[Sly Fox]

Come on, guys. I spend a day with my family and coaching my 5-year-old's soccer game tonight and I come home to this mess ripping someone in the marketing department.

Let me be perfectly clear ... it is never OK to make personal attacks on this board. Period. End of story.

And before you raise the Coach Dunton bashing issue, let me state I can't stand that either. Anytime someone attacks Coach's character or integrity I step in shut that down immediately. It is permissible to discuss what is working and what is not working. If you want to bring ideas to the table in how things could be better it is always welcome.

I respect everyone's passion for the school and wanting things to get better. I don't want any of you to lose any of your zest for LU athletics or FlameFans. But you cannot call out individuals by name on here. Its bad form and simply unacceptable. When you are a head coach of a sport it sort of goes along with the job description. But someone working in marketing or other department shouldn't be called out by name on a board aimed to supporting a school.

As for the rest of you who wisely kept this in check (albeit in far too many posts) I appreciate your maturity in the matter. Life is difficult enough in the Sly household with diapers being changed every couple of hours around the clock ... the last thing I want is to come on here and see the place at arms. Let's do our best to keep this place fun and engaging.

[prototype]

AMEN!!

[Fumblerooskies]

Attaboy, Sly. Thank you very much.

[tshirtman]

I totally agree with you I think this whole bashing of anyone in LU sports or the university in a whole is wrong. This site is a good way to have fun and speak your opinion. I would like to see this site stop the bashing all together. Yesterday I posted a question an I see it was takin off. I dont see why but others have brought him up in a negative way my way was positive. This person I was talking about is a very good friend of mine an I will not stand by when people bash him. Myself if I have a problem with someone I will confront face to face, not blog to hope they read it. If you are going to say it than say it to their face. YOU GUYS ARE TWO FACED.

[SuperJon]

I'm not trying to start anything, but the reason some on here are critical is because it's hard to have face-to-face conversations from 2-3 states away.

It's funny how some people feel a coach should not be criticized no matter what.

[tshirtman]

I am not talking about coach. And you have a phone.

[SuperJon]

I wasn't speaking of you directly. Sorry for not making that more clear.

This is the world we live in today. Fans can come together and praise a coach when it's deserved (Rocco, Castro, Handy, etc) and criticize a coach when it's deserved as well.

I agree that stuff against people throughout the athletic department is wrong, but the nature of the beast with coaching is that people will criticize you. We can't always sit around and sing kumbayah.

[tshirtman]

No problem.

[Purple Haize]

SLY YOu are ugly and your wife dresses you funny!!!
(Was that a personal attack?)

[Fumblerooskies]

Now...
...if Haize had worded it in the opposite...THAT would have been an attack.

[Purple Haize]

OH go rub somebody and tape yourself

[nickrichard]

Now...
...if Haize had worded it in the opposite...THAT would have been an attack.

OH go rub somebody and tape yourself

Now, that will be the funniest thing said on here in quite a while

[Libertine]

Thanks, Sly. Unfortunately, I've seen firsthand the toll it takes on especially a coach's family when the "he needs to be fired" ball gets rolling. Yeah, that's part of the coaching profession but it certainly shouldn't apply to the behind-the-scenes people.

[WWJFD]

Good announcement. The Basketball season is long and this season has been certainly a rollercoaster ride. HOT COLD HOT COLD. I can understand the frustration of people with the program. I even fell in the trap once or twice. The bottom line is win or lose we will always root for LU. Now if someone suggests a change should occur, then I see why we should not "personally" bash an individual. Whether we believe it or not, the individual is doing the best they can, maybe it is not meant for them at this stage.

Good luck the rest of the way for the Flames. I hope they finish strong and whatever the AD decides after the season, we should respect the decision, either way.

As for the marketing guy, I hope the higer up's will evaluate his job and determine if he is the right person for the job. Hope that makes sense.

[Fumblerooskies]

OH go rub somebody and tape yourself

Whew. You scared me...
...I thought you said it the other way around.

[jmdickens]

This is a great post SLY.....

[grm]

There are some who do not want to get along, and as I said before, have no intention of doing so. To me, it's sad, out of place, and a failure to consider the other guy. I want Liberty to succeed, and would be happy to co-operate. I still believe that the tag lines are overly unkind, and that we could use our education and upbringing to express our opinions in a more civilized way. I too have done some name-calling, and I'm happy to cease and desist. I hope that the others will consider the spirit of this, and not just the letter, but I must say that I am not optimistic. Responses have been that "meeting RD would do no good" and that "peace treaties have never worked." If that's the attitude, then what
progress can be made beyond the mere appearance of etiquette? I'll say this: 1) I don't know anything about the guy in the dept (marketing) & I don't want anyone calling for his head on this site; and 2) I think RD is a great coach, and believe that the best days will be ahead for LU if he is retained/extended. Having made that statement, I will not be on here trashing the next guy should RD not be retained, and I will not establish an alias so I can trash him without putting down my name (grm). To me, it's just basic courtesy. And thank you, Sly, for stating your feelings, and administrating the site as you do.

[mrich]

There are some who do not want to get along, and as I said before, have no intention of doing so. To me, it's sad, out of place, and a failure to consider the other guy. I want Liberty to succeed, and would be happy to co-operate. I still believe that the tag lines are overly unkind, and that we could use our education and upbringing to express our opinions in a more civilized way. I too have done some name-calling, and I'm happy to cease and desist. I hope that the others will consider the spirit of this, and not just the letter, but I must say that I am not optimistic. Responses have been that "meeting RD would do no good" and that "peace treaties have never worked." If that's the attitude, then what
progress can be made beyond the mere appearance of etiquette? I'll say this: 1) I don't know anything about the guy in the dept (marketing) & I don't want anyone calling for his head on this site; and 2) I think RD is a great coach, and believe that the best days will be ahead for LU if he is retained/extended. Having made that statement, I will not be on here trashing the next guy should RD not be retained, and I will not establish an alias so I can trash him without putting down my name (grm). To me, it's just basic courtesy. And thank you, Sly, for stating your feelings, and administrating the site as you do.

While I agree that bashing this marketing guy is absurd, there is nothing wrong with saying that somone is a bad coach. I think we all have made that distinction.

[grm]

[While I agree that bashing this marketing guy is absurd, there is nothing wrong with saying that somone is a bad coach. I think we all have made that distinction.

I've been mulling this over. Dickens, I do not believe that everyone has made the distinction that you refer to, and certainly not to the degree that it has been taken. Having said that, I am a strong proponent of free speech, and I do believe that you (they) have the right to say whatever you (they) want to. Perhaps I just see this board a little differently than you do, wanting it to be more supportive, with criticism where necessary, but with a modicum of
restraint since we are all supposed to be on the same team. I do believe that if Dunton is fair game, then so am I, and so are you.

Here is what I see: The haters hate Dunton no matter what, then belligerently attack him, and some of us fire back. Sly steps in, because he wants this board to be a bit more noble, and the haters claim an exemption, and continue with their posts.

I still feel that an "I hate Dunton" site would be good, one where the haters could launch their venom, thus leaving other threads for discussion, without the insulting tag lines, etc.

If there cannot be some accord on these things, there is only complete capitulation or all-out war.

[jmdickens]

first of all....I wasn't the one who said that, but thanks

Second, I have been very laid back recently...we have been winning and that is what makes me happy

Is there an age limit for message boards??

[grm]

first of all....I wasn't the one who said that, but thanks

Second, I have been very laid back recently...we have been winning and that is what makes me happy

Is there an age limit for message boards??

I guess I had that one coming

[mrich]

[While I agree that bashing this marketing guy is absurd, there is nothing wrong with saying that somone is a bad coach. I think we all have made that distinction.

I've been mulling this over. Dickens, I do not believe that everyone has made the distinction that you refer to, and certainly not to the degree that it has been taken. Having said that, I am a strong proponent of free speech, and I do believe that you (they) have the right to say whatever you (they) want to. Perhaps I just see this board a little differently than you do, wanting it to be more supportive, with criticism where necessary, but with a modicum of
restraint since we are all supposed to be on the same team. I do believe that if Dunton is fair game, then so am I, and so are you.

Here is what I see: The haters hate Dunton no matter what, then belligerently attack him, and some of us fire back. Sly steps in, because he wants this board to be a bit more noble, and the haters claim an exemption, and continue with their posts.

I still feel that an "I hate Dunton" site would be good, one where the haters could launch their venom, thus leaving other threads for discussion, without the insulting tag lines, etc.

If there cannot be some accord on these things, there is only complete capitulation or all-out war.

I don't hate Dunton, and if you read my post, it has nothing to do with Dunton. From what I read of your earlier post, I got that you equate saying that somone is a bad coach to a personal attack. I was saying that is not true. I have had posts that have criticized Dunton's coaching ability, but have never attacked his personal life. If we can't say anything negative, what is the point of this board, to daydreamingly puff up our program. Dunton is open to criticism because he is the head coach, and if you would take the time to read the description of this forum on the front page, you would see that he is fair game. You and I however are not, not unless you are planning on taking over the program yourself.

[grm]

I'm not planning on taking over the program, and I did just re-read the front page. No doubt you make a decent point, but I still don't like the tags (like yours) and others, and I know its not necessary for them to call themselves "Dunton Haters." His coaching could be critiqued without that junk.

But, it's all fine. You guys have at it with impunity. You obviously know by now how I feel about the whole thing, as well as the guys that engage in such things. The feeling is probably mutual, and that's fine too.

I'm pulling for the Flames, and the whole coaching staff.

Good Bye.

[mrich]

I hope that you know that the tag is in jest.

[grm]

I hope that you know that the tag is in jest.

I still don't like the tag, but I GREATLY appreciate you saying that. Honestly, I would far rather get along and
pull together than I would take pot shots at each other. And you do have every right to your opinion on RD, and to express it. If we can all figure out a way to address sensitive subjects in a gentlemanly manner (as you have just done) I think it would be best for all.

Thanks again.