[olldflame]

You should know Aaron, that while some of us have chosen board names that are not our given name, in many if not most cases at least some other board members do know who we are. Different people have different reasons for what they choose as a board name, and it's really pretty trifling to make a big deal out of it. While I seriously doubt it was your intention, your recent post almost comes across as a threat; as if we should all be subject to real life reprisals for what we post on a message board, and by using a board name we are cowards who aren't willing to "face the music". I really think we need to be careful to avoid even the appearance or implication of that kind of thing.

[Aaron Bruce]

Different people have different reasons for what they choose as a board name, and it's really pretty trifling to make a big deal out of it.

With all due respect, I whole heartedly disagree. If someone says that they were a member of the athletic staff and had a bias against a certain group of individuals, as a financially contributing alumnus, I have a reasonable right to know what position they were holding when they harbored these feelings.

By no means was this a threat, I just want to know “who” I am sending my money to.

[jbock13]

I love sitting here, crouching behind the dark inky shadows of the world wide web, masking my true identity behind a screen name...

[Purple Haize]

Really? I got called out again?
Aaron since you are new to the world of Message Boarding, just know that asking someone their "real" identity is similar to asking a lady what age she is.
I have already stated that I do not work in the athletic department. It is important to remember that emotion can sometimes cloud judgement.

[Aaron Bruce]

It is important to remember that emotion can sometimes cloud judgement.

Sorry, I didn’t realize it would be so offensive to ask someone to share their past experience with the Liberty athletic department while posting in a Liberty athletic message board. No big deal, I’ll let it go. I thought you had some AD experience at Liberty but I am obviously mistaken.

[jbock13]

but he just told you that he didn't work with the AD...

[Schfourteenteen]

I still believe if Wrestling got enough publicity and was located in a smaller arena it could have found a niche within the student body.

Of less than 1000 people, yes. It was never going to be a huge sport.

1500-2000 is a possibility. No, it would never be a huge sport, but we never gave it a chance to catch on, either.

[Purple Haize]

AARON It is not offensive just "poor cricket" to ask such things. The other question would be why does it matter? If you want to use your real name, knock yourself out. If someone chooses an online identity, party on. What is the big deal?
And I have said MANY times that I do not work for the athletic department. If THAT is something you just realized, then I question how thoroughly you have read ANYONE"S posts but your own or your 'cadre's'

[Aaron Bruce]

AARON It is not offensive just "poor cricket" to ask such things. The other question would be why does it matter? If you want to use your real name, knock yourself out. If someone chooses an online identity, party on. What is the big deal?
And I have said MANY times that I do not work for the athletic department. If THAT is something you just realized, then I question how thoroughly you have read ANYONE"S posts but your own or your 'cadre's'

Please see answer in other thread

[thepostman]

I still don't understand how knowing who somebody is changes anything...

Also I wish you would stop bragging about how you give money to the athletic dept. We get it already...

I was surprised to see when the athletic dept cut wrestling. I also believe there were ways to probably avoid it..but because of the bitterness and the unwillingness to be rational about this situation I am happy wrestling got canned and that is sad. You are doing the sport a disservice and you should be ashamed of yourself.

[SuperJon]

You are doing the sport a disservice and you should be ashamed of yourself.

That's pretty much the sentiment of everyone. The wrestling supporters have hurt their sport much more than supported it.

[jbock13]

Well, let's be clear here, not all wrestling supporters. Only some, mainly the ones on here.

[Aaron Bruce]

Also I wish you would stop bragging about how you give money to the athletic dept. We get it already...

Believe me, I wasn’t bragging about the amount of money I have given to the school. Trust me when I say that it wasn’t much; a few thousand spread over the last 5 years- what’s that, a couple of dollars/day? Seriously, I wish it could have been more. I guarantee nobody at Liberty is saying, “Oh no, we dropped wrestling; Aaron Bruce might quit giving.” (haha)

[Aaron Bruce]

I am happy wrestling got canned and that is sad.

Yes, that is sad. I am sorry to hear that.

[ATrain]

It is important to remember that emotion can sometimes cloud judgement.

Sorry, I didn’t realize it would be so offensive to ask someone to share their past experience with the Liberty athletic department while posting in a Liberty athletic message board. No big deal, I’ll let it go. I thought you had some AD experience at Liberty but I am obviously mistaken.

Since you're wanting to know so much about everyone who works and has worked in the athletic department:
Jonathan Trent, class of '07 and '09
Major: Communication Studies w/ concentration in print journalism (undergrad), also got an MBA
Relationship to athletics: student manager men's and women's tennis 2007, senior graduate assistant men's and women's tennis 07-09.
Controlled anything? My effort and attitude, other than that nothing really
Do I harbor anything against the wrestling team? No. Other than working in the same building with Coach Castro, I didn't have any interaction with anyone involved...except being in the same BUSI 690 Capstone class with a wrestling GA. My company kicked his company's butt in that class (thank you Matshark for helping me as well).
What I'm doing now: working for the Commonwealth of Virginia, making medical eligibility decisions for Social Security disability benefits.

Anything else you want to know, just ask...

[Aaron Bruce]

...except being in the same BUSI 690 Capstone class with a wrestling GA. My company kicked his company's butt in that class (thank you Matshark for helping me as well).

Was that Kemmerer? VMI is trying to get him over to Lexington. I hope they can, Joe is a stud. My 9th grade son is about his size and I would love for them to get together.

[ATrain]

...except being in the same BUSI 690 Capstone class with a wrestling GA. My company kicked his company's butt in that class (thank you Matshark for helping me as well).

Was that Kemmerer? VMI is trying to get him over to Lexington. I hope they can, Joe is a stud. My 9th grade son is about his size and I would love for them to get together.

This was back in Spring 2009...I think it was Smith or Porter, but honestly I don't remember. It was an online class. However good luck to the wrestlers whatever they decide, God bless them and Coach Castro.

[Aaron Bruce]

...good luck to the wrestlers whatever they decide, God bless them and Coach Castro.

+1

[Stevewalt]

Ok I would like to know why is it bad to not want "your" sport to be canceled by "your" school because of Title 9? I mean I see where people have said they are happy it was canceled because some people got over zealous with comments and all. Really? to be happy LU canceled a sport is not good for anyone in any sport if you look at the bigger picture but this is from my persepective only...Sad day to see this on here but I guess I am to old school to be happy any sport gets canceled due to title 9. Dan P and I talked in another thread about East Region and recruiting. I was not happy to be in the East region I wanted to be in the SOCON to be with area teams and maybe harder to have issues but I have to admit I never saw this coming. I played baseball in HS and I see LAX coming for our kids now too...

SJ and others I am sorry wrestlers "peed in your pot" they are sometimes a different mentality for sure. I coach them(youth and Jr high) and not all of them are all there mentally , I think it is the all or nothing mentality. You have to go hard for 3-7 minutes on a mat with another human and give it all and lay it all on the line. Sometimes it is not good enough and sometimes it is and when another man bests you it is tough to take. I think the switch in our heads get messed up alittle with that. I took up the sport after college, for training/workout and competing for fun. That is when my son got into it. I also think that it helps them succeed in other aspects of life(business career and other hobbies) from a world perspective. It says iron sharpens iron and I think wrestling definitely does that. The best way to discribe the difference to me in sports is this..."Football is a sport but wrestling is a lifestyle" I don't mean anything damning to football (I am an American and love football on Sat. and Sun.) but the people in wrestling have a different mentality to it. Kids play football but wrestling that is just another level to the emotional scale. And I believe that is where some people come from with this. Until the wrestling community(and it is starting now thanks to JB at USA wrestling) does something about it this will happen to all small schools till only the Big Ten is left...

I am in PA and my son wrestles. I have no problem if he wrestles in college or not. He has alot of opportunities here in PA to go to college and wrestle but my problem lies in the fact that I wanted a christian college opportunity for him to wrestle in Division I if he so choose if good enough, but now the only christian school cut the program. I went to LU and my brothers(and inlaws) and sister went to LU it was fun to follow while I could.

[jbock13]

Ok I would like to know why is it bad to not want "your" sport to be canceled by "your" school because of Title 9?

There's absolutely nothing wrong with that at all. Where it does become a problem is when certain people get so wound up about it and start conspiracy theories and throw out inaccurate facts that don't relate to the debate. My problem isn't with those who love wrestling. My problem was with those who would lessen the competitive nature of all our other sports to save their one sport. These people had such a blinding hatred for our AD that the arguments just became absurd.

Hopefully that helps. I understand why wrestling fans are upset. If LU cut football, I know I'd be mad too. It's just that the rhetoric got to a certain point where certain people on here became completely irrational.

[Stevewalt]

Where it does become a problem is when certain people get so wound up about it and start conspiracy theories and throw out inaccurate facts that don't relate to the debate.

I agree totally. I don't believe Mr. Barber did this to hurt a sport but to help in LU's need for title 9 balance. The problem I see is will LU ever be in balance according to title 9? Maybe no one will know for sometime until the next sport falls...I hope someone figures this out soon or will be up to admissions to start weeding out the female population at LU...start with the ugly ones! hahaha

(oh and let me say I am no title 9 expert and never want to be one, I am learning more by reading all of your posts though)

[jbock13]

And Steve, I assume you are either a wrestling fan or were involved with the program, so I understand your frustration that this had to happen because of Title 9.

We can respectfully disagree (even though obviously we're not fighting). Some people on here do not know how to respectfully disagree. They know who they are. And they are the one's who are making wrestling supporters look bad, even though you are a reasonable, rational person.

[Stevewalt]

well I guess so jbock...but hey I think if everyone saw wrestling through the eyes of parents we all might see things differently. I believe some of the emotions on this board are from that line of thinking. I have to admit I was pretty pissedd off when the annpouncement was made and I found out on intermat that LU dropped it's program...I was really upset and I don't think the good LU Christian values were coming out of me at that point! but as they say time heals all wounds and even if I disagree with the reasons for and the reason not I still feel that this is a step back for LU and not a step forward...I don't want my discussion here to come across as trying to extend a thread or situation or anything just felt I needed to address somethings from my perspective that is all.