and immediately want someone new who can instantly turn it around. You know, someone who can do what Dunton did. But they don't want him because he kicks chairs and throws his jacket on the floor. Plus he has the audacity to persuade some underachieving players to leave the program so that he can improve his team.

The "haters" will graduate and go away and will probally never be heard from again.

The "drinkers" are optimists by nature and will support the new coach win or lose. They'll give him plenty of room to succeed as they did with Dunton.

Be sure of this, win or lose, LU will inherit a new generation of angry young idealists who will turn into "haters" the first time that the new coach loosens his tie, makes a mistake, has a losing season, or a disgruntled ex-player remains on campus and slanders him.

First of all, on espn when LU played Florida.....they acted like LU didn't even have a basketball team, much less respectability that your hero (RD) brought.

second, the old are happy with mediocrity, the yound want to be the best, and we were only going down hill....it wasn't one losing season that people are upset about, its 4 losing seasons, and one was terrible....

third, as for the haters graduating and never being heard from.....to quote Jerry's hero Winston Churchill.."History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it."

Maybe if Dunton threw his jacket and kicked chairs more often, he would be liked more....(Have I mentioned how much I love Bobby Knight)

I am very optimistic about the program, since JB got rid of the problem

[jcmanson]

Jon I agree with you. For some reason the students didn't care for Dunton, neither did most of the faculty/staff. That is a set up for disaster.

[paradox]

Say what you will. But the best predictor of behavior is to look at the past.


The real question is: will any of you be around to even engage in this debate?



I say, a new generation of young "haters" will emerge and the LU loyalists who remain will have to put up with thier impatience and idealism as well

[Cider Jim]

I thought this was a TRIBUTE thread--where's the love, Flame Fans?

As momma used to say, "if you can't say something good, don't say anything at all."

As grandma used to say, "it's never too late to say a good thing."

[bigsmooth]

amen cider! cmon guys this is a tribute thread. leave the garbage out of it, or it's gonna get closed.

[Purple Haize]

oooohhhh aren't you the big tougheie SMOOTH. Walk softly and carrier a big LOCK THREAD button??

I agree, this is the place to put anything good about RD. It SHOULD be a "negative post free zone"

As I stated and everyone will agree 1) We went to the NCAA under him 2) It was never boring!!

[Fumblerooskies]

Mats Persson graduated (although he was brought in by Mel), along with Glyn Turner. How many others in the past 5 years actually walked? Those are the two I can recall, but I am sure with Coach's emphasis on academics, I am sure there are others.

[grm]

Greg Marshall called RD and said that he almost fell out of bed when he heard the news - and then complimented Rd on the great job of coaching that he did this year. - Mentioned that LU was about 40 seconds away from going 9-0 in the 2nd half of the saeson.

(Testimony from Greg Marshall - one that I'll always appreciate when I think of Greg)

[lureal]

Most on here look at surface issues like evaluating some ladies blotched make-up. The program structure with which coach dunton built and was building is truly foundational to future success. He has the program in the top of the big south every year but one and certainly would have been one of the favorites next season. Many received college degrees with coach d going the extra mile to help guys like Phil Ward and Louvon Sneed finish. i know the man and his family, the dedication to Liberty and the Lord that is rarely found. He led us to the best accomplishments in progaram history. His 5-year run is our best ever in Big South play. 2-1-2-8-3 is not mediocrity it is foundation and success. I believe the next five would have produced championships and NCAA appearances. jeff barber has been classless and arrogant in the handling of this process. his lack of professionalism as an ad is disappointing. dunton desrves better and i pray that God opens opportunities to bless him and his family. Thanks for all you done for Liberty and the Lynchburg community, Coach Dunton.

[PAmedic]

the shot at Barber wasn't called for.

[El Scorcho]

See, we gave a fair warning about the personal shots, lureal. Now this thread is going to be locked. I think everyone has had their turn to say something nice about Dunton at this point. Let's not go there again or I'll unleash the locking mouse-clicks of fury right before the deleting clicks of death.

So, in summary, thank you Coach Dunton for everything that you did for LU. All of us at FlameFans.com wish you the best in your future endeavors.