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With the legendary Jerry Edwards retiring, who are the likely candidates?
Some possibilities:
This first group are all LU grads and are currently involved in broadcasting our games.
Nick Pierce: Has filled in for JE on several basketball broadcasts and has done WBB and baseball as well.
Mike Tilly: TV play by play man for football.
Ray Jones: TV play by play man for MBB, WBB and Vollyball
Jamie Hall: Long time voice of the Lady Flames, and has filled in on a few road trips for MBB.
LU grads with experience in sports broadcasting (probably long shots):
Brian Barnhart: Voice of Illinois Football and Basketball
Bob Sturm: Sports talk show host in Dallas.
Sly Fox: Free Lance marketing consultant and sportscaster and Grand Poobah of flamefans.com.
I'm sure their are others......................discuss
Cider asked me if Id apply...personally Id consider it but Im fairly raw in the broadcasting game. my experience is limited to mostly high school sports and a few LU softball games
Liberty Class of 2009
2007 AND 2008 Big South Football Champions
2014 FCS Playoff Qualifier
BJWilliams wrote:Cider asked me if Id apply...personally Id consider it but Im fairly raw in the broadcasting game. my experience is limited to mostly high school sports and a few LU softball games
You're not qualified to apply so don't even worry about it. I don't mean that to bash you but we're looking for a person with high level experience.
Thats cool Jon...a gig like this one deserves a very high quality broadcast voice. I really hope Nick is at the top of their search list (he has my full support to be sure)
Liberty Class of 2009
2007 AND 2008 Big South Football Champions
2014 FCS Playoff Qualifier
BJWilliams wrote:Cider asked me if Id apply...personally Id consider it but Im fairly raw in the broadcasting game. my experience is limited to mostly high school sports and a few LU softball games
You're not qualified to apply so don't even worry about it. I don't mean that to bash you but we're looking for a person with high level experience.
so my guess would be none of the people mentioned above don't have a shot if this is true...would I be wrong to have that assumption??
If that is the case, I completely disagree with that way of thinking....
The University’s nationwide search will look to bring in someone with Division I broadcast experience, as Liberty Athletics strives to become a program of national prominence both on the field and on the airwaves.
I was told they're wanting someone with professional and/or collegiate athletics play-by-play experience.
It would be tough to top Brian's resume as a play-by-play guy for the Angels and voice of a Big Ten school. But I sincerely doubt Brian has any interest in leaving Champaign. His buddy Mike has some major experience as well with CJ's alma mater in Huntington. Mike would be an awesome selection IMHO. All the other mentioned on campus would do a terrific job as well and have proven so on the job.
OK, so inquiring minds have to know. What would this full-time position be attached to the position? Play-by-play is a part-time gig even at the NFL, NBA & MLB levels. Jerry is remaining at WRVL as GM. So would position be in Athletics Department or elsewhere on campus?
The University’s nationwide search will look to bring in someone with Division I broadcast experience, as Liberty Athletics strives to become a program of national prominence both on the field and on the airwaves.
I was told they're wanting someone with professional and/or collegiate athletics play-by-play experience.
oh, i know...i read that...but sometimes what is said in a press release and what is actually being done aren't always the same...
I just think not even looking into what is already on campus is a mistake...
Sly Fox wrote:So would position be in Athletics Department or elsewhere on campus?
It would be in the athletics department. I'm not sure what the entire plan is with that. I think there will be an announcement soon that has to do with that whole situation.
If this was back when I was earlier in my undergrad maybe Id be more in postie's line of thinking, but LU has moved forward by light years and to get a gig like the one Mr Edwards had for almost 30 years is not something to be taken lightly. Theyre right to be looking for the very very best that are available just like when they search for a coach...Im not that right now...Im still fairly new and have much work still to be done to develop as a broadcaster and this isnt a job for someone to develop in.
Liberty Class of 2009
2007 AND 2008 Big South Football Champions
2014 FCS Playoff Qualifier
SuperJon wrote:When he said look on campus he wasn't talking about you.
haha...is what what he was trying to get at?? wow.....
I do think that somebody with LU ties that actually has talent should be the first kind of person we look at (not you BJ...sorry)...
some guy that simply has talent that is only doing it to have a job will not give as much into the job as someone that has an LU background and the school means something to them...
Im aware of that Jon...there are a number of very talented guys here (Nick having been mentioned on numerous occasions). Not everything has to be about me you know...I only mentioned myself because I know my limits and I am simply explaining why you were right to say what you said earlier
Liberty Class of 2009
2007 AND 2008 Big South Football Champions
2014 FCS Playoff Qualifier
BJ - Don't let these guys hold you back in life. This could be a big break for you. It would be like having a Dickie V breaking down the game. Having someone so knowledgeable of the game would get me to listen. I don't need a guy that has been doing it for years - they already represent the brand of another school - give me a fresh new voice that will be around for a long time. What are you - 32? We would have you for 50 years?? Throw your name in....
2009, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2023(Co-Champs) FlameFans.com Fantasy Baseball Champion
It is a VERY short list of names who are both a) interested, and b) qualified.
The qualifications of being an extra-public figure and representative of an evangelical Christian institution still concerned with its moral standing, are far greater in number than those of the same position at any other type of Division I university. Most of you know this. The list of applicants for this position will, I predict, reach triple figures rapidly. But due to these necessary moral standards of operation, as well as the high expectation of performance quality - the same list will dwindle to single digits just as rapidly.
Furthermore, those same qualifications present in the chosen candidate are what will cause he/she to be loyal to Liberty's vision and standing from the outset of their employment. To outrightly state or even insinuate that such an external hire would lack a passion for LU athletics is shortsighted and naïve.
Fact: the top names on this short list have yet to be mentioned.
prototype wrote:BJ - Don't let these guys hold you back in life. This could be a big break for you. It would be like having a Dickie V breaking down the game. Having someone so knowledgeable of the game would get me to listen. I don't need a guy that has been doing it for years - they already represent the brand of another school - give me a fresh new voice that will be around for a long time. What are you - 32? We would have you for 50 years?? Throw your name in....
good point...I think they would have to transform the booth into a bathroom stall..that is where he does his best work!
olldflame wrote:
Nick Pierce: Has filled in for JE on several basketball broadcasts and has done WBB and baseball as well.
Look i like Nick but i would also meet the qualifications of having called pretty much every sport on campus on the radio. Does that mean im qualified, no I don't believe so.
Personally i see Nick working with the individual they hire as possibly a color guy or for spot duty but like with most other recent hires they will try to court someone with a larger resume. Fair or not i just think that is the direction they will lean.
I would have Nick at the top of the list as far as those who are currently doing broadcasts for LU. I don't base that opinion on his resume, but rather on his performance in the games I have heard him call and the interviews he has been doing for the athletics website. There is a reason the on-air people in TV and radio are referred to as "the talent". I think Nick has a lot of natural ability, and that is IMHO at least as important as experience in a job where you are as much a performer as a journalist.
Is it possible someone from "outside" who is even more talented and with a stronger resume may want the job? Of course it is, but I believe we would need to be VERY careful in screening applicants for this job; especially those we do not have the benefit of having educated and trained right here at LU.
It's pretty understood that people will have to buy into what we have here. The nature of our school will bring the list of qualified applicants down just like it does for coaching, professors, etc.
SuperJon wrote:It's pretty understood that people will have to buy into what we have here. The nature of our school will bring the list of qualified applicants down just like it does for coaching, professors, etc.
While I would love to have my old roomie Brian B come back, I don't believe he ever would. The Illini was his school from childhood and I think he always viewed that as his dream job. Nick is as good a voice as you'll find anywhere, any level IMHO and even though he may not have the experience of some others, I could get real used to listening to him all the time.
I just hope we don't get an up-and-comer who will use this as a stepping stone or someone with lots of experience who is in the twilight of their career. We need someone who can very excited about LU athletics. I think I can trust Barber and whomever else is involved to make a good choice.
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