[grm]

1. Cheap shot - It wasn't. It was actually quite plain & forthright

2. Bitterness - (my state of mind) If you want to fire a guy, just say "I don't want him as my coach"

3. Record - Not that bad, in fact, pretty good considering...
2nd half of season - very good, couple of possessions away from being perfect.
(and 2006-2007 really was a rebuilding year)

4. Talent - if it was there last year, it definitely is this year

5. Position - 3rd last year "you're fired" - third this year "Taking us in the right direction"

6. Ridiculous statements: "Wouldn't have been enough if he had won the BS"

I think that covers it quite well. I know where a large % of the people on this board are (I don't think it's 99%)
but that doesn't mean I cannot have my own opinion based on what I see as documented facts (call me if you want them).
It's one of those things that I will always resent. It doesn't mean that I want to commit suicide or muder, just that I
didn't and don't like the way things went, ....

It also dosn't mean I want to trash this board, but there has been a tremendous change in "freedom of expression" between this year and last.

Thank you

[jcmanson]

Last year was not a rebuilding year, not with LB as a senior. We improved from 02-04 when we won the 'ship, but since then digressed. The students had lost all connection with the basketball team and whether you like it or not a change was needed.

Saying "talent- if it was there last year, it definitely is this year" is ludicrous. We lost Larry Blair, the conference's all-time leading scorer and DB who was a very dynamic player and scorer.

If you can't realistically look at our recruiting class for next year and say we're not headed in the right direction then you are misguided.

[Sly Fox]

Expression is still free on here, grm. As long as things remain civil the same rules apply now that they always did. There will likely come a day when opinions will sway back and forth. As long as things are stated the way you did in the first post of this thread, there will always be room on the board.

[grm]

Thank you very much, SLY, & God bless you, the board, and all the guys that I respectfully disagree with.

[SuperJon]

I'm letting this go for now, but the second this thread starts criticizing the current staff it's getting locked and deleted. On the general basketball forum that's fine, but in this one, the one for the biggest supporters, it's not.

[grm]

Is there any place anywhere on the board to answer the question that was posed to me on the basketball area and then locked? I looked at the headings and picked this one, and kept it vague so to avoid it getting too personal.

And honestly, unless my memory is completely failing me, it seems that you have completely changed your position
(SJ) on being critical. Last year, I begged for civility, and was basically laughed off the planet - this year ... well, ..

On another note, I do see that the present administration has been able to pump large amounts of cash into the program, and, of course, money is important and that part of the equation should not be minimized. I see it, and am thankful for it.

[SuperJon]

I'm all for criticizing as long as you have a basis for what you're saying. However, this board is for the biggest supporters. In the general basketball forum, it's ok. This forum it's not though.

[grm]

Thank you, although I think you have artfully dodged an issue. I'm not (too) blind nor (too) stupid, and there has been a change in approach since last year, but I do understand, and accept the reality of the situation.

Again, I thank you.

[checkmate]

Thank you, although I think you have artfully dodged an issue. I'm not (too) blind nor (too) stupid, and there has been a change in approach since last year, but I do understand, and accept the reality of the situation.

Again, I thank you.

In a Presidential year could we say "Flip flopping"....or maybe some have had a "spiritual" conversion. grm you are dead on the bullseye.

[LUconn]

I think that this is pretty good to get out in the open. I think one of the biggest "double standards" that gets everybody so mad it the critisism last year vs this year. You've got to be able to see the difference. RD was in the last year of his contract. Of course people who wanted him gone will be overly critical at that point. It's part of the job description. Fast Forward to this year, we've got a 1st year coach who is signed for I don't know how many years. Do you really think fans of Liberty basketball will be just as critical? Of course not. And when we see that happening, it's easy to assume that it's not by fans.

[grm]

I've said my piece, and am about to leave it at that, but let me address my comment on a rebuilding year in the 5th year of the tenure of RD.

RD took a stand and released a key player before the 4th year, plus had serious injuries, so that after a 2nd, 1st, and 2nd run, he hit rock bottom. The next year, he "rebounded" to third. DB was not available the first semester, and there was no TJ, but they came on extremely strong the 2nd half of the season.

Perhaps I should have called it a "rebounding" year, but they finished extremely well, and the program was in very good shape for the coming year, which is this year, especially when considering the terrible 4th year.

I also believe that RD had an excellent staff on board.

Anyway, that's about it. I hope I haven't been overly offensive in stating these personal observations and opinions.

[SuperJon]

You're fine. You're stating things in a way that isn't attacking anyone. You're just stating your opinion. I have no problem with that.

[SuperJon]

Yes, I've deleted two of checkmate's posts. I said from the beginning that I'm being tight on this thread. If the posts were like grm's, that's fine. If it was in the general basketball forum, that's fine. But for a thread in my forum that's supposed to be for the biggest student supporters of this school, I'm not letting that crap go. If you don't like it, you can leave, but I'm going to keep deleting them if you keep posting like that.

[Schfourteenteen]

Question: Is it a bad thing to let a coach and his staff go simply to get fresh air in the program? I dont think so. RD may have just had alot of pieces fall apart that honestly cost him his job. At the same point, 3rd place isnt the only thing that is a measure of where LU wants to be. Attendance is up, general excitement about basketball is up, and people around here are very excited aobut the recruits coming in.

As for us students, specifically the ones here now, we will always have a bad taste in our mouths when it comes to the last tenure. Most of us came on campus, and no one cared about basketball. We lost close games at home, and sometimes we found ourselves questioning basic things like number of timeouts, coastalgame, etc. So our judgement of whether the change was the right move will always lean toward Ritchie unless he proves otherwise (which is still possible, just watch our post play next year).

I will be happy with 3rd this year because 1) I had no idea what to expect this year, and 2) These players are not Ritchie's, and 3) Things are looking up in terms of who is coming this fall.

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

Wow... I take a nap once and this kind of stuff happens!! haha

GRM youre right on... I think the problem was, no one was happy anywhere we finished, unless we were in the tourny. Everyone was still going to complain. The problem lies here: For the last 2-3 years of Coach D, I dont care what anyone says, Winthrop had the best talent in the Big South! And to see them win some NCAA games and for the to schedule ACC teams and just work hard was great for the big south, but Not liberty for some reason. (Before i say this Im not calling names, Im stating facts and Im quoting someone) CSU's Coach is friends with some athletic's staff here. he says to our athletic dept. "Liberty has the best team in the big south I dont know why you guys arent winning." First of all, That looks realllllly bad, I respect the fact that he saw our guys and how good they were, but we were not last years best team. The best team went to the tourny. And frankly I dont know how a coach from CSU can say anything about anyones team, but thats not for here.

Bottom line, The quote that was said was ridiculous and you made all of the points and stated them well, thats just something that has been eating away at me on the topic. Winthrop didnt get in as a Fluke, Winthrop got in because they were the best and worked the hardest and had the best talent, Period.

[grm]

All good comments, I think; and yes, an A.D. can make a change any time he feels it will benefit the program.

"He" can think the coach needs to be changed, and "I" can think what I want to think about his decision-making process, and whether or not he had an agenda. I would say that all of that is perfectly acceptable. I've not been happy about it, and, as most know, I have a deep personal involvement, but I never said he had no right to make the change, and I am not saying it now.

[SuperJon]

My question is this: You say an AD has the right to make a decision like this and you have the right to disagree with it. I agree with you completely on that. However, by saying that, how can you justify saying things that personally attack the AD? Like I've said before, I have no problem with you questioning the move and disagreeing with it.

[LUconn]

All good comments, I think; and yes, an A.D. can make a change any time he feels it will benefit the program.

"He" can think the coach needs to be changed, and "I" can think what I want to think about his decision-making process, and whether or not he had an agenda. I would say that all of that is perfectly acceptable. I've not been happy about it, and, as most know, I have a deep personal involvement, but I never said he had no right to make the change, and I am not saying it now.

here's the big question: Will you root for and support a Duntonless Liberty basketball team? Or will you enjoy their failure? I think I know the answer to some posters, but you are a wildcard.

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

All good comments, I think; and yes, an A.D. can make a change any time he feels it will benefit the program.

"He" can think the coach needs to be changed, and "I" can think what I want to think about his decision-making process, and whether or not he had an agenda. I would say that all of that is perfectly acceptable. I've not been happy about it, and, as most know, I have a deep personal involvement, but I never said he had no right to make the change, and I am not saying it now.

here's the big question: Will you root for and support a Duntonless Liberty basketball team? Or will you enjoy their failure? I think I know the answer to some posters, but you are a wildcard.

If I can, Anyone can, and we all know I do

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

My question is this: You say an AD has the right to make a decision like this and you have the right to disagree with it. I agree with you completely on that. However, by saying that, how can you justify saying things that personally attack the AD? Like I've said before, I have no problem with you questioning the move and disagreeing with it.

Im lost... Who personally attacked the AD? and What did they say?

[SuperJon]

grm isn't as bad as some of the others, but he's said some things as well. The latest being "Bottom line - Go Flames - Go RMK - Go Away JB."

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

grm isn't as bad as some of the others, but he's said some things as well. The latest being "Bottom line - Go Flames - Go RMK - Go Away JB."

Well if u dont agree with someone There is nothing wrong saying go away. Its not like he was talking about his family or said "That Terrible person, all he cares about is... blah blah blah" Thats not a personal attack to say Go away. I wish TTL would go away all the time... I wish TeeJay haters would go away... I wish LB would go away

[jcmanson]

I wish LB would go away

Not happening

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

I wish LB would go away

Not happening

I take that Back, I wish the topic of LB would go away like his record. So I wish Manson would go away haha just kidding

[SuperJon]

checkmate is mainly who I was speaking about when I said the personal attack stuff.