[LUconn]

I'm just saying it's easy to say that kind of stuff since we lost in the first round.

[Rocketfan]

I was just about to post that



there is no way he could have been let go after that. Unless he found out some scandelous information a couple weeks ago.

Sorry i have kept quiet about my thoughts and feelings this whole season....but i stand with Luconn on this one.

[bigsmooth]

let it go fellas. like sly said, let's be mature about this. let's drop the speculation.

[Ed Dantes]

I would like to give a public shout-out to Chris Lang for his story. You do a great job, Chris.

[RagingTireFire]

Have you ever noticed that, on days like this, how Jerry has a way of saying things that I'm sure are intended in the right way but end up being expressed in a wildly insulting tone?

"I have asked the athletic director to conduct a national search [could have stopped there] and to look for a Danny Rocco-type (LU’s football coach) [how did Rocco get dragged into this?] who can rejuvenate [bring, carry, elevate; virtually any other word would have been sufficient] Liberty basketball to the highest level," Liberty Chancellor Jerry Falwell said.

I like Rocco and I didn't like Dunton but statements like these make me feel for both those guys.

[SuperJon]

Man, you wrote that fast, Chris. Good job on it.

The quote from Jerry about a "Rocco-type" means we're going big time with this search. I think they're opening the checkbook.

[TallyW]

Raging...
That's not a harsh comment from the Doc... It's the truth. There is a balance between being civil and being honest. This program does need to be rejuvenated...

[thepostman]

There is nothing wrong with saying we want a "Rocco-type" coach....I am sure JB will do a fine job finding a coach, he hasn't disappointed me yet

[Fumblerooskies]

There is nothing wrong with saying we want a "Rocco-type" coach....I am sure JB will do a fine job finding a coach, he hasn't disappointed me yet

That should eliminate Gillen...
...I'm not sure he has that Rocco personality which helped energize the students last fall.

[paradox]

I was just about to post that



there is no way he could have been let go after that. Unless he found out some scandelous information a couple weeks ago.

Sorry i have kept quiet about my thoughts and feelings this whole season....but i stand with Luconn on this one.

He was probally talking about the devastating CCU loss, which turned out to be the definitive event for this team.

I agree with you that Barber's overstatement about the tournement is unfortunate and unnecessary to say the least.

[TDDance234]

Barber said he gave Dunton an opportunity to resign this morning, but Dunton declined. Barber said Dunton's dismissal was not a knee-jerk reaction to Tuesday night's loss.

That's the line that caught my attention. I found it pretty brutal but a good sign for LU athletics. Barber ain't messin' around.

[paradox]

I'm all for a national search, but shouldn't Alexis get some serious consideration here. The acticle implies that he is being shrugged-off and shuffled-off into an assistant only role.

[jmdickens]

no, he has to apply like everyone else....Although I am right now liking Alexis, he can't claim any success as an assistant under RD....

This is almost like graduating......you are happy there is a new road to travel, but hate to leave all your friends behind

[SuperJon]

I'm all for a national search, but shouldn't Alexis get some serious consideration here. The acticle implies that he is being shrugged-off and shuffled-off into an assistant only role.

It said they're all welcome to apply but none have shown interest in being the head coach.

[RagingTireFire]

You guys are looking at this from the fans' perspective and I guess that Jerry is, too. The problem is that Jerry is comparing one coach in one sport to another in another sport and wants JB to find 'another Rocco'. The inference is that Dunton is being compared to Rocco and was possibly fired for not being enough like Rocco. We all know that's ridiculous and I'm sure that's not what Jerry meant but that's pretty much what he said. That's incredibly insulting to a guy who's spent however much time here on this campus when Rocco's only been here for a little over a year. On the other side of that, Rocco has officially become the 'gold standard' by which LU coaches are measured. That isn't fair to Rocco either b/c he's just one of several outstanding coaches on campus and he would be the first to tell you that. As far as Jerry's choice of verbage, 'rejuvenate' means to bring back to life and kind of pooh-poohs the work that's been put in during the last 5 years. As I said, I didn't like Dunton but he rejuvenated the program when he came in. I know Jerry likes the whole resurrection concept and all but to say that the program needs rejuvenation means that the program is dead and that's far from the case. I agree that it needs a different guy to take us farther but Dunton isn't exactly leaving the program belly-up.
Also, these comments didn't need to be made in the official news release. Has Dunton even cleaned out his office yet? At the least, Jerry should have waited until the corpse was cold to start poking at it.

[thepostman]

yeah, everybody should be welcome to apply...but you really do need somebody that will get the student body excited about basketball...

What Rocco did with the students is amazing...students really could care less about football before he came...We really need a coach with personality and that is good with word and with the public....RD was good at many things...from a PR standpoint he was a nightmare

[thesportscritic]

You guys are looking at this from the fans' perspective and I guess that Jerry is, too. The problem is that Jerry is comparing one coach in one sport to another in another sport and wants JB to find 'another Rocco'. The inference is that Dunton is being compared to Rocco and was possibly fired for not being enough like Rocco. We all know that's ridiculous and I'm sure that's not what Jerry meant but that's pretty much what he said. That's incredibly insulting to a guy who's spent however much time here on this campus when Rocco's only been here for a little over a year. On the other side of that, Rocco has officially become the 'gold standard' by which LU coaches are measured. That isn't fair to Rocco either b/c he's just one of several outstanding coaches on campus and he would be the first to tell you that. As far as Jerry's choice of verbage, 'rejuvenate' means to bring back to life. As I said, I didn't like Dunton but he rejuvenated the program when he came in. I know Jerry likes the whole resurrection concept and all but to say that the program needs rejuvenation means that the program is dead and that's far from the case. I agree that it needs a different guy to take us farther but Dunton isn't exactly leaving the program belly-up.

And then the program went down hill after the championship year. The program needs to be rejuvenated big time. We have good athletes but need someone who can guide them on a higher level.

[thesportscritic]

yeah, everybody should be welcome to apply...but you really do need somebody that will get the student body excited about basketball...

What Rocco did with the students is amazing...students really could care less about football before he came...We really need a coach with personality and that is good with word and with the public....RD was good at many things...from a PR standpoint he was a nightmare

what he said. nicely put postman.

[TDDance234]

It almost felt like RD was never comfortable being infront of a camera or on stage -- at an established program, that's a luxury you can afford but at a program that is still looking for an identity, you need someone to be a cheerleader in addition to a coach.

A very tough position. I can imagine the search going on for awhile before any names are dropped.

[Fumblerooskies]

As I said earlier...
...hopefully they can name somebody by the end of March, to at least shore up some recruits for the April signing period. With many new coaches, there may be some players that decide to leave, opening scholarships for the new coach's recruits. The new guy needs to be hired so decisions can be made by all parties.

[paradox]

Here is what Barber said:

"The remaining assistant coaches - Alexis Sherard, Zack Jones and Dominic Okon - will have the opportunity to interview with the new head coach but are not guaranteed jobs. None of the three have expressed initial interest in applying for the head coaching job, Barber said."

Barber knows now if he would consider Alexis. He doesn't have to wait for him to submit his resume either, because he already has it.

He didn't need to comment on the assistants, and the fact that he did implies the obvious.

[RagingTireFire]

And then the program went down hill after the championship year. The program needs to be rejuvenated big time.

One word: Hanky. That hill was steeper than most and Dunton brought us back from that to semi-respectablity. My personal feeling is that, no disrepect to the guys, but our championship year was a fluke. Winthrop was down and Birmingham was ineligible. In the championship game, High Point played some of the worst ball I've ever seen and Larry and Dees played out of their minds. We got our one shining moment and then got mowed down by St. Joe's. I have a hard time giving Dunton credit for that tourney win but sadly for him I think it raised expectations around here beyond what he and the program were able to fulfill. No way am I saying the progam doesn't need a new direction but we're in a much better place today than when Dunton got here.

How did I become the RD apologist here?

[paradox]

Ideally, you would want to name someone at some time near the close of the NCAA tournement.

[RagingTireFire]

Barber said he gave Dunton an opportunity to resign this morning, but Dunton declined. Barber said Dunton's dismissal was not a knee-jerk reaction to Tuesday night's loss.

That's the line that caught my attention. I found it pretty brutal but a good sign for LU athletics. Barber ain't messin' around.

Without knowing the details of Dunton's contract, there might have been a clause in there that said if he resigns he doesn't get paid through the end of it.

Personally, I don't buy the idea that Dunton's out b/c of the latest or any other individual loss.

[SuperJon]

I was told Barber would be on 105.9 very shortly.