[alabama24]

It wasn't ever and won't ever be the "place I got my degree from". It's my freaking alma mater. That's a sacred and special thing. At least it's supposed to be.

I agree, but what does that have to do with who you root for?

The students apparently don't really care, they just like to show up.

That's more than a little harsh. I think the student support is at an all time high.

Most of the Baptist side doesn't really care, they are just there to be seen as well.

When I go, I scream my lungs out. But I'm not Baptist.

[SuperJon]

You guys have to realize this isn't just a Liberty problem. I led a small group of high school guys who graduated last year. There were 13 of them. Of those 13, eight of them are in school at Division I schools. Three of the eight are at UT. Of the other five, only one of them would say that the school they're at is their #1 school. The only reason the fifth would choose his current school as #1 is because he's at the Air Force Academy. One of them actually came home from their school to go to a UT game vs their college and pulled for UT to win.

With no winning tradition, it's hard to combat years of upbringing and tradition. We are also still an incredibly young school. These things will change over time.

As shocking as some of this thread sounds, I think it should be an eye opener to people about where we truly are as a school. When you get past the hype and the show, this is what we are.

And that's okay.

For now.

Continue to press forward. Continue to build a program with a winning tradition and great atmospheres that parents can bring their kids to and where kids fall in love with Liberty. Keep pursuing our goal of being an FBS program. Just because we aren't there yet doesn't mean we're not moving in the right direction.

We're just not there yet.

[SuperJon]

The students apparently don't really care, they just like to show up.

That's more than a little harsh. I think the student support is at an all time high.

You're a little mistaken. Student attendance is at an all-time high for football. Student support is not.

[alabama24]

You would want Alabama to beat Liberty in football?

1. As a BAMA fan, I wouldn't want BAMA to play Liberty.
2. As a Liberty fan, I would love to see us play BAMA.
3. It aint going to happen for a LONG time, if ever.
4. Yep.

[alabama24]

You're a little mistaken. Student attendance is at an all-time high for football. Student support is not.

Attendance is one sign of support. When was "support" stronger? What metrics are you using to come to your conclusion? How many LU games have you been to in x years? (I know you are in Knoxville. Have you been back?)

[RubberMallet]

I grew up not having much interest in college sports at all.

the key statement in your entire post and the reason why quite frankly you shouldn't be dissappointed in any post in this thread.

[RubberMallet]

I do have a daughter, fyi. I am sure I will want her to stay away from the party schools but ultimately by the time she reaches the age of 18 she is going to make choices. Some bad, some good but in the end she needs to be the one figuring things out. Before she is 18, thats another story, haha

my children can go to whatever college they'd like. however, my money, my rules.

[SuperJon]

You're a little mistaken. Student attendance is at an all-time high for football. Student support is not.

Attendance is one sign of support. When was "support" stronger? What metrics are you using to come to your conclusion? How many LU games have you been to in x years? (I know you are in Knoxville. Have you been back?)

I don't have to be at games to see these things. It's obvious. We had thousands of students leave against coastal because of a few drops of rain. In 09, we had 7000 stay in a monsoon. In 06, we had 5000 there in a tropical storm.

The majority of students at Liberty are showing up at games to be seen. It's a social event. They come for the event, not the game. The athletic department, while not publicly, is acknowledging this.

[thepostman]

honestly jon I think it is about the same. Way more students are going to the games but there are still 5 to 6,000 students staying the whole game. There hasn't been much growth in that area in a couple of years

[SuperJon]

But with the growth of the student body, if the same amount are supporting the team, the percentage is going down.

[Purple Haize]

The key isn't that I didn't have a college team that I cared much about growing up. The key is that I chose to come to Liberty.

What I've gathered from this discussion is this: a lot of y'all are still writing love letters to the girl that rejected you in high school.

You mean the one who became a FWB after HS

[adam42381]

I would pull for UNC over Liberty every time. UNC is my favorite team. Any time they lose to Liberty in almost any sport it hurts their potential seeding for the postseason that year. I pull for Liberty from afar and hope they do well, but 99% of the time you'll find me wearing a Heels cap of I'm not wearing a Red Sox cap.

[adam42381]

The key isn't that I didn't have a college team that I cared much about growing up. The key is that I chose to come to Liberty.

What I've gathered from this discussion is this: a lot of y'all are still writing love letters to the girl that rejected you in high school.

A lot of us have been loyal to the teams we've rooted for since we were very young. My favorite teams have been the Red Sox, Tar Heels, Celtics and Redskins since I was 5 or younger. I didn't change any of those pro teams when I realized I wasn't good enough to play pro sports. I also didn't change college teams when I realized that I couldn't get into Carolina. When I started at Liberty in 1999, I would bet that at least 50% of the students in my dorm went to Liberty because they couldn't get into their favorite school and Liberty was easy to get in to at the time. I barely remember anyone whose favorite team was Liberty. People still went to games, but around campus they definitely wore hats and shirts of other schools.

[BJWilliams]

I really didn't have a favorite college team until I got to college...I mean I rooted for UVA because my sister went there but I didn't really hitch my wagon to anyone other than Liberty until I became a fan of the Red Raiders in I think 06 (enter Sly with some skeevy dig at the boys from Lubbock). now my pro loyalties have run a lot deeper. I've been a Braves fan since 1991, Bulls fan since 1989 and Rams fan since 1999, but because of Liberty being my #1 college, if I see anyone that wore the LU uniform on the field I root for them, regardless of what team they play for

[LUnpretty11]

I would pull for UNC over Liberty every time. UNC is my favorite team. Any time they lose to Liberty in almost any sport it hurts their potential seeding for the postseason that year. I pull for Liberty from afar and hope they do well, but 99% of the time you'll find me wearing a Heels cap of I'm not wearing a Red Sox cap.

By no means was I trying to attack how you feel toward Liberty, because I believe you like Liberty. But Liberty will never get to where WE all want it to be until the LU hat replaces the other schools. I'm not faulting anyone for having a favorite team since they were little. But Liberty is not the same school it was back in '99 and it has a much better following. My point is we need more LU FANS who like other schools from when they were kids, and less fans of other schools who like Liberty.

And the argument that "Bama/UNC/UGA etc. isn't a rival of Liberty" is a poor one. Any school who receives a check for any reason before Liberty is a rival to Liberty. Things are different from when they were in the mid to late 90s. More kids are going to Liberty because they like Liberty and there is absolutely enough reason to be a Liberty FAN before any other school in the country.

[BJWilliams]

So, you expect me to throw away every UF game I've ever been to? You expect me to not cheer for friends? You expect me to throw away all of the traditions and tailgates I've enjoyed with my family? And you expect me throw all of this away for a FCS school that can't even win a mediocre conference? All because I paid my own money to go to Liberty?

You do realize that Liberty isn't paying me, right? How on earth has Liberty earned any right to expect me, or any other student/alumni to solely cheer for Liberty?

1. No you aren't expected to throw away every UF game you have ever been to. Ive been to UVa games, because Liberty is my #1, does that mean I have to throw those away too? Of course not. I was in attendance the night that UVa beat Florida State and ended their long winning streak in ACC games...one of the best experiences I ever had, and I got to share it with my father, which leads to my next point. No you are not supposed to throw away all the memories you had with your family. I have very fond memories of that game and others where I got to spend time with my parents and my sister in Scott Stadium. That said, when I landed at Liberty, Liberty became my #1 school. If I had gone to ODU as was my original plan, and graduated from there, then they would have become my #1 school. if my family had spent many a Saturday afternoon at William and Mary games in Williamsburg, and had the type of tradition that you and your family had, then certainly Id root for them. All that said, you have taken the point about being a fan first of the school you have the most direct connection to (i.e. your alma mater) ahead of schools you may not be directly connected to, and brought it to a logical extreme.

2. you really think that the University has to EARN your fanhood? Isn't that a bit of shifting the burden of proof?

[Purple Haize]

So, you expect me to throw away every UF game I've ever been to? You expect me to not cheer for friends? You expect me to throw away all of the traditions and tailgates I've enjoyed with my family? And you expect me throw all of this away for a FCS school that can't even win a mediocre conference? All because I paid my own money to go to Liberty?

You do realize that Liberty isn't paying me, right? How on earth has Liberty earned any right to expect me, or any other student/alumni to solely cheer for Liberty?

1. No you aren't expected to throw away every UF game you have ever been to. Ive been to UVa games, because Liberty is my #1, does that mean I have to throw those away too? Of course not. I was in attendance the night that UVa beat Florida State and ended their long winning streak in ACC games...one of the best experiences I ever had, and I got to share it with my father, which leads to my next point. No you are not supposed to throw away all the memories you had with your family. I have very fond memories of that game and others where I got to spend time with my parents and my sister in Scott Stadium. That said, when I landed at Liberty, Liberty became my #1 school. If I had gone to ODU as was my original plan, and graduated from there, then they would have become my #1 school. if my family had spent many a Saturday afternoon at William and Mary games in Williamsburg, and had the type of tradition that you and your family had, then certainly Id root for them. All that said, you have taken the point about being a fan first of the school you have the most direct connection to (i.e. your alma mater) ahead of schools you may not be directly connected to, and brought it to a logical extreme.

Is there a 2

[BJWilliams]

I am working with a very fussy 5 month old who apparently likes to roll over which makes putting him down to do just about anything else a rather dangerous proposition...

[Sly Fox]

Rule #2 ... refer to Rule #1.

Seriously, I have to come clean. When I was a student back in the Late '80s, I admit that I cared considerably more about the Buckeyes than the Flames. Granted I would have heartily cheered on my Flames against the Bucks if they had ever played. But alas ... I freely admit that a satin OSU Starter jacket was my constant companion between October & March. Now I would also consider myself to have been among the most boisterous fans of the Flames back in the day. But we were a DII transitioning to DI and the athletic atmosphere on campus was nowhere near it is today with the obvious exception of basketball.

As my time in Lynchburg progressed and as I moved on into my professional career in Texas, two things occurred. I grew disenchanted with the Buckeye experience and I grew a greater appreciation for my own alma mater. Today I don't give a rip about the Buckeyes and feel a bit ashamed to admit my prior allegiance based on the scandals of the past two decades. Now I still hate Michigan & Notre Dame, so some things stick. I have been open that the Longhorns are my #2 team. The reason for that position is two-fold: I married a Longhorn and I spent 6 1/2 years covering the team on a daily basis attending probably well over a thousand UT games in all sports. Very similar to how I suspect Chris feels about LU, when you invest as much of yourself in a school it is tough not to develop an affinity. But like Chris with his Hokies, nothing ever tops your alma mater.

My observation is that those who come from very specific areas where pro football is a relatively new phenomenon in their area (Florida & Tennessee) or where the NFL doesn't exist (I'm looking at your Alabama) there tend to be deeper running roots in college football. That's perfectly cool. No one is telling anyone to recant their fandom for a school they grew up cheering. But what irks some of us is that many of you are treating the college game like the pros. To put a school with whom you like because of where you grew up or because you liked their gear as a kid ahead of the place where you have invested your time & money seems shallow and misguided. This is YOUR school. If you went to grad school somewhere else in addition to LU, no one would ever harass you about your split allegiances. But some on here have been open that Liberty is nothing more than a fallback for the school they wish they could have attended. Just take a step back from that notion and let it soak in. Really?

[Purple Haize]

I am working with a very fussy 5 month old who apparently likes to roll over which makes putting him down to do just about anything else a rather dangerous proposition...

Or you are actually MORE concerned with #2

[Purple Haize]

Rule #2 ... refer to Rule #1.

Seriously, I have to come clean. When I was a student back in the Late '80s, I admit that I cared considerably more about the Buckeyes than the Flames. Granted I would have heartily cheered on my Flames against the Bucks if they had ever played. But alas ... I freely admit that a satin OSU Starter jacket was my constant companion between October & March. Now I would also consider myself to have been among the most boisterous fans of the Flames back in the day. But we were a DII transitioning to DI and the athletic atmosphere on campus was nowhere near it is today with the obvious exception of basketball.

As my time in Lynchburg progressed and as I moved on into my professional career in Texas, two things occurred. I grew disenchanted with the Buckeye experience and I grew a greater appreciation for my own alma mater. Today I don't give a rip about the Buckeyes and feel a bit ashamed to admit my prior allegiance based on the scandals of the past two decades. Now I still hate Michigan & Notre Dame, so some things stick. I have been open that the Longhorns are my #2 team. The reason for that position is two-fold: I married a Longhorn and I spent 6 1/2 years covering the team on a daily basis attending probably well over a thousand UT games in all sports. Very similar to how I suspect Chris feels about LU, when you invest as much of yourself in a school it is tough not to develop an affinity. But like Chris with his Hokies, nothing ever tops your alma mater.

My observation is that those who come from very specific areas where pro football is a relatively new phenomenon in their area (Florida & Tennessee) or where the NFL doesn't exist (I'm looking at your Alabama) there tend to be deeper running roots in college football. That's perfectly cool. No one is telling anyone to recant their fandom for a school they grew up cheering. But what irks some of us is that many of you are treating the college game like the pros. To put a school with whom you like because of where you grew up or because you liked their gear as a kid ahead of the place where you have invested your time & money seems shallow and misguided. This is YOUR school. If you went to grad school somewhere else in addition to LU, no one would ever harass you about your split allegiances. But some on here have been open that Liberty is nothing more than a fallback for the school they wish they could have attended. Just take a step back from that notion and let it soak in. Really?

I think it needs to be framed a little different. If it's your Primary Alma Mater it really should get first billing with the only caveat being where you grew up. If my College Alma Mater laced em up on the hardwood against the Flames i'd be the 1 fan in the Vines Center cheering for them. But I played there so that adds to it. When my Masters Alma Mater plays the Flames I'm a little more torn but usually root for the Flames because everyone likes the Under dog!
Now, growing up in Indiana I'd root for the Hoosiers unless they played my Alma Mater's or LU. Mixed loyalties? Not IMO. Avid sports fan? You know it.


......and Kentucky will always suck!

[lynchburgwildcats]

Going to a school does not mean that school should automatically be rooting interest #1. That's like saying a Michigan fan should automatically root for Ohio State over Michigan because he married an Oho State fan.

[lynchburgwildcats]

I got my masters from UK. I follow the Cats and attend most home football games. Playing in the SEC gives you the opportunity to see the best of the best. With that said, my loyalty is to Liberty. Liberty plays for more than wins and losses. There's a mission behind each game that's played. I love the way Cal recruits and some are great kids, but most are playing to get to the pros. At Liberty its bigger than just a game played.

Well howdy there fellow Kentucky fan! I'm sorry you attend most home football games lol.

[lynchburgwildcats]

You're a little mistaken. Student attendance is at an all-time high for football. Student support is not.

Attendance is one sign of support. When was "support" stronger? What metrics are you using to come to your conclusion? How many LU games have you been to in x years? (I know you are in Knoxville. Have you been back?)

You can attend and sit on your hands all game long and not do a bit of cheering. That's nothing more than token support at best.

[lynchburgwildcats]

The key isn't that I didn't have a college team that I cared much about growing up. The key is that I chose to come to Liberty.

What I've gathered from this discussion is this: a lot of y'all are still writing love letters to the girl that rejected you in high school.

You aren't rejected if you turn them down!