[The Judge]

Rather than defending players and coaches which we are all proned to do...I think the focus should be on what it takes to get to Omaha. The fellas in the mansion say they want to get there. The AD wants a coach who believes he can get there. The players all have the dreams of getting there. Yet it has NEVER happenned. Mens sports at LU or should I say the big three mens sports have never been close other than one basketball season where we reached a play in game and got smoked. Baseball has on the otherhand had the best quality in terms of playing ranked teams, been in the top 100 for years which is a heck of a statement as compared to the mens sports schedules at LU. The expectation is very high for success....so why is it so difficult to recruit the best players ? Don't tell me it isn't true because it is ! How do we change that ? It shouldn't be a hard sell. So why is it ? That discussion must be had and the AD and leadership must invest real dollars if they want to make the statement about getting to Omaha. So if we can leave names out of it...give it your best shot as to what you think it will take to get there...NOT the Big South championship, NOT a sectional championship, but rather to get to Omaha and WIN ! This is what JF and Barber need to hear !

[Sly Fox]

I love people thinking beyond expectations. That's the first step in ultimate success.

That said, getting to Omaha is something that even traditionally great programs find extremely difficult to achieve. You have to have at least three quality starters to get through regionals, two dominant starters to get through Super Regionals and an offense that can generate a minimum of 6-8 runs a night from the Big South tourney on. Its tough to find teams who have that type of depth. But its not impossible. I look at what tiny Tulane has been able to accomplish and I believe it is possible for us.

[sitemdown77]

Very nice post Judge. Tulane is a great example of that. Another great example is Rice! A very very tough academic school that must recruit very smart players to a school that is not necessarily that big in size. (anyone have #'s on the school's enrollment?) What they do have though is an incredible facility that is a huge attraction to any kid in Texas looking to play ball. Yes, they have a proven track record of winning, but it takes a lot of building the program to get there, and they have put the money and time in to get there. From what I have seen in Jeff Barber and the people who really care about this program on here, LU is ready to really move forward in our baseball program. I know we argue quite a bit on here, but it is because each of us care about the program that much, whether we agree or disagree on some things. Just making a quick post now, but would love to think about this and see what others feel about the program.

[Fumblerooskies]

Omaha is a tough reach...
..in fact, only ONE Virginia school has managed to make it...the 1983 JMU Dukes!

Now...one thing to keep in mind is the new NCAA scholarship amounts and squad size limits. As I understand them (and sitemdown can correct me)...the following will come into play either next year or the year after:
35-man roster limit
Only 27 can be on scholarship total
Each scholarship must count a MINIMUM of 33%.
Continue with the current 11.7 (or is it 12.7) total scholarship allotment

Assuming we are already fully funded, this will make life very interesting, when comparing LU (or any privately funded school) to the public universities. Certainly, pitching will become a huge premium, maybe even more so than now.

A rock-solid and deep pitching staff, and a fundementally sound defense is almost always what it will take to make it through any tournament, Big South, or otherwise.

[Sly Fox]

As someone intimately familiar with the Owls, I used Tulane as my illustration because it doesn't sit in a hotbed of baseball like Houston. As much as we all love Lynchburg, it doesn't 100-150 DI signees within a 50 miles radius every year like Houston. New Orleans is not a baseball town like Houston. What Wayne Graham has done at tiny Rice (about 2400 undergrads) is amazing. Reckling Park is arguably the nicest college stadium in the country IMHO (although Red Dog could probably make other arguments). Even still, Rice is the 3rd choice (and traditionally 4th before UH fell on hard times) in its own city. Wayne can only offer partial scholies at a school with tuition that traditionally runs double of LU. But when you have the wealth of talent in the Houston area, even leftovers are like filet mignon.

We have climate in Virginia that helps us be competitive in baseball vs. northern schools. But we haven't been able to have the fortune of having many breakthrough MLB success stories to sell to kids in the past two decades. And our ballpark needs vast improvement to convince top tier kids to pass on rookie ball money to live on campus. It can be done, but its going to take a great deal of work and some capital improvements. The problem is that we are spending money to upgrade the higher revenue sports at the same time.

Once again, I like us thinking big. We should all be guilty of that crime daily in regard to LU.

[flameshaw]

I think this goal can be accomplished, but will take a combination of a very dynamic/charasmatic coaching staff and great teamwork involving former players and coaches from previous LU teams.
There is a tremendous untapped resoure of talent/contacts represented by former players, friend of the University. We have former MLB players, coaches, scouts, business people that I know are not being used or even being contacted.
Upgraded facilities ie. lights, a better schedule and advertising the successes of some former players ie. Sid Bream (Where were you wid Sid slud?). I suspect most current students know nothing about Sid either being a student or a very successful MLB player and a LU alum. I know personally many contacts that are not being utilized.
One of the things mentioned was the administration spending more/big money on the program, while I agree, we have to ask ourselves where the admin gets the money? It is kinda like asking the government to spend more money on a particular program. The g'ment doesn't have any money without our forced contributions. All of us here need to do as much as we can to support the athletic department financially. Even to giving sacrifically at times. I know many here are students and don't have the resources to give much, but there are many others we know who can.
Overall there is more fundraising that needs to be done and the alumni associations need to be strenghtened and even organized successfully. There are very few if any alumni associations that are thriving and many many more need to be started.
Now, if they could just afford to hire me..................

[The Judge]

at least three quality starters

two dominant starters to get through Super Regionals

an offense that can generate a minimum of 6-8 runs a night from the Big South tourney on

an incredible facility that is a huge attraction to any kid

a proven track record of winning

they have put the money and time in to get there

A rock-solid and deep pitching staff, and a fundementally sound defense

Reckling Park is arguably the nicest college stadium in the country

haven't been able to have the fortune of having many breakthrough MLB success stories to sell to kids

our ballpark needs vast improvement to convince top tier kids

its going to take a great deal of work and some capital improvements

Excellent ideas so far...now put yourselfin Barbers chair...and take it another step. Leaving Royer, Bream or any other names out of it...what kind of contract should a head coach have in terms of time and resources to compete. ? ie how long etc... I'll continue to track the ideas and put it together at the end to look at.

[Sly Fox]

Now, if they could just afford to hire me..................

I hear ya.

[flameshaw]

Excellent ideas so far...now put yourselfin Barbers chair...and take it another step. Leaving Royer, Bream or any other names out of it...what kind of contract should a head coach have in terms of time and resources to compete. ? ie how long etc... I'll continue to track the ideas and put it together at the end to look at.

As far as resources go, we should have a place to play that is second to none for a school our size and as good as most major programs in the country. I personally do not see a lot of difference in our facility than at UNC, NCSU, etc. They do have many more seats, but no one comes to the games there anyway unless it is a major conference game. I have been in the stands many times at these schools, almost by myself. Of course they do have lights, but so will we soon, the fences need to be updated and additional seats added in the future.

As far as coaches salary, etc. I think the coach should be paid better than anyone in the BS, close to mid-grade SEC coaches, and highly incentivised to with BS,get into the tourney, win regional, go to Omaha. I know of good coaching candidates who would take on this challenge with only a one year committment, but of course, once proven, we should be willing to sign this type of coach to a multi-year deal. Seems like a 3-5 year deal annually renewed, based on results, would be more than adequate.

[HenryGale]

Resources need to be fairly unlimited. Teams that regularily make the CWS probably have unlimited budgets when it comes to baseball. If they need it, all they have to do is ask. You need support like that from your universities, as well as have a few boosters/donors to help the cause as well.

I would also have to think that their would have to be a significant facility upgrade. Top notch players want to play in the best stadiums and have access to some nice ammenities in their facilities (club house etc.)

I would think this would be required if you were want to become a regular in the CWS. (Diamond Dolls would not hurt the cause either...)

Now, if you were to talk about a one time appearance...that is a totally a different agguement all together.

[thesportscritic]

at least three quality starters

two dominant starters to get through Super Regionals

an offense that can generate a minimum of 6-8 runs a night from the Big South tourney on

an incredible facility that is a huge attraction to any kid

a proven track record of winning

they have put the money and time in to get there

A rock-solid and deep pitching staff, and a fundementally sound defense

Reckling Park is arguably the nicest college stadium in the country

haven't been able to have the fortune of having many breakthrough MLB success stories to sell to kids

our ballpark needs vast improvement to convince top tier kids

its going to take a great deal of work and some capital improvements

Excellent ideas so far...now put yourselfin Barbers chair...and take it another step. Leaving Royer, Bream or any other names out of it...what kind of contract should a head coach have in terms of time and resources to compete. ? ie how long etc... I'll continue to track the ideas and put it together at the end to look at.

Pitching is the definite key to getting to Omaha. I agree with the points above. Facilities wise, the baseball stadium needs a lot of improvement to attract the blue chipper recruits here. I cannot stress that enough about the baseball stadium. The Concession stand is an eyesore and it looks hideous where it is positioned at this point.

[The Judge]

1. Completley revamped or new stadium just for baseball. Lights, scoreboard, meticulously kept grounds in and around the baseball field. Lights will bring more bodies to the field and recruits love to see full stadiums and picture themselves in that kind of excitment. Lights and more people equal the opportunity for revenue and meaningful concessions...which can answer some of flameshaw's concern.

2. Host a Leadership Summit for baseball every year patterned after ABCA where top pros, college coaches come in and speak on various aspects of the game. Make it so good that every little league orgaization, travel team and all their coqaches won't want to miss it. You can have the current LU players donate their time and give back to the community. You can charge a fee for the youth coaches to attend and hear the top former and current LU coaches teach certain aspects of the game.

3. Creat a junior flames program aligned with the high schools or American Legion.

4. Have golf outings hosted by former pro players and formeer LU pro players every year.

5. Put together a board of directors who will have meaningful input into evry aspect of the non-baseball decisions. Not just a token few guys who have a title. They would help oversee the budget for travel, transportaion, recruit visits in terms of making sure the details of their visit are well thought out.

6. A long term WRITTEN contract for 5 years at a time if not longer. The Coastal coach just got a 10 year contract. When you give a head coach security...he can recruit with full power and knowledge he will be there when a recruit asks the coach if he will still be the coach when he arrives.

[The Judge]

Now break down what your seeing....sorry I left out the diamond girls...JF wouldn't approve I think

GETTING TO OMAHA




at least three quality starters

two dominant starters to get through Super Regionals

an offense that can generate a minimum of 6-8 runs a night from the Big South tourney on

an incredible facility that is a huge attraction to any kid

a proven track record of winning

they have put the money and time in to get there

A rock-solid and deep pitching staff, and a fundementally sound defense

Reckling Park is arguably the nicest college stadium in the country

haven't been able to have the fortune of having many breakthrough MLB success stories to sell to kids

our ballpark needs vast improvement to convince top tier kids

its going to take a great deal of work and some capital improvements

a very dynamic/charasmatic coaching staff

teamwork involving former players and coaches from previous LU teams.

Upgraded facilities ie. lights,

All of us here need to do as much as we can to support the athletic department financially

more fundraising that needs to be done and the alumni associations need to be strenghtened and even organized successfully

Pitching is the definite key to getting to Omaha

the baseball stadium needs a lot of improvement to attract the blue chipper recruits here. I cannot stress that enough about the baseball stadium. The Concession stand is an eyesore and it looks hideous where it is positioned

Lights, scoreboard, meticulously kept grounds in and around the baseball field

recruits love to see full stadiums and picture themselves in that kind of excitment.

Lights and more people equal the opportunity for revenue and meaningful concessions

Host a Leadership Summit for baseball every year patterned after ABCA

Create a junior flames program aligned with the high schools or American Legion.

Have golf outings hosted by former pro players and formeer LU pro players every year

Put together a board of directors who will have meaningful input into evry aspect of the non-baseball decisions

help oversee the budget for travel, transportaion, recruit visits in terms of making sure the details of their visit are well thought out.

A long term WRITTEN contract for 5 years at a time if not longer

When you give a head coach security...he can recruit with full power and knowledge he will be there when a recruit asks the coach if he will still be the coach when he arrives.

we should have a place to play that is second to none

As far as coaches salary, etc. I think the coach should be paid better than anyone in the BS,

highly incentivised to with BS,get into the tourney, win regional, go to Omaha.

Seems like a 3-5 year deal annually renewed, based on results, would be more than adequate.

Resources need to be fairly unlimited. Teams that regularily make the CWS probably have unlimited budgets

I would also have to think that their would have to be a significant facility upgrade

[SuperJon]

Before we do anything we have to upgrade the stadium and make it look like something besides a 2A high school in North Carolina. See: ECU.


Once we get that, the recruits will come. Our playing surface is great, but our stadium sucks.

[knobodywest]

now were talking! I nominate the Judge . This is what its all about. There is not a single thing on this list that can't be accomplished. First you always get what you pay for in life, or better put we reep what we sow. Lu has to be willing to pay their Head coach a respectable salary. Now I don't know the current salaries of our coaches, but given the fact that RT only took a slight pay cut to go Pro, tells me they must not make much. Make it worth it for that coach to want to be here. Second, give Him a facility that he can be proud of, and proud in. All of the items already mentioned. With this list, any Coach could have a great Vision, a Coach with a great Vision can accomplish anything, because they believe. I good friend of mine uses this Bible verse often, and it fits perfectly "without vision, a people will parrish" Without vision a program can parrish too. Lets get it done. Judge you need to move to Lynchburg

[SuperJon]

If Coastal can be at #1 seed two out of three years (which they will be this year), there's no reason we can't be.

[Sly Fox]

Its a big step from being a #1 seed to getting to Rosenblatt. But I agree that their success shows this dream is not completely unrealistic.

[WinthropEagleFan]

The importance of a nice stadium/facility cannot be understated. Winthrop had a decent program with a complete crap 'stadium' (if you can call it that), but the new facility instantly brought in WU's best recruiting class (included two 2nd round draft picks) in its first year and continues to bring in better players and more depth than the program saw before the stadium was built.

[Sly Fox]

I agree and that's what has helped the small private schools like Rice & Tulane be competitive as well.

[Fumblerooskies]

I will admit a little bias...but when I was at UNCA, I thought LU had the best staff going in the conference with Pastors, Edwards, and Tomlin. When I moved here, meeting those gentlemen confirmed my thoughts. Had they been given the salaries, the budget (and not freeze it every spring), and a top notch facility, there is no doubt in my mind LU would have developed into a perenial top 30 program.

[The Judge]

Worthington Stadium was opened up my second year at LU back in 1979. It was a beautiful field back then. That was then....the phrase that needs to be driven home to leadership is " you never get a second chance at a first impression ". When I first re-visited LU 7 years ago...I couldn't believe how worn out the field looked. It was a real soberinf feeling when I first saw the condition. Top national recruits are not apt to get by the first impression especially if they visit the Coastals, Winthrops, Clemson stadiums. Remember excellent top tier players are playing with their club teams on top fields all over the country. So as shallow as it might seem to the executives...I have to say that our field is a dump by almost any standard at the D-1 level. That means money and huge capital campaign. Without the new stadium or at the minimum...a complete remodel...the top tier players will pass.

Their needs to be a sense of long term tradition...for example the high school baseball team my son plays for has a sign on the front of the backstop that says it all..." Tradition never graduates ". This team has been regional and sectional champs 8 years in a row. Some of those top college players and a couple of guys who have signed pro contracts some back to show respect. Whether they were great players or just on the roster...they feel apart of something special. That must be rekindled ! I always thought a mural of Sid crossing homeplate with the umpire signaling safe would be a great ! Just a way to say finishing well should be the goal.

[Cider Jim]

Didn't the LU field win an award 5 or 6 years ago for having the best turf for a college baseball facility in the entire nation?
(I'm serious).

[Fumblerooskies]

98 or 99. Yes they did.

[krh44]

Baseball Field of the Year

http://www.stma.org/Professionalism/FIELDYR/BASEBALL/

[Cider Jim]

1997 Al Worthington Stadium/Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA Randy Johnson, Brock Van Faussien College/University

So it's been 10 years (1997)? Well, old Fumble was only off by a year. That is still pretty impressive in my book.