[bigsmooth]

UVA MEN'S HOOPS: Bannister finds life, basketball after UVa at Liberty
By Whitelaw Reid / wreid@dailyprogres.com | 978-7250

December 11, 2007
LYNCHBURG - An immature and spiteful person may have blasted the Virginia basketball program, said some unflattering things about coach Dave Leitao, maybe taken some potshots at the team’s medical staff.

But former UVa point guard TeeJay Bannister wasn’t about to do that.

http://www.dailyprogress.com/servlet/Sa ... th=!sports

[El Scorcho]

“I miss everybody back in Charlottesville, man. Even Coach Leitao. And I miss the fans and our student section."

Hello, LU students. You've got a great talented kid who loves playing at Liberty. He loves our coach, his team and playing the game. I'm sure his teammates are no different. He leaves UVa to come here and the only thing he misses besides his friends? The fans. Embarrassing.

Get out there and support the Flames already!

[jcmanson]

“I miss everybody back in Charlottesville, man. Even Coach Leitao. And I miss the fans and our student section."

Hello, LU students. You've got a great talented kid who loves playing at Liberty. He loves our coach, his team and playing the game. I'm sure his teammates are no different. He leaves UVa to come here and the only thing he misses besides his friends? The fans. Embarrassing.

Get out there and support the Flames already!

It's a shame that you are speaking to the choir here.

[El Scorcho]

I know. But I had to vent.

[FlamingChick]

Very nice article. I've known TeeJay since he was a Freshman at UVA and he's a great person. I wish him all the best.

[FlameDad]

“I miss everybody back in Charlottesville, man. Even Coach Leitao. And I miss the fans and our student section."

Hello, LU students. You've got a great talented kid who loves playing at Liberty. He loves our coach, his team and playing the game. I'm sure his teammates are no different. He leaves UVa to come here and the only thing he misses besides his friends? The fans. Embarrassing.

Get out there and support the Flames already!

Why do LU students not attend LU MBB games in larger numbers?
honest question from a LU parent - not trying to stir the pot in any way.

[jcmanson]

We've discussed that question many times on this forum.

[PAmedic]

to answer FLAMEDAD-

its a combination of general apathy developed over several poor seasons, and an overall lack of sports knowlege or enthusiasm ; many students go for the social aspect rather than actually being diehard sports (hoops) fans.

the consensus is that things will change as the team(s) improve.

[Stevev]

Flames Dad wrote

Why do LU students not attend LU MBB games in larger numbers?
honest question from a LU parent - not trying to stir the pot in any way.

In my opinion I think that maybe it could be based on the team's performance of the last 2 years or maybe the admin is not pushing them hard enough to the students. What gets me is that with a seamingly well liked coach coming into the program you would think that the students would forget about the past 2 years (Football is a great example) and get behind the new coach by showing up. We have had great attendence figures during some of our better years so it is possible and I would not want to blame the Big South's low ratings last year as a reason since I don't think that it has anything to do with it but it could be. When we play the games the team represents LU and not the Big South so that excuse doesn't fly. Of course I don't go to the games now since I live 6 hours away. Maybe others closer to the program would care to comment and offer their input.

[Cider Jim]

honest question from a LU parent - not trying to stir the pot in any way.

I will often walk from my office through the computer lab on my way to the game, and students seem more interested in checking email, myspace, and face book, than going to a game.

[SuperJon]

Let me just say that this stuff is about to change next semester.

[jcmanson]

Do you mean by the AD getting behind the bball team?

[SuperJon]

They've been behind the basketball team.


I'm talking about student support. We're working on things to hit the students big time when we get back from break.

[jcmanson]

I phrased that wrong. I know they've been behind them, but I mean out in front of the students hyping them like they did football.

Who is we?

[SuperJon]

Me and some friends. The guys that have been trying to do things from the beginning. We're just working on getting things more organized.

[jcmanson]

Well needless to say, I hope it works.

[blwall1416]

Me and some POWERFUL friends.

FTFY

[thepostman]

SJ...I know you guys will do a great job in whatever ideas you have...I look forward to seeing what happens...chances are I will only be able to get to Saturday games since I am taking on an internship next semester which will then have me doing something every weeknight which is going to be kind of tough...but oh well....

but thats not the point of this post...I would suggest avoiding the cheer sheets again...I wasn't sure about it at first but thought it was worth a try...but I heard people talking, and lets just say I think its best to avoid doing that....we didn't need that for football and I don't think we need it for basketball....it will come together in other ways....

I see the athletic dept. doing more as far as marketing goes once school starts up next semester...they were doing some things...but I have a feeling we'll see even more come January....

[SuperJon]

Don't worry. We're not doing the cheer sheets ever again. TTL wanted to do it, I was up for trying anything, and we tried it. It didn't work. We're moving on.

[blwall1416]

I see the athletic dept. doing more as far as marketing goes once school starts up next semester...they were doing some things...but I have a feeling we'll see even more come January....

I have a strange feeling that this might be true...

[thepostman]

Don't worry. We're not doing the cheer sheets ever again. TTL wanted to do it, I was up for trying anything, and we tried it. It didn't work. We're moving on.

yeah...that was my thought too...you guys were doing more then i was, so I wasn't going to trash on the idea, anything is worth a try....