[Cider Jim]

it is quite ambitious to live in a fairly large city in the top 10%

That double prepositional phrase made it a little confusing (at least to me), but thanks for clearing that up.

So what salary range puts one in the top 10% in Lynchburg?

[TruthSlayer11]

Somewhere Thom Park is getting excited thinking he may have another shot!

[TruthSlayer11]

So what salary range puts one in the top 10% in Lynchburg?

I'm sorry I was way off, in his price range he is in the top .6% according to the Census Bureau (and that is .6 as in not even 1%)

[LUconn]

Somewhere Thom Park is getting excited thinking he may have another shot!

Does Rocco have an agent? Let's get him on deck!

[Baldspot]

The only sitting athletic directors to apply thus far are Tom Bowen of San Jose State University, Jeff Barber of Liberty University in Virginia and Tom Collins of Brevard College in North Carolina.

Another applicant is former Indiana University Athletic Director Michael McNeely, who hired Gerry DiNardo in Bloomington, Ind., after DiNardo was forced out as LSU football coach.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/15829672.html

[blwall1416]

Does Rocco have an agent? Let's get him on deck!

No...he's going to Wake Forest....remember..???

[Cider Jim]

No funny, blwall, not funny at all.

[Hold My Own]

Blwal, Thom Park was Ken Karcher's agent...that was his way into Liberty

[Baldspot]

I think we can all agree JB has done a nice job since his arrival, the athletic program seems on the verge of making some real strides and more importantly, bringing in some big donor money. Whether JB goes to LSU or not, his name will be bantied about with every new AD opening putting him in an awkward position trying to convince new donors that LU is the right choice for their money.

How do you get over "LU's a great place, after a couple months I started looking to move elsewhere, but we'd really like a million or two from you for a new wrestling facility"

[Cider Jim]

JB's quotes in Lang's article:

"LSU is a great school, and they have talked to my lawyer," Barber said in a text message Wednesday night. "I don't know any more than that."

"However. Liberty is also a great school and one which I am privileged to be part of."

The title of the article read:

"Liberty AD applies for LSU position"

[#10]

I'm to hurt to be mad. I believed him when he said he shared our vision. There's no question he really helped us towards that goal. He also came at a time when things became a lot more stable financially enabling the hiring of some good people. I feel almost the same as I did when served my divorce papers thirty years ago. Things change but commitments don't. It will be very hard to reconcille . God and Jerry Falwell were/are second chancers, I haven't reached that point yet. I don't see how he can stay.

[olldflame]

I'm to hurt to be mad. I believed him when he said he shared our vision. There's no question he really helped us towards that goal. He also came at a time when things became a lot more stable financially enabling the hiring of some good people. I feel almost the same as I did when served my divorce papers thirty years ago. Things change but commitments don't. It will be very hard to reconcille . God and Jerry Falwell were/are second chancers, I haven't reached that point yet. I don't see how he can stay.

You are "hurt"? What does this have to do with you? Who gets all emotionally worked up and ready to kick the man they admit is doing a great job to the curb just because he (or his agent) tested the waters with one of the top athletic departments in the country? You seem to be confusing this with a marriage. News flash it's not, it's a job. He didn't take a vow "til death do us part". What's so silly about this kind of overreaction is that more than likely he will be here for a long time, and emotional reactions like this will sour the waters. Take a chill pill bro.

[blwall1416]

Blwal, Thom Park was Ken Karcher's agent...that was his way into Liberty

Yeah, I heard that. It was just my attempt at satire. Obviously, it was a poor one. Perhaps Cider can show me how to improve my skills in the area of satire.

[#10]

Ok Bro. LU's AD is not the sandwich bar clerk or a professor or the mailman. The leaders at the top of the chain at LU should feel called to that position. If they aren't they will never be happy. There will never be enough money to satisfy them. Ever hear of working for a Cause? Something for the greater good. When my wife first started at LU her pay was a joke. But you know what? The blessings were overflowing. I used to do volunter work 20-60 hours a week for years and count it all joy. Working for the Vision. You think there won't be a few tears when they present the Championship Rings?
If my leader is looking at every pretty situation that comes by then I think he's in the wrong place. It is like a marriage. There is commitment involved. If you aren't sold out fot LU and want quick options say so. Didn't Lou Holz have a Notre Dame clause in his contracts prior to his getting the job? Something like that eliminates hard feelings upfront.
Also. isn't one of the purposes of this forum being able to express your personal thoughts on a subject? This doesn 't make my views less or more than yours.

[adam42381]

I don't see the problem with him throwing his hat in the ring here. I'm sure he got the LU's approval to apply. Anytime you have a chance to better yourself you have to consider it. I don't think this is a money play to try to get a raise at LU. He is applying at one of the better programs and getting his name out there. I don't see this as bailing on Liberty or the Vision or whatever. I think it's a good move. He won't get the job but it might actually bring a little more recognition to our program.

[RagingTireFire]

Ever hear of working for a Cause? Something for the greater good.

This is exactly the attitude that, in the past, has kept good people from coming to work at LU in the first place. They feel less like they're providing for their family and futures and more like they're enrolling in a cult. I know because I considered a job with the U several years ago only to change my mind very quickly when I talked to a "loyal" staffer who was very eager for me to -- in his words -- "join us". It isn't a marriage at all and it shouldn't be treated as such.

[olldflame]

You expressed your opinion #10 and I expressed mine, and then you expressed yours again, which is all good.

The problem with an EMPLOYEE feeling they have a CALLING is that they tend to feel that because GOD has CALLED them, they are always right and are ENTITLED to the job until GOD tells them otherwise. IMHO this a slippery slope, even in a ministry, where a pastor does not feel he needs to answer to his congregation. We have experienced people who felt that way about their JOB in LU athletics and the "loyal" following which can build up around them. Then when the person in authority decides to make a change, there is division because people think GOD'S MAN has been removed. If the person who is CALLED decides to leave, he is "out of God's will". All nonsense. The Bible addresses the principles of the employee/employer relationship. Being subject to human authority is most definately a part of it, and individuals are free to follow what they believe is God's leading in their life, not what you think it is.

[JK37]

Maybe it shouldn't be a marriage of sorts, and maybe the loyalty to the school shouldn't be so highly upheld that a decision of this nature is viewed as disloyal. But, the reality is that is the way things are done at Liberty. When deciding upon employment there, or if already employed and working for LU, one has two options:

1) Ego can become such that one refuses to adapt to the realities of the surroundings, or
2) One can adapt to those surroundings, accept and respect them, and act accordingly.

In this case, I don't have a clue what's happened; I'm a distant observer. But if the worst scenario is assumed, it only proves that things are not done at LU quite the same as at other athletic departments and administrations, certainly not those of BCS conferences. The better anyone involved understands that idea, the greater the likelihood that they will be able to exist positively in the LU atmosphere.

[olldflame]

It is possible that is the way things USED TO BE done at LU JK37, but from my observation, no longer, and that is IMHO a good thing. If our goal is excellence in our athletic programs, then we need to operate the way the excellent athletic departments operate, and I believe we are moving in that direction.

[JDUB]

This is exactly the attitude that, in the past, has kept good people from coming to work at LU in the first place.

i agree. he didnt join a cult when he came to LU, he signed a business contract. the sooner people realize that it is a business and treat it as such, the sooner LU will succeed in its athletic goals

[Purple Haize]

Ok, time to put a fine point on it.

What EXACTLY was Jerry's vision for the athletic department?? Other then saying MANY years ago in a crazy promotional moment he said he wanted to play Notre Dame and BEAT them. That was a long time ago, and since we didn't play them this year we may have missed our chance at both!!!
For those who are taking a more etherial approach to this, why is it not possible to say that JB does/did share JF's "vision" and has done all he can to put the department on that course and now in order to fulfill JF's vision it would be time to put it in someone else's hands??
For those who think practically, i.e. LU vs L S U that would be a no brainer. How can you criticize a guy for looking out for his family? Career? ANd let's also think about how much PR we will get by having been the last stop BEFORE the LSU job. Sort of I knew them when type things. And even if he does not get the job it is STILL good PR for our school that he is even being CONSIDERED for the job. It is really a Win Win for all parties.
As for coaches being "loyal" you would be suprised at what coaches applied for other jobs while claiming to share JF's "vision" but couldnt get hired anywhere else.

[jmdickens]

I am glad I decided to apply to LSU School of Law back in January.....


The Law School is conservative too, so another plus!!!!

[Sly Fox]

JB makes the first cut ...

Athletic director candidate pool cut to six
LSU's Ausberry makes list

Amy Brittain
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: News

The LSU athletic director search committee voted Friday to keep six active applicants in the selection pool.

Those remaining in the pool include: Verge Ausberry, LSU senior associate athletic director; Jeff Barber, Liberty University athletic director; Tom Bowen, San Jose State athletic director; Stan Harris; ForeFront Group CEO and former restaurant developer; Greg McGarity, Florida executive associate athletic director; and Michael McNeely, former Indiana University athletic director.

Click Here for Full Story

[jcmanson]

This could get interesting.

[Baldspot]

This is exactly the attitude that, in the past, has kept good people from coming to work at LU in the first place.

i agree. he didnt join a cult when he came to LU, he signed a business contract. the sooner people realize that it is a business and treat it as such, the sooner LU will succeed in its athletic goals

Many athletic departments, ie alumni, treat their school sports more like a cult following and less like a business. Think of the alumni at Alabama when Bill Curry was hired or more recently Tom Osborn's rehire at Nebraska. My favorite D1 program Penn State refuses to hire anyone in a leadership position in that does not have roots in State College. LU has their peculiars on the type of people they want to hire just like many others. Its just now we are stuck with a guy trying to raise money for the school who has expressed an interest to go elsewhere.

PS - Jerry's vision for the athletic department is to compete at the top in all sports.