[paradox]

The irony here is that while some individials are gloating over Dunton's departure, one of LU's most talented team waits in limbo to see if they envision themselves fitting in with the new coach's plans. Even prized recruit Nathan Campbell must reevaluate whether he should consider other options

What should have been next year, may never be.

Stay tuned.

[paradox]

I would be most concerned about Jenkins leaving

Why would BJ leave?

He has three years of eligibility left. He'll consider his options.

[SuperJon]

I know that much, I didn't know if he had a special connection to Coach Dunton or anything.

[mrich]

I talked to Alexis yesterday and he didn't seem all that enthused about applying for the head coaching position.

For all the assistants, then arrived in Lynchburg with their Maybe you should report on fact rather than speculation!

I always feel that Chris reports on facts, he didn't print that comment did he? He was just letting us know what happened when he talked to Alex. Maybe you should let him do his job

[mrich]

Anyone who has a problem with Coach D's statements have never been through the experience of losing a job you loved before. Its an extremely painful experience and considering the circumstances I have zero problem with anything he said. He believed he had the program on the right track and that his accomplishments weren't being recognized in the decision-making process. Those are fair complaints for anyone in his shoes.

That said, let's try to avoid kicking someone when they are down. I wish Coach D nothing but success with everything he pursues the rest of his career ... except when he's facing the Flames.

As for the assistants, things will shake out for them. Each of them have strong reasons why a new head coach would consider keeping them on staff. All three really impressed me in their time on the mountain.

I wasn't kicking Dunton, but I think that an individual should act with class no matter what the situation. That one of the things that makes a man great.

[SuperJon]

Some comments on the fishwrap website in response to the story:

Use some of the basketball budget and build an actual college library. This is a college for goodness sakes.

Why is LU even in the athletic championships business to begin with? Years ago the big Falwell/TRBC exhortation was to "be ye separate." It just seems like LU is looking more and more like it's driven by the bottom line, that it is really no different than any other secular university in its obsession to make winning the end all, be all, and do all. Everybody knows sports is driven by money. I guess Falwell/LU is figuring out a way to serve God and Mammon--in this case, read: sports money/fame.

Typical Liberty. Dunton took a last place RPI team and has done a great job. Shame on Liberty U.

Randy Dunton was a great person, leader, coach, and Christian while at Liberty and in Lynchburg. I think it was a huge mistake to let him go and I know Dunton will be successful and have a great outlook on life and basketball wherever he ends up. GO FLAMES!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a bunch of crap, Dunton has been trying to build a basketball program all five years and he's done better than any past coaches. Another bad decision on Liberty's part.

If you coach Division I athletics you know and understand you have to win or you are out! LU Basketball has been a bad team in a bad conference. LU needs to find a quality coach from a quality team. There is no reason LU should not be the next Gonzaga and a top 25 team.

[El Scorcho]

What should have been next year, may never be.

There's a price to be paid for re-building. I think everyone involved realizes that.

[paradox]

MRICH:

So, you consider yourself to be in a position to be lecturing us on class and what it takes to be a great man?

I'd like to know your credentials?

[TDDance234]

I can't see BJ leaving. Any move he would make now would be a horizontal move, rather than a vertical. He's going to get a lot of minutes next year and could be a smooth transition into the starting lineup during his junior year.

They guy we absolutely cannot afford to lose is Alex. Tyler came on towards the end of the season but he's hardly a post threat. We can't go in to next year with TB and Russ starting at the 4 and 5.

[Hold My Own]

Thanks SJ...I havent seen that yet...interesting

[mrich]

MRICH:

So, you consider yourself to be in a position to be lecturing us on class and what it takes to be a great man?

I'd like to know your credentials?

Down Boy!! I know its hard to imagine that somone could have a differing opinion than you, but yes I believe that Dunton's response was saying in other words that Liberty does not know what there talking about, and that I don't think was a classy response. What I am saying is, yeah Dunton is allowed to think whatever he wants about LU now, but I wouldn't have said that in the local paper thats all. If I said everything that I think, wow where would I be.

[Libertine]

If I said everything that I think, wow where would I be.

Uh, on Flame Fans?

[TDDance234]

There's a price to be paid for re-building. I think everyone involved realizes that.

Is there really that much rebuilding going on? We have a solid core (assuming nobody leaves) and if it's true that Eihman isn't coming, we've got an extra scholarship and maybe can find one of those 2-3 star recruits that fell through the cracks.

Dunton may not have been the best on-the-court coach but he's built a solid foundation. Whoever comes in to be the new coach is going to have a lot of tools in the shed to advance this program. That has been RD's legacy on every program he's been too.

[paradox]

MRICH:

When you get there existentially and not with mindless chatter, then you can tell us about being great and classy

[mrich]

MRICH:

When you get there existentially and not with mindless chatter, then you can tell us about being great and classy

When did I claim greatness, and all I did was state an opinion. The great thing about opinions is that we can take them or leave them. If you don't agree that's cool, if you do that's even cooler. Neither you or I are the all seeing eye of flame fans. Mindless chatter? I dunno hooked on phonics worked for me

[SuperJon]

What should have been next year, may never be.

There's a price to be paid for re-building. I think everyone involved realizes that.

Weren't we rebuilding already though? I'm not trying to be a smart, um, butt, but that's what I heard halfway through the year, so that's why I'm asking.

[paradox]

What should have been next year, may never be.

There's a price to be paid for re-building. I think everyone involved realizes that.

Weren't we rebuilding already though? I'm not trying to be a smart, um, butt, but that's what I heard halfway through the year, so that's why I'm asking.

Depending on the personality and overall approach of the new coach, there may or may not be significant turnover.

I'm sure that I'm not the only one who beleived that LU was in a prime position to take the Big South next year with their returning players and new recruits.

[El Scorcho]

I'm just under the impression that the reason JB pulled the trigger on all of this is because he doesn't like what he sees. That being the case, I'm also assuming this means we're essentially starting the program over, ignoring whatever may have been done over the last five years. I think the reason there's so much talk here is because a lot of folks are probably feeling like that's wasteful. My point was that sometimes you have to do a little tearing down if you're going to build it back up, which may or may not be wasteful, depending on the end results.

Basically (to keep with the building analogies), I think that RD laid a foundation (solid or not) and JB decided he might like a little more square footage for the program than that foundation could provide, so he's starting over.

Now, if this isn't a "from the ground up" overhaul of the hoops program like I'm reading it to be, then I hope someone who knows more than me will please fill me in.

[flameshaw]

The irony here is that while some individials are gloating over Dunton's departure, one of LU's most talented team waits in limbo to see if they envision themselves fitting in with the new coach's plans. Even prized recruit Nathan Campbell must reevaluate whether he should consider other options

What should have been next year, may never be.

Stay tuned.

Pair of sox,

No one that I have read after is gloating over Dunton's dismissal. In fact at least one of his supporters mentioned how civil it has been here, and I agree. Many have wished him well in his search for a new job and have been sympathetic to him personally and to his family.

Where are you justified in saying "one of LU's most talented team waits in limbo"? What were your predicitios for this season? Did they materialize? I didn't see where you predicted a losing season, one win over a D1 team with a winning record, one and done in the tournament, etc. Do you want to tell us that you have 20/20 foresight into how next years team would have been? Truth is, no one has any idea what next years team will/would have looked like, it is 100% speculation.

No matter what happens next year it will be becuase of a combination of factors of what RD did or did not accomplish and what the new coach did/did not accomplish. The fact that you give all the credit for the 04 tournament win to Dunton shows that you are not capable of being objective when it comes to RD. No need to start now laying a foundation for how great we would have been in 07/08 if only RD would have been here. On the other hand, if we do extrmely well next year, no one can rightly say "well we did a lot better than we would have if RD was still here."

RD is gone, he will not be back. Let's wish him well and support whoever is our new coach. He may be better, he may be worse, but no one knows what the talent level we have returning would have accomplished next year.

[Chris Lang]

nm

[Hold My Own]

Fact: you can go to www.libertyflames.com for all your sporting news needs


At least that's what I think GMTMTM said over on the womans thread....I need to start a new topic so maybe I can be reminded again

[flameshaw]

Chris, you have done a great and balanced job covering LU athletics. As you know all of us bring a different prism to read through at times. Keep up the good work and thanks for being a part of our forum, your participation is much appreciated.

[Schfourteenteen]

What should have been next year, may never be.

Listen bud weve been saying "this is the best team we have a shot at the big south" and all weve found are disappointments. Honestly with JB he seems(ive never met him) to be a "no excuses just results" guy. We did not get the jub done this year, nor last year, and it makes sense that he wants more of this in his hands.

As for Falwellian(WWJFD) Chris does a great job and to say something ridiculous like that sure maybe Sherrard isnt going to have the most level headed reaction about the future but Chris knows more than we do and his input has always been valued here (At least that I know of I havent been here too long but everyone seems to think that and I can see why) because he has good info. Lay off him man hes doing his job and We owe him alot for what hes brought here

[belcherboy]

I like Dunton, but losing in the first round of the Big South tournament for the past three years straight, on top of 31-55 record during that time in a bottom three NCAA conference is plenty enough to get someone fired. He accomplished much, but Liberty spends a lot of money trying to build a team that is a NCAA tournment threat (meaning they should compete for the auto bid). They haven't even come close to winning the Big South the past three years, and I don't think they look much closer next year. IMO Liberty should win the Big South every 3-4 years at worst. We have the facilities, money, play in weak conference. etc. to build a team that can see each class go to the tournament at least once during their four years at LU. Perhaps that is asking too much, but I see a religious school like Oral Roberts having a successful program and really wonder what the difference is. I think the difference is coaching. I live in Michigan and am a U of Mich fan. Tommy Amaker is an incredible recruiter. He is a horrible "in game" coach. He has tons of talent, but rarely wins the big games. I think RD is similar in that fashion. If Dunton's recruits stay, he has left a beautiful program for his successor.

Randy is a GREAT man that just didn't get the job done here. He will coach again, and I wish him MUCH success (as long as it isn't in the Big South). I am grateful for his dedication to my school.

[givemethemic]

Fact: you can go to www.libertyflames.com for all your sporting news needs


At least that's what I think GMTMTM said over on the womans thread....I need to start a new topic so maybe I can be reminded again

If you gonna quote me at least spell my name right