[SuperJon]

If only it was that easy.

[El Scorcho]

Hey I never said that it didn't take some effort, but if you want it, you make the effort.

[LU'sbestmanager]

very true

[TDDance234]

My gripe with Liberty comes more with the decisions being made at the top of the chain.

I'm a huge fan of this school. I have been since I got here. But sometimes I'm not so
sure what the administrations goals and purposes are. You have plans for building ski
slopes, an IMAX theatre, etc. What boggles my mind is that there are academic buildings
that are in serious need of finishing and remodeling, the main roads on campus are like
you're off-roading and most of the dorms need to be renovated because they just aren't
livable.

In terms of spiritual life, there are both sides to the coin. What has been admitted already
is pretty acurate, IMO. Liberty is what you make it. The oppurtunities to grow in your walk
with the Lord are available but they are not forced. Prayer groups are not manditory but
encourage those who are willing to participate. Convocation is required but you can either
tune Dr. Falwell out or use his fifty-years of wisdom to soak up some serious knowledge on
the Word of God. We may be in agreement that Dr. Falwell sometimes has no idea what
he's talking about on a lot of things but when it comes to the bible, he runs laps around every-
one on this campus.

In terms of athletics, I think Coach D's track record of discipling kids is very good. I'd be
willing to be a lot of these guys that have left Liberty are due to doctrinal, both personal
and the schools, issues. They made up their minds from the beginning to disobey the rules
and speaking on behalf of RAs, they are going to be enforced. They play no different role than
the rest of the student body. If they are caught breaking the rules, they will be confronted
and will be kept accountable through discipline.

Just my philosophy on the school. I hope it helped a little. I hope your son considers Liberty
not just for athletics but for the spiritual oppurtunities.

Regards,
Zach.

[prototype]

I can offer both sides of the equation because of my experience. I went to Liberty back in the Fall of 86 (17 years old when I enrolled). I thought I could play D-I baseball and wanted to stay close to home and give it a shot. I had been going to LU/LBC athletic events forever - I considered myself to be a Flames fan. I liked everyone I met and really liked Coach Richardson. They ran us through drills and Coach R came to me after about a week of try outs and cuts and told me to go to the bullpen and throw with Coach Mincey. I had been working as an outfielder but I was a pitcher in high school and I thought this is my chance to get noticed. Only thing was after the high school season, playing ball all summer, pitching in the Dixie Majors playoffs when I shouldn't have - my arm was shot. When we went to the pen I had nothing on the ball. No movement - everything was flat. I did manage to break off a nice curve or two - my change up was my fastball. I could throw in the high 70's low 80's but I wasn't close to having anything on the ball that was D-I. I told Coach M my arm was bugging me. After practice they told me to rest for the Fall and try again. I was still pretty disappointed because at that time in my life I wanted to play ball and that's about it. Liberty had a darn good program back then too for baseball.

I liked the people I met at LU - the girls were smoking hot back in the day. Everyone was so nice. I got busted once or twice for throwing in a dip - but that was the extent of my behavioral issues there. But I really wanted to play ball and rather than chance getting cut in the spring I applied to a smaller college - got accepted - finished my year at LU and then left for greener pastures. What I didn't know was that in just that short amount of time at Liberty - those lessons would be with me for the rest of my life. I was raised a Christian but developed more in one year of "Bible Boot Camp" than in my previous years combined. So off I went, made the baseball team at the other school and started partying. A little too much partying. I had made the grades at LU because they helped keep me straight with the rules. I had been going to chapel and getting a nice dose of tips for good daily living. Now I playing ball with 22 guys who liked to knock down the booze 4 or 5 nights a week. I almost flunked out. One night a bunch of us got locked up for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. We had a good baseball team - we had some hard drinkers too. I struggled academically because I liked bar hopping, running smack on the chicks - all the "college" activities (no drugs though - never my thing). Had I been in a better environment I probably wouldn't have struggled as much. I needed someone to stay on me because I was pretty immature.

I finished school and went on to coach for a few years before moving into the "real world". I matured a bit. Started a family, and so on and so forth. The lessons I learned through my spritual development at LU haunted me in that I knew I was underachieving where it counted most. A few years ago I enrolled at Penn State for my MBA. About that time LU was playing SJU in the NCAA basketball tourney. Living up here in PA I found myself getting into it wih the locals about LU. You would not believe some of the ignorance when it comes to Liberty. Even at work - guys would get on me about being a "Falwell guy". As odd as this seems I felt called to finish what I started - I left PSU and enrolled at LU for my MBA. I wanted a degree from Liberty. I wanted Liberty on my consulting bio that is sent to prospective clients. I wanted to be in a program where I could share business principles with other like minded people. I have no regrets on that decision.

I do think I would have gained more academically and spiritually had I stayed at Liberty. I always felt like I missed out not staying at LU the first time. LU is a special place and the lessons I learned while there led me to listen to the voice leading me. I got involved in a growing local church. Started taking the lead on my kids with spiritual development. Granted these aren't Liberty's ideas - they are God's - but I had them pounded into my head while at LU. It stuck with me. My wife has been to Liberty a few times and we would love to see all three of our kids go there. LU stands for something in a day that it is hip to stand for something wrong. When those girls made the Sweet 16 run a few years ago it was sweet in more ways than one. I'm a sports nut and we're a sports culture. I hope to see one day where our sports are on the national scene. Let everyone see for themselves what LU is all about. I know where I am sending my money and what kind of program I chose to support.

I pray your son will make a good decision. I just felt like I should offer my two cents. If nothing else, hang on the board with us. We need all the positive karma we can get.

Go Flames.

fh3[fh93[u h9uvhr9uq[vh 30h48888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
8888888888888888888888888888888
firjf0irf

Oh Sorry I fell a sleep reading this post.

Just Kidding - Just couldn't resist:)