[olldflame]

He was on the bench at the end of the game because he had 4 fouls and RMc took him out on defense on a stoppage of play, but never had the opportunity to put him back in offensively. The implication that RMc took him out because he lacked confidence in him is just silly.

[flameshaw]

One thing I liked about RD (and here's hoping this doesn't turn into one of those divisive threads after this) is that he turned and he would absolutely do what he could to fire up the students. Particularly in the 04 championship season, the students gladly obliged and pretty much blew the roof off the Vines Center. I think that is something Id like to see happen with Coach McKay.

BJ, some good thoughts, but if you can't coach, the least you can do is be a good cheerleader. I think we are already seeing the benefits of a better coaching staff and will for some years to come. I just hope as a fan base we don't have higher expectations than we should this early. Yes we are better, but we have very little depth and a long season ahead. GO FLAMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BJWilliams]

One thing I liked about RD (and here's hoping this doesn't turn into one of those divisive threads after this) is that he turned and he would absolutely do what he could to fire up the students. Particularly in the 04 championship season, the students gladly obliged and pretty much blew the roof off the Vines Center. I think that is something Id like to see happen with Coach McKay.

If Coach McKay keeps winning ball games THAT will fire up students. How many students did last year's team fire up? (Not trying to start a fight although I am not a RD fan, I am just saying winning games breeds fan interest.) I do think Coach should help you guys out in other ways though as I have stated on the other thread. It is fine with me if he is focused on the team and what is happenning on the floor during games though...

Solid win for this team last night. I like the direction we are moving. This program will be back at the top of the Big South in another year or so. Coach is doing a good job from what I can tell.

Im not discounting the need for a winning program ALA, what Im talking about is in reference to postman's post about the lack of students shouting and yelling and cheering at games. I know Coach McKay should focus on what is going on on the court and getting wins and what not, but I think itd be nice to have him or even the players trying to fire up the kids that do show up. I mean when we went on that huge run early and Niagara had to call a timeout that would be a perfect time to really try to get them into it. Keep the fire stoked if you will

[Schfourteenteen]

One thing I liked about RD (and here's hoping this doesn't turn into one of those divisive threads after this) is that he turned and he would absolutely do what he could to fire up the students. Particularly in the 04 championship season, the students gladly obliged and pretty much blew the roof off the Vines Center. I think that is something Id like to see happen with Coach McKay.

If Coach McKay keeps winning ball games THAT will fire up students. How many students did last year's team fire up? (Not trying to start a fight although I am not a RD fan, I am just saying winning games breeds fan interest.) I do think Coach should help you guys out in other ways though as I have stated on the other thread. It is fine with me if he is focused on the team and what is happenning on the floor during games though...

Solid win for this team last night. I like the direction we are moving. This program will be back at the top of the Big South in another year or so. Coach is doing a good job from what I can tell.

Im not discounting the need for a winning program ALA, what Im talking about is in reference to postman's post about the lack of students shouting and yelling and cheering at games. I know Coach McKay should focus on what is going on on the court and getting wins and what not, but I think itd be nice to have him or even the players trying to fire up the kids that do show up. I mean when we went on that huge run early and Niagara had to call a timeout that would be a perfect time to really try to get them into it. Keep the fire stoked if you will

BJ I think youre going to see a changed atmosphere soon. Not now, but if we keep playing well at home its gonna change. With getting fired up, Personally I think if the guys at the bottom cant get you going the guys on the court wont either. After seeing last night we have alot of potential with the stands and after a couple of games like the Niagara game were gonna see the atmosphere at the Furnace change alot. The students had a great time last night, and theyll be back again.

[olldflame]

What he said.

As far as RMc is concerned, I prefer he focus totally on his team during the games. I believe there is a role a coach can play as a "cheerleader" when opportunities present themselves between games. Convo?? Did not Rocco talk to the students there and help them get excited about football when he first arrived?

[Schfourteenteen]

McKay in convo would help alot, although he doesnt have those scary robot eyes Mr. Rocco has

Even more than when Big Russ would walk up to the stage, monotonously repeat a memory verse, and then monotously say "wed like to have you at the game"

[kel varson]

All McKay needs to do is win...and not be a jerk. Then fans will come and will like the coach. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Cider Jim]

it's not like he is putting on a Curly Neal show out there

Oldflame is showing his age again. I'm wondering how many current students even understand this reference & know who Curly Neal is.

[flameshaw]

it's not like he is putting on a Curly Neal show out there

Oldflame is showing is age again. I'm wondering how many current students even understand this reference & know who Curl Neal is.

Not very old myself, wasn't he one of the 3 Stooges?

[SuperJon]

it's not like he is putting on a Curly Neal show out there

Oldflame is showing his age again. I'm wondering how many current students even understand this reference & know who Curly Neal is.

One of the Harlem Globetrotters best players ever.



Also from North Carolina.

[RagingTireFire]

One thing I liked about RD (and here's hoping this doesn't turn into one of those divisive threads after this) is that he turned and he would absolutely do what he could to fire up the students. Particularly in the 04 championship season, the students gladly obliged and pretty much blew the roof off the Vines Center. I think that is something Id like to see happen with Coach McKay.

I think pretty much the exact opposite. If the head coach is spending time and energy trying to get the fans involved, then he isn't paying attention to the game. You know, the part that's his job. We have cheerleaders and SuperJons for a reason.

[ToTheLeft]

Exactly. Which is why we need student led groups to get the students to get fired up about the team, that RMK is coaching very well.

[SuperJon]

Coach McKay should interact with us during the week (which he has to an extent) and coach the team during the game.

It is our job to get students into the game. It isn't his job to do that.



The last two minutes were great. The other 38 weren't. At one point in the game, I had a manager walk up to me and tell me to get everyone up and loud because it was an important part of the game, and I had to tell him I'd been trying the entire game to do it. He just shook his head after that.


We have a wine and cheese crowd right now. I full believe until we get a student-led group in there to get the students going and organize things it'll stay like that on any game where we're not playing Winthrop or Coastal.

[Fumblerooskies]

We have a grapejuice and cheese crowd right now.

Sorry...had to fix it to keep up with the Liberty Way.

[olldflame]

it's not like he is putting on a Curly Neal show out there

Oldflame is showing his age again. I'm wondering how many current students even understand this reference & know who Curly Neal is.

I was going to say Marcus Haynes, but decided to go with the young fella.

[TDDance234]

Coach McKay should interact with us during the week (which he has to an extent) and coach the team during the game.

It is our job to get students into the game. It isn't his job to do that.



The last two minutes were great. The other 38 weren't. At one point in the game, I had a manager walk up to me and tell me to get everyone up and loud because it was an important part of the game, and I had to tell him I'd been trying the entire game to do it. He just shook his head after that.


We have a wine and cheese crowd right now. I full believe until we get a student-led group in there to get the students going and organize things it'll stay like that on any game where we're not playing Winthrop or Coastal.

And a cheerleader telling us to get rowdy.. to where we pointed to the 25 rows of sitting students behind us and another shaking of the head.

[SuperJon]

That guy has no clue what he's doing. He's like that in every sport. Whenever they throw shirts out he looks at us like, "C'mon, yell" and we always tell him we're the ones yelling the rest of the game. Then he walks up to us and tells us to get rowdy and loud. Once we pointed out that there we were and he needed to talk to someone else, he kind of looked at us like he didn't understand what we were saying.

He's a Liberty cheerleader. I don't need to say anything else.

[Fumblerooskies]

He's a Liberty cheerleader. I don't need to say anything else.

From one who worked directly with the LU cheer team for three years, all I have to say to you about that comment, Supe...
...is...

[thepostman]

Bannister played a good 30 minutes of basketball. Didnt get in trouble alot, and had no problem burning his guard on a continual basis. He is a great player, and know when to get rid of the ball.

Heres where he can improve(stuff he did wrong last nite): Easy layup opprotunities. He mised either 3 or 4 of them. Letting his head get away from him. There were 8 to 10 minutes in which he looked like a complete mental case and you just wanted him to not have the ball. Being too fancy sometimes. Im really just thinking of the one fast break where he thrwe it in the stands but that was also during the 8 minute collapse.

Keep this in mind. In the last minute of the game, he was on the bench.

I think he played a good game, even phenominal at times, but hes gotta be more consistent, because a without some of his fundamental mistakes in the 2nd we win that game easy.

this is exactly what i have been saying...for some reason people have taken my words to mean otherwise....I think TJ is a very good player. I am excited to see him play as the season goes on

[olldflame]

Bannister played a good 30 minutes of basketball. Didnt get in trouble alot, and had no problem burning his guard on a continual basis. He is a great player, and know when to get rid of the ball.

Heres where he can improve(stuff he did wrong last nite): Easy layup opprotunities. He mised either 3 or 4 of them. Letting his head get away from him. There were 8 to 10 minutes in which he looked like a complete mental case and you just wanted him to not have the ball. Being too fancy sometimes. Im really just thinking of the one fast break where he thrwe it in the stands but that was also during the 8 minute collapse.

Keep this in mind. In the last minute of the game, he was on the bench.

I think he played a good game, even phenominal at times, but hes gotta be more consistent, because a without some of his fundamental mistakes in the 2nd we win that game easy.

this is exactly what i have been saying...for some reason people have taken my words to mean otherwise....I think TJ is a very good player. I am excited to see him play as the season goes on

That may have be exactly what you were thinking, but what you were saying was "he dribbles way, way, way too much." This is what myself and others disagreed with because we want him to continue attacking the opponents defense with his ballhandling skill. Like you, we also want to see him finish his shots more consistently and cut back on his turnovers.

[thepostman]

Bannister played a good 30 minutes of basketball. Didnt get in trouble alot, and had no problem burning his guard on a continual basis. He is a great player, and know when to get rid of the ball.

Heres where he can improve(stuff he did wrong last nite): Easy layup opprotunities. He mised either 3 or 4 of them. Letting his head get away from him. There were 8 to 10 minutes in which he looked like a complete mental case and you just wanted him to not have the ball. Being too fancy sometimes. Im really just thinking of the one fast break where he thrwe it in the stands but that was also during the 8 minute collapse.

Keep this in mind. In the last minute of the game, he was on the bench.

I think he played a good game, even phenominal at times, but hes gotta be more consistent, because a without some of his fundamental mistakes in the 2nd we win that game easy.

this is exactly what i have been saying...for some reason people have taken my words to mean otherwise....I think TJ is a very good player. I am excited to see him play as the season goes on

That may have be exactly what you were thinking, but what you were saying was "he dribbles way, way, way too much." This is what myself and others disagreed with because we want him to continue attacking the opponents defense with his ballhandling skill. Like you, we also want to see him finish his shots more consistently and cut back on his turnovers.

I guess I should try to be more clear, sometimes for some reason I can not write exactly what I am trying to communicate. I am much better talking about it....anyways

i still think there were times where he dribbled too much and was just simply out of control...there is a fine line between attacking the heart of the defense and simply being out of control and being careless...he was walking the fine line that is for sure.

Anyways...I enjoy watching this team. They play hard and for the most part they play as a team. If they can work on simply boxing out and crashing the boards that could go a long way in helping this team. Second chances were killing us last night

[grm]

Marcus Haynes & Goose Tatum.

Congrats on a great win for lu

[Knucklehead]

That Niagra coach needs some serious Anger management counseling. I also hear that his potty mouth is award winning>

[olldflame]

Marcus Haynes & Goose Tatum.

Congrats on a great win for lu

Unite!!!

Goose Tatum was the original "Clown Prince of basketball"; the role Meadowlark Lemon made famous. He was also an amazing player in a time when the Trotters played "real" games all over the world. Marcus Haynes was the original "designated dribbler." He left to form his own team "Marcus Haynes and the Magicians" and Curly Neal took that role.

By the way I am not actually old enough to have seen Goose Tatum play, but I saw Marcus and the Magicians when he was in his 50s, and the Trotters with Meadowlark and Curly. As a "yout" I read the Biography of Abe Saperstien, the founder of the Trotters, and was fascinated by it.

[grm]

I saw Marcus Haynes and Goose Tatum, in Lewiston, Maine, somewhere around 1955 ish.