[flamesfilmguy]

You two are worse than kids in the backseat on a long car ride. Don't make me pull this car over!

[ROBBED08]

To be honest it is very sad to see people on here making assumptions about Buck. I know most people are just talking the bad PR, but a few weeks ago when he came I spent a lot of time with him and he is a great guy. He meant nothing by the statement he made. It was a joke that was sent to him and he posted it up and it got blown up into a big deal. He is not racist at all. He is a great guy and hopefully he decides to come here. He would fit in great with our program and would be the missing link that would set our OL up to continue the dominating reputation they have earned the last few years. I love the fact that Liberty has become a home for guys that need a second chance because I believe that is at the heart of our university. We are reaching out to guys that have nowhere to turn and giving them exactly what they need a second chance and the opportunity to develop a relationship with Christ that they may not already have. I know we cannot save every guy that has messed up, but those willing to come here obviously realize that they need a change in their life.

[ROBBED08]

Ohh and by the way the N word was never used that is totally false.

[coolhandluke]

very true. And I heard it was the N word. But I didn't hear about that until 3 or 4 days after the story came out... So you may be right there...

[PAmedic]

my take on this is :

IF he does decide to transfer here, it's up to his TEAMMATES to decide how sincere he is and if they'd accept him. I've come to trust Coach's decision making abilities on this stuff after V.Redd.

[jmdickens]

Just be happy LU is getting a good student and a good football player.

[coolhandluke]

my take on this is :

IF he does decide to transfer here, it's up to his TEAMMATES to decide how sincere he is and if they'd accept him. I've come to trust Coach's decision making abilities on this stuff after V.Redd.

And if this is risky, then getting Stevie Ray Lloyd was risky too!

[flameshaw]

To be honest it is very sad to see people on here making assumptions about Buck. I know most people are just talking the bad PR, but a few weeks ago when he came I spent a lot of time with him and he is a great guy. He meant nothing by the statement he made. It was a joke that was sent to him and he posted it up and it got blown up into a big deal. He is not racist at all. He is a great guy and hopefully he decides to come here. He would fit in great with our program and would be the missing link that would set our OL up to continue the dominating reputation they have earned the last few years. I love the fact that Liberty has become a home for guys that need a second chance because I believe that is at the heart of our university. We are reaching out to guys that have nowhere to turn and giving them exactly what they need a second chance and the opportunity to develop a relationship with Christ that they may not already have. I know we cannot save every guy that has messed up, but those willing to come here obviously realize that they need a change in their life.

Since you spent a lot of time with him, what is your take on the chances he will be coming to The Burg?

[jmdickens]

very good

[paradox]

Bringing this kid in would be a form of public relations suicide. It's hard to imagine anyone in this current administration opening the door and welcoming a headache of this magnitude.

[Fumblerooskies]

Bringing this kid in would be a form of public relations suicide. It's hard to imagine anyone in this current administration opening the door and welcoming a headache of this magnitude.

Why is that? Only b/c of poor judgment on one occasion? Is is certainly less of a transgression that other transfers have alleged to have committed.

[paradox]

I disagree. What he did extends beyond the individual. I can't see this university absorbing the ramifications of being associated with that kind of friction and discord.

[flameshaw]

Regardless of how this plays out, I am confident the administration and coaching staff will do the right thing and I will support whatever decision they make.

[Baldspot]

I disagree. What he did extends beyond the individual. I can't see this university absorbing the ramifications of being associated with that kind of friction and discord.

I see your point and I had the same concerns but people love a repentant sinner and the coaching staff has made a lot of right moves personnel wise. The Student Development(Conduct) whatever they are called now love the coaches. For whatever that's worth.

Kerry Collins had some problems early in his pro-career and now the NFL uses him to train the rookies.

[madmat]

Robbed, do you think he would be accepted by the football team in light of his mistake and subsequent apology? Would the team chemistry be screwed up or could everyone move forward. If you are who I think you are, your insight is valid.

[Fumblerooskies]

Robbed, do you think he would be accepted by the football team in light of his mistake and subsequent apology? Would the team chemistry be screwed up or could everyone move forward. If you are who I think you are, your insight is valid.

Now THAT is a great point. I think we have seen with other sports how bad team chemistry can really be disrupted.

[paradox]

I disagree. What he did extends beyond the individual. I can't see this university absorbing the ramifications of being associated with that kind of friction and discord.

I see your point and I had the same concerns but people love a repentant sinner and the coaching staff has made a lot of right moves personnel wise. The Student Development(Conduct) whatever they are called now love the coaches. For whatever that's worth.

Kerry Collins had some problems early in his pro-career and now the NFL uses him to train the rookies.

What would the broader perception be? Do you really think people are going to be impressed with how quickly some are willing to forgive something like this?

If he repented, then that's between him and God. I hope it's genuine. However, trying to bring him in implies validation at worst and insensitivity at best, as far as the university is concerned.



Again, I doubt the coaching staff would want to touch this, but if they do as some imply, then good luck trying to convince the powers that be that this would somehow be in the best interest of the university

[ROBBED08]

I wil try to answer all the questions:
I think his chances of coming here are actually really good. He enjoyed his visit, but had a few more scheduled in the coming weeks before he made an official desicion. He is a very family oriented and being closer to his family would be the only thing in my mind that would keep him from coming here. But on the other hand I feel like his family would travel to support him if he wanted to come here.
.
I love ya madmat! In my opinion he would fit great into the team and would definately not mess up any chemistry. He is a hard worker and expressed to all of us during his visit that he would be willing to do anything (even Bill's basic training) he needed to do to help the team win. He hung out with a bunch of guys on the team and the feed back I heard from black and white players on the team is that they would be excited to have him as a teammate. He obviously got asked a million questions about the incident and repeatively was saying that hindsight he should have used better judgement, but that he left on good terms with all of his former teammates and coaches, it was more about the university administration having pressure put on them by outside sources that was the cause for being suspended from the team. He is not racist in any way and all the guys could tell he was completely genuine about the whole situation and about who he is.

To those (paradox) who think this is a big mistake you obviously still have preconcieved opinions that he is racist and that bringing a openly racist person to our team would be a big mistake. In that case I would completely agree with you. HE IS NOT RACIST and though his comments may have been racist in nature he fell into the Facebook trap that many students and athletes have started to get in trouble with. They think that they are sharing pictures, status info, jokes, and messages with friends, but the reality is anyone at anytime can see what you have on Facebook and that you are responsible for your actions. At Liberty I have heard of people getting in trouble for having pictures that administrators thought could be immoral eventhough nothing was happening that was even close to what they were accused of but when you put stuff on their it is public forum for anyone who wants to look at it and I would say Buck learned this the hard way.

[RagingTireFire]

If Liberty EVER starts making decisions based on what might or might not be "public relations suicide", I say shut the whole friggin' place down. Our standards, at least in theory, run much deeper than what anyone else might think of us.

[olldflame]

I wil try to answer all the questions:
I think his chances of coming here are actually really good. He enjoyed his visit, but had a few more scheduled in the coming weeks before he made an official desicion. He is a very family oriented and being closer to his family would be the only thing in my mind that would keep him from coming here. But on the other hand I feel like his family would travel to support him if he wanted to come here.
.
I love ya madmat! In my opinion he would fit great into the team and would definately not mess up any chemistry. He is a hard worker and expressed to all of us during his visit that he would be willing to do anything (even Bill's basic training) he needed to do to help the team win. He hung out with a bunch of guys on the team and the feed back I heard from black and white players on the team is that they would be excited to have him as a teammate. He obviously got asked a million questions about the incident and repeatively was saying that hindsight he should have used better judgement, but that he left on good terms with all of his former teammates and coaches, it was more about the university administration having pressure put on them by outside sources that was the cause for being suspended from the team. He is not racist in any way and all the guys could tell he was completely genuine about the whole situation and about who he is.

To those (paradox) who think this is a big mistake you obviously still have preconcieved opinions that he is racist and that bringing a openly racist person to our team would be a big mistake. In that case I would completely agree with you. HE IS NOT RACIST and though his comments may have been racist in nature he fell into the Facebook trap that many students and athletes have started to get in trouble with. They think that they are sharing pictures, status info, jokes, and messages with friends, but the reality is anyone at anytime can see what you have on Facebook and that you are responsible for your actions. At Liberty I have heard of people getting in trouble for having pictures that administrators thought could be immoral eventhough nothing was happening that was even close to what they were accused of but when you put stuff on their it is public forum for anyone who wants to look at it and I would say Buck learned this the hard way.

The words highlighted are far and away the most relevant thing I have heard/read about this. He apparently spent significant time with our players, including african-american players. If they are all convinced he is a good person and whatever he did didn't reflect his true character, and they are ready to accept him as a teammate, that is the most important thing. Once he is here he would have ample opportunity to demonstrate his worth, and if his teammates have his back, the PR issues will work themselves out.

[paradox]

If Liberty EVER starts making decisions based on what might or might not be "public relations suicide", I say shut the whole friggin' place down. Our standards, at least in theory, run much deeper than what anyone else might think of us.

And what exactly would those deeper standards be if they are accompanied with such a cavalier and disrepsectful attitude toward race relations? LOL

[paradox]

Ok, Robbed, so you're saying the guy's just a knuclehead and not a racist. You may be right. However, why in the world would it be a good idea to bing this guy in here with all of the baggage and potential for discord among the Liberty community and the community at large?


Regardless of whether the kid is a racist or knuclehead, the percetion or at least suspicion will always lean toward race. Should this school absorb that into its reputation? Would that not be counter-production to this school's mission?

[RagingTireFire]

We teach Creationism and Young Earth Theory. Do you really think LU is all that concerned with bad PR?

[justagirl]

If Liberty EVER starts making decisions based on what might or might not be "public relations suicide", I say shut the whole friggin' place down. Our standards, at least in theory, run much deeper than what anyone else might think of us.

And what exactly would those deeper standards be if they are accompanied with such a cavalier and disrepsectful attitude toward race relations? LOL

paradox, all i have to say is i hope for your sake that WHEN (and i say when and not if because we are all human) you make a bad judgement call that people are much more ready and willing to forgive, and see that it was in fact a MISTAKE, and treat you with much more love then you are willing to show another person.

[RagingTireFire]

Regardless of whether the kid is a racist or knuclehead, the percetion or at least suspicion will always lean toward race. Should this school absorb that into its reputation? Would that not be counter-production to this school's mission?

Is not the stated mission of the university "Changing lives one degree at a time"? Have they taken that sign down?