[BJWilliams]

The master plan was drawn up Id guess prior to Coach Wetmore retiring and Coach Richardson being hired so it is accurate as of when it was done but much like computers, a master plan can become outdated due to any number of variables. What you do is update it and roll with the punches as they come.

[Purple Haize]

If that's the case it would be pretty insulting to Coach Wetmore if you think about it.

[BJWilliams]

My guess is that when they originally drew it up it wasn't a known fact that he would retire before the plan was released (something I should have put in my wording above). Could it be construed as insulting...in some circles Im sure (you certainly feel that way as we can see).
We can speculate as to how much Coach Wetmore pushed for the old baseball stadium being converted for softball use and how much that played into his decision to stay for another season or not. The only for sure use we have on record for the site prior to Coach Richardson's hire is the parking garage as per the master plan (which of course now is outdated). Up until that point, all we knew is that it was prime real estate and there had been rumor and conjecture about putting softball there (based largely on assumption on the board here) along with any other number of ideas.

[Purple Haize]

Yeah. I'm sure Coach Wetmore was thrilled to be where he was and not at all put out by originally being told they were going to be moving to Ole Worthy, then told they weren't. So apparently, by your post, the administration wouldn't lift a finger for Coach Wetmore but will re-arrange the Master Plan for the new coach.
At the end of the day it's a good thing either way and just Liberty being Liberty

[BJWilliams]

I am not saying that Coach Wetmore was thrilled with where he was PH.

Allow me to attempt to clarify my point: My guess is that when the university drew up the master plan with the new softball complex in its given location (over by the tennis courts), it was done with Coach Wetmore in mind with the idea that after it became known that (at the time) softball would not be moving into the baseball stadium, they would still need a new facility that would be an improvement over their current arrangement over by dorms 31 and 32. When Coach Wetmore retired, my guess is that with the new coach (if it was anyone other than Coach Richardson), the original plan would be to continue with the new softball complex in its place on the master plan. Im not sure if JLFJR could better explain my point but its worth a shot Im sure.

[Purple Haize]

I am not saying that Coach Wetmore was thrilled with where he was PH.

Allow me to attempt to clarify my point: My guess is that when the university drew up the master plan with the new softball complex in its given location (over by the tennis courts), it was done with Coach Wetmore in mind with the idea that after it became known that (at the time) softball would not be moving into the baseball stadium, they would still need a new facility that would be an improvement over their current arrangement over by dorms 31 and 32. When Coach Wetmore retired, my guess is that with the new coach (if it was anyone other than Coach Richardson), the original plan would be to continue with the new softball complex in its place on the master plan. Im not sure if JLFJR could better explain my point but its worth a shot Im sure.

Why bother him? The fact is that the team is getting a 'new' place to play. Or at least getting the place to play they were originally promised to play. You are just digging yourself a deeper hole by trying to explain. Just admit your original point was insensitive and move on.

[BJWilliams]

I'll admit it was worded poorly but was not intended as insensitive toward Coach Wetmore. Was it? I'll agree to that, but as I said, it was not intended that way...He was one of my first interviews when I got my first opportunity to broadcast LU sports and I have great respect for the man. I often hoped Id get another opportunity to call LU softball at some point

[JLFJR]

Just got back in town, checked my e mail and saw that I had a PM from BJWilliams asking me to comment on the softball stadium location. I was surprised to see there was controversy about whether the stadium would be located a couple hundred yards north of the baseball stadium or a couple hundred yards west. I'll try to provide the missing facts like I have done here before. The first plan was to convert the old baseball stadium to a softball stadium but we quickly realized that, with the new Wards Road tunnel, the old baseball stadium site was about the only place on campus where a parking garage could actually work because it had two unique features -- (1) it was located in close proximity to DeMoss Hall and the academic center of campus and (2) it had easy access to the new tunnel and new road that will run from the tunnel past the Welcome Center and the bookstore out to the US 460 ramps. The reason a parking garage was never considered in the past was because the campus road system would not support an additional 1400 cars per day. With the new tunnel and road, we believe it will now work as long as we keep the garage close to the new access road and within walking distance of DeMoss. Once I recognized that the unique features of the old baseball field site made it so valuable to the academic core of campus, I announced that it could not be converted to a softball field as originally planned. It will be less economical but much nicer for the softball program to build a new stadium from scratch than to rehab an old one so I saw this as a positive move. I suggested the area where a softball field now exists in front of Green Hall for the master plan. The architects and engineers began studying the old baseball field site for the parking garage and the Green Hall site for the softball field. Preliminary studies indicated that the Green Hall site would be a difficult and expensive choice because of roads and utilities that would have to be moved. Those studies also revealed that it might be possible to fit the parking garage and the softball field in near the Worthington Stadium site. When I interviewed Dot Richardson, I told her that the new softball stadium would be located at either the Green Hall site or near Worthington Stadium.

Over the following weeks, the architects and engineers continued to study the two sites. It soon became clear what the best option would be. I made the decision in a meeting last week and instructed the engineers to revise the master plan. The revised plan will be posted soon. Master plans for dynamic, growing organizations are constantly being revised and improved. If we are going to continue to publicize our plans as they evolve, maybe we need to include a disclaimer, "subject to change depending on the Chancellor's mood on any given morning"

[Sly Fox]

If we are going to continue to publicize our plans as they evolve, maybe we need to include a disclaimer, "subject to change depending on the Chancellor's mood on any given morning"

[Purple Haize]

If we are going to continue to publicize our plans as they evolve, maybe we need to include a disclaimer, "subject to change depending on the Chancellor's mood on any given morning"

I was unaware there was a controversy! But your addendum would make sense

When I heard the 'official' plans of Ole Worthy (copyrighting that name because it is pretty much awesome) I didn't think it excluded a parking garage. I think it is a great thing if we can combine the two on that one parcel of land. Maybe have the Right field wall actually be the parking garage! Sort of our version of The Green Monster!

[PAmedic]

I believe JMU's stadium addition incorporated a parking garage and cross-over bridge into the upper deck area.

so it's not that far-fetched. despite coming from a drug dealer.

[4everfsu]

Jerry Jr, thanks for the explanation but I have faith in your decisions for the best outcome for LU. I am thankful that you are chancellor instead of others on this forum.

[Purple Haize]

I believe JMU's stadium addition incorporated a parking garage and cross-over bridge into the upper deck area.

so it's not that far-fetched. despite coming from a drug dealer.

See?! I'm smarter than you look! I think it would be super cool.

4Ever- were other people that are on this board up for the position?

[4everfsu]

I believe JMU's stadium addition incorporated a parking garage and cross-over bridge into the upper deck area.

so it's not that far-fetched. despite coming from a drug dealer.

See?! I'm smarter then you look! I think it would be super cool.

4Ever- were other people that are on this board up for the position?

Nope just other thinks they know more behind the scenes, etc.

[Purple Haize]

Ok good. I thought I missed the selection show!

[BJWilliams]

I'm sure that last statement wasn't intended to be serious, but to be fair I think everyone pretty much knew there was only one person to fill Jerry Sr.'s shoes and it wasn't you PH...course it wasn't me or Sly or PA really anybody on this board except JLFJR

[Purple Haize]

I'm sure that last statement wasn't intended to be serious, but to be fair I think everyone pretty much knew there was only one person to fill Jerry Sr.'s shoes and it wasn't you PH...course it wasn't me or Sly or PA really anybody on this board except JLFJR

Someone has on their grouchy pants this morning. As long as this board has you to run tell JLFJR anytime you find something amiss we will be well informed I'm sure.

[BJWilliams]

I wasn't trying to be grouchy (I think a winking smiley would have fit well in my post above) just trying to be honest

[Purple Haize]

I wasn't trying to be grouchy (I think a winking smiley would have fit well in my post above) just trying to be honest

Thank you Capt Obvious. Pretty sure everyone knew who was going to take over for Doc.

[BJWilliams]

That's basically what I said isn't it?

[panther1]

On a more positive note, I talked with a recruiter from a top D1 school this weekend. She is a softball legend from a conference we would like to be in. She said the head coach choice has elevated Liberty athletics in general to a much more desirable status.

[Purple Haize]

On a more positive note, I talked with a recruiter from a top D1 school this weekend. She is a softball legend from a conference we would like to be in. She said the head coach choice has elevated Liberty athletics in general to a much more desirable status.

The new stadium isn't positive? I'm liking 'The Wall @ Ole Worthy" more and more.

And of course this hire elevates are stock. IMO, its bigger, comparably, then HCTG in football and I thought that was huge! I'm happy happy happy. Unless somehow someone takes it the wrong way and goes and tells dad/JLFJR

[BJWilliams]

I still put this hire as the biggest from the non "big 3" sports with coach Gill as the biggest overall

[Cider Jim]

Imagine the B&O Warehouse at Camden Yards as a parking garage, and you've got my dream college softball stadium!

[alabama24]

I personally like that the baseball and softball fields are in close proximity to one another.

Why does it matter?

There are several other places they can put up a parking garage.

Care to elaborate? Personally, I think the Master Plan has it right. I also think that the "new softball stadium at Worthy" might be a temporary answer... It makes sense. Why let the old baseball facilities sit idle for 3-5 years?