[flamesfilmguy]

I'm going to say that it's fine that people will have doubts and express them on the forum. The best part is people who are doing them are not making the major decisions!

I'm glad we have your permission to have differing opinions! On the ironic side of this we "haters" are worried that people with an over inflated view of our current success ARE making the major decisions and THAT is why we might be a little hesitant to jump on the hype train. I respect your opinion but still disagree with it. SEE ISN'T CIVIL DISCOURSE FUN!

[flamesfilmguy]

Whatever @flamesfilmguy, you hater

I'm on the hype train for MBB though. heck i'll conduct the thing. so I'm not ALL hater

[thepostman]

Nah man. You can't be a true liberty fan and ever be critical!

I'm obviously kidding. It's so odd how thin skinned some people are when it comes to a little criticism.

[ballcoach15]

Don't be a fair weather fan or bandwagon fan. Support the team regardless of record.

[flamesfilmguy]

Nah man. You can't be a true liberty fan and ever be critical!

I'm obviously kidding. It's so odd how thin skinned some people are when it comes to a little criticism.

Its a reflection of University leadership *ducks*
its been that way for awhile. The one thing I loved about Doc was he was thick skinned AND he could laugh at himself a little. Oh and he could admit when he was wrong. I miss that man more and more each day.
as for the topic of this thread discussion, While I was a critic of Freeze's hiring from a strictly PR standpoint (as with ADIM) but they both have done great and I'm glad they are here. I hope they stay but I also know offers will come that are too good to pass up. Its the curse of the industry.

[flamesfilmguy]

Don't be a fair weather fan or bandwagon fan. Support the team regardless of record.

You can be critical and still be a fan. The two are not mutually exclusive.

[thepostman]

Don't be a fair weather fan or bandwagon fan. Support the team regardless of record.

Most who post on this board certianly don't fit that mold. Being critical doesn't mean I support liberty any less. But that is a bit much for some to process.

[flamesfilmguy]

If you are on this site regularly discussing our teams I'd never question your Fandom. We all have differing opinions on how things should be done and how things should look and how well our teams are doing and we come here to discuss that. THAT... and I cant stress this enough...IS WHAT THIS SITE IS FOR! But there is one thing we all have in common. We are all Fans of Liberty University.

[Purple Haize]

Nah man. You can't be a true liberty fan and ever be critical!

I'm obviously kidding. It's so odd how thin skinned some people are when it comes to a little criticism.

Its a reflection of University leadership *ducks*
its been that way for awhile. The one thing I loved about Doc was he was thick skinned AND he could laugh at himself a little. Oh and he could admit when he was wrong. I miss that man more and more each day.
as for the topic of this thread discussion, While I was a critic of Freeze's hiring from a strictly PR standpoint (as with ADIM) but they both have done great and I'm glad they are here. I hope they stay but I also know offers will come that are too good to pass up. Its the curse of the industry.

You both make Your Potentate proud. I’m not crying you’re crying.

[Kricket]

Nah man. You can't be a true liberty fan and ever be critical!

I'm obviously kidding. It's so odd how thin skinned some people are when it comes to a little criticism.

It's odd how thin skinned some people are when people are critical of their criticism.

[R i]

In this case you are much less of a hater and more a realist, just wanting you to hold that label of hater for all the years passed.

5-7 and be a much better team is realistic, and our schedule was cake this year. Two words for all the haters.....


MALIK WILLIS.

[R i]

Also, I think we are the fastest growing program in America.

Facilities, Fan Engagement, On Field Results, Coach's Salary, Ticket Sales, Recruiting Classes.

If you factor in everything, name some other schools that are growing at the rate LU Football is. There may be some out there that I am not aware of, but our growth is incredible Right now.

[R i]

I dont think you guys are being critical, the guarded optimism and unique ways to say "yeah we did good but..... im not that excited" , is not how I like to be a fan. Its just different. I do cartwheels and get super hype when we beat Buffalo, you on the other hand, want to see some sustained success before you give public credence to the program. All good man. See you in FLA ?

[flamesfilmguy]

In this case you are much less of a hater and more a realist, just wanting you to hold that label of hater for all the years passed.

5-7 and be a much better team is realistic, and our schedule was cake this year. Two words for all the haters.....


MALIK WILLIS.

You haven't been paying attention to anything the past few years if you think I actually Hate Liberty. The label, the dark side, and pretty much my cynicism towards Liberty leadership was brought on by people who blindly follow anything and everything the University does. PH, me and others were labeled as people who just Hate the university and don't want to see it succeed. Which could not be further from the truth.

[flamesfilmguy]

Also, I think we are the fastest growing program in America.

Facilities, Fan Engagement, On Field Results, Coach's Salary, Ticket Sales, Recruiting Classes.

If you factor in everything, name some other schools that are growing at the rate LU Football is. There may be some out there that I am not aware of, but our growth is incredible Right now.

Well I'd say App State is well beyond our growth in pretty much all of those areas. The biggest I think would be SMU just soley based on their history to where they are back to now. I'd also throw in Baylor, Utah and Minnesota. Those three obviously started at a different juncture but I think the title of "fastest growing program in america" is a bit vague. But I think APP is the best comp for us and they have been FBS only 5 years ahead of us. The difference in them and us is their establish success at the FCS level before making the jump which has been my concern. As well as getting into a conference. We are definitely light years ahead of a Coastal Carolina. but If you look even at our opponent for this bowl game(of whom I am not a fan at all #StateNotSouthern) I think objectively they are ahead of us as well.

[flamesfilmguy]

I dont think you guys are being critical, the guarded optimism and unique ways to say "yeah we did good but..... im not that excited" , is not how I like to be a fan. Its just different. I do cartwheels and get super hype when we beat Buffalo, you on the other hand, want to see some sustained success before you give public credence to the program. All good man. See you in FLA ?

See why couldn't we have a discussion like this before? I feel like I've been pretty balanced in criticism and praise for the past few years of the football program. The university leadership and their decision making not so much, but that has nothing to with my fandom or my desire to see my Alma Mater succeed. All good man. Unfortunately with a baby on the way I won't be making it to Orlando. We tried to swing it but this close to the due date i'm not going to risk it.

[R i]

Blind Optimism creates a space for the dark side.

[R i]

Quick note on HCHF in his thread.

Dude can flat out recruit. This signing class is way beyond what I thought was possible this soon in our FBS years.

[FlamesHighontheTide]

Rashad Whitehead, Tim Coutras, Ahmad Jackson & Brian Hannibal all had P5 offers from schools like Ole Miss, Auburn, Missouri, Kansas, Boston College, Syracuse, Indiana, Purdue. These 4 chose US over all those other schools!

[R i]

Also, I think we are the fastest growing program in America.

Facilities, Fan Engagement, On Field Results, Coach's Salary, Ticket Sales, Recruiting Classes.

If you factor in everything, name some other schools that are growing at the rate LU Football is. There may be some out there that I am not aware of, but our growth is incredible Right now.

Well I'd say App State is well beyond our growth in pretty much all of those areas. The biggest I think would be SMU just soley based on their history to where they are back to now. I'd also throw in Baylor, Utah and Minnesota. Those three obviously started at a different juncture but I think the title of "fastest growing program in america" is a bit vague.

App state has grown, and is really far ahead of us, but the current growth we are experiencing in each of those areas is beyond most of those schools you mentioned. This isn't a measuring stick of where we currently are, but how far and how fast we have grown.

Facilities is no match. - None of the schools mentioned are doing the things we are with football facilities currently.

Coach's Salary - Gill was making 900K and a year and a half later we are paying Freeze reportedly over 2 million plus incentives. 100% increase in a year and a half.

Recruiting Class - We jumped from 125 in the country to possibly top 85 in 1 year. Who else is jumping 40 spots in national rankings of recruiting classes ?

On field performance - Never been to a bowl game until Saturday. That is tremendous growth.

Ticket sales and Fan engagement - I dont have any solid support for this other than Ian says FlamesClub and Season Ticket sales continue to grow at a record pace.

Under Ian and HCHF, we are the fastest growing program in America. Not hyperbole but in reality.

[ballcoach15]

Good post Ri. I think we are ahead of Appy State, overall. Appy is a one sport school.

[Liberty22]

Ranking 1st year head coaches. See where they put HF. https://www.cbssports.com/college-foot ... iaz-fails/

[flamesfilmguy]

I'm going to come back here and take back my statement about freeze leaving. After seeing Melanie Newman's tweets tonight about Freezes Daughter holding him to not moving again while she's still in school makes me think he might actually stay.

[sstaedtler]

Melanie Newman "Freeze is so proud of his family. He has two daughters at Liberty, one pursuing coaching & the other ministry. But the youngest, Madison, is responsible for his multi-year extension. Coach made a deal he wouldn’t move her again while still in grade school & she held him to it."

I think his daughter Madison graduates grade school in 2021. Which means we would at least have Freeze 2 more years.

[flamesfilmguy]

That was my thought. I'm guessing he's at least here through that season.