[flameshaw]

Honestly, it doesn't even look like our players enjoy the game. Yes, I understand with us having a bad season or being behind in a game it is hard to enjoy, but they hardly show any signs of enjoyment at all! When a big play is made (as rare as that is lately, but a few every game) I observe the players and there is no hype, no excitement, no enjoyment. They look like they are just going through the motions game after game, and regardless of how good a coach is at winning he should always have the ability to remind himself and his players of their love for the game. If Layer has gotten to the point in which he and his staff can't doing that, whatever his reason may be or however hard it may be, then I may finally be jumping on board with a possible coaching search, even with our improvement throughout the season record wise. Humans aren't robots, sports must be played with emotion and the players and the coach gotta enjoy it!

Not sure what game(s) you were watching. Don't see that at all.

[Chippy]

Honestly, it doesn't even look like our players enjoy the game. Yes, I understand with us having a bad season or being behind in a game it is hard to enjoy, but they hardly show any signs of enjoyment at all! When a big play is made (as rare as that is lately, but a few every game) I observe the players and there is no hype, no excitement, no enjoyment. They look like they are just going through the motions game after game, and regardless of how good a coach is at winning he should always have the ability to remind himself and his players of their love for the game. If Layer has gotten to the point in which he and his staff can't doing that, whatever his reason may be or however hard it may be, then I may finally be jumping on board with a possible coaching search, even with our improvement throughout the season record wise. Humans aren't robots, sports must be played with emotion and the players and the coach gotta enjoy it!

Not sure what game(s) you were watching. Don't see that at all.

Me neither. "Going through the motions after the game" It's the effort during the game that matters. This team is giving maximum effort.

[FLAMEfromBAMA]

I didn't question their effort once, if I did it was by accident. My opinion of what I've seen from them is that they aren't showing joy and emotion in the games. I do understand it's tough to show that during a season like this, but I have plenty of fellow students that agree with me that the neither the players nor the coaches look as if they are loving the game; when you lose your love, whether temporarily or for good it's a big drop off. Also, I said game after game, not after the game. But again, just what I see and my opinion as a fan and someone who has great passion and love for sports.

[bballfan84]

I didn't question their effort once, if I did it was by accident. My opinion of what I've seen from them is that they aren't showing joy and emotion in the games. I do understand it's tough to show that during a season like this, but I have plenty of fellow students that agree with me that the neither the players nor the coaches look as if they are loving the game; when you lose your love, whether temporarily or for good it's a big drop off. Also, I said game after game, not after the game. But again, just what I see and my opinion as a fan and someone who has great passion and love for sports.

I was at the game Saturday night against High Point and never once get that impression. I actually spent some time around the program and can tell you that is not the case.

[Chippy]

I didn't question their effort once, if I did it was by accident. My opinion of what I've seen from them is that they aren't showing joy and emotion in the games. I do understand it's tough to show that during a season like this, but I have plenty of fellow students that agree with me that the neither the players nor the coaches look as if they are loving the game; when you lose your love, whether temporarily or for good it's a big drop off. Also, I said game after game, not after the game. But again, just what I see and my opinion as a fan and someone who has great passion and love for sports.

I was at the game Saturday night against High Point and never once get that impression. I actually spent some time around the program and can tell you that is not the case.

Bama, I don't know if you've ever played basketball at a high level, but I can tell you these players and coaches play and coach because they love the game and they're passionate about what they're doing and I can tell you they take pride in their effort. If you're looking for outward signs then good luck. Passion/pride=effort. I'd say they have great passion and our led by a man who has a ton of passion for the game of basketball, coaching and his players. If anything what you're seeing is exhaustion on their faces for the incredible effort it takes for this team to compete. This is not playground basketball or XBox.

[ballcoach15]

When I am in Vines Center, and watching both teams in pre-game warmups, it's very noticable most nights, that the opponent is bigger and more athletic than LU.

[FLAMEfromBAMA]

Chippy I've played multiple sports at a high level, most notably for a program that has held #1 high school football ranking in the nation and recently won 4 state championships so I know it takes passion to stick with it. I understand your comparison of passion and effort, but you can give so much effort that you forget your passion for the game. I understand that fatigue may cause joy and passion not to be seen by fans. In my eyes as a pretty experienced athlete who has played various sports since I was a kid and who watches sports every single day I cannot get past the fact that I have not seen the team, nor Layer display the enthusiasm that is expected from a group of people who sacrifice time, effort, and social life for a game they love. Many times, people on the outside do not know how coaches really are with the team. That may be the case here, but you can not tell me honestly that by watching Layer on the bench or in interviews that he is enjoying it himself or pushing the team to hold onto the passion for the game they love. If he is he's the dang most introverted passionate coach I believe I've ever seen in my time watching sports. For those of you who are around the program a lot and aren't the average fan and you think whatever is happening is working then more power to ya, but if you want to take the blinders off and see what many (not all, just what I and many fellow students see) average fans see then this is it.

[Chippy]

Chippy I've played multiple sports at a high level, most notably for a program that has held #1 high school football ranking in the nation and recently won 4 state championships so I know it takes passion to stick with it. I understand your comparison of passion and effort, but you can give so much effort that you forget your passion for the game. I understand that fatigue may cause joy and passion not to be seen by fans. In my eyes as a pretty experienced athlete who has played various sports since I was a kid and who watches sports every single day I cannot get past the fact that I have not seen the team, nor Layer display the enthusiasm that is expected from a group of people who sacrifice time, effort, and social life for a game they love. Many times, people on the outside do not know how coaches really are with the team. That may be the case here, but you can not tell me honestly that by watching Layer on the bench or in interviews that he is enjoying it himself or pushing the team to hold onto the passion for the game they love. If he is he's the dang most introverted passionate coach I believe I've ever seen in my time watching sports. For those of you who are around the program a lot and aren't the average fan and you think whatever is happening is working then more power to ya, but if you want to take the blinders off and see what many (not all, just what I and many fellow students see) average fans see then this is it.

"Blinders" ?? I imagine you and a some of the 1000 students who attend may see it your way. With all due respect you and I are not seeing the same way. You assume you know what's in the heart of the coach or the players. I see a lot of fire in Layer on the bench and I've seen the playfulness he has with his players, at times, in practice. Practices are grueling and there's no quit in this team. They have a passion to get better and it shows. This team plays hard for him because they like him and respect him. Most talented players don't play with emotion because that will only take you so far. It's hard to muster up "joy" when you come out on the short end of a lot of games and because we lack the talent needed to be at the top of this conference. Like I said before, in so many ways, this team is putting out maximum effort and they have passion otherwise they wouldn't be playing the sport.

The girls seem to have more "joy" mostly because they have a winning team. Cary Green is no more or less passionate about basketball than is Dale Layer. If you're looking for demonstrable "joy" or "passion" then watch Devon Brown play. Not everyone plays with that amount of outward exuberance.

I would suggest you ask the players themselves about joy or passion. Nonetheless you are entitled to make your observation as I have made mine. Thanks for your patience with me

[FlamesBeBallin]

I do not care if you're talking about a winning team or losing team, how much "joy" can you have if you come out to your home games and the numbers are awful, and everyone is sitting down.

I mean seriously, these guys were recruited most likely being pitched the idea that the Vines would be packed and rocking. They're representing a team at the moment whose student body is apathetic and has no passion.

[alabama24]

these guys were recruited most likely being pitched the idea that the Vines would be packed and rocking. They're representing a team at the moment whose student body is apathetic and has no passion.

Start winning. Problem solved.

[FlamesBeBallin]

these guys were recruited most likely being pitched the idea that the Vines would be packed and rocking. They're representing a team at the moment whose student body is apathetic and has no passion.

Start winning. Problem solved.

The sad thing is I don't think the problem would be solved.

But that's flawless logic coming from a Alabama fan

[From the class of 09]

these guys were recruited most likely being pitched the idea that the Vines would be packed and rocking. They're representing a team at the moment whose student body is apathetic and has no passion.

Start winning. Problem solved.

The sad thing is I don't think the problem would be solved.

But that's flawless logic coming from a Alabama fan

History would show you are wrong.

[bballfan84]

I have seen many practices the passion and work is there..bottom line winning cures all. Lets not over diagnose this

[flamehunter]

Longwood had been bad for years yet their student fan base is a lot more behind the program than ours seems to be. I know there is not much else to do in Farmville, but it can be done. Students need some leadership to get them out and they can make the game experience something to enjoy even if the team is not playing well. Be creative, have fun, and make the Vines rock!

[VAGolf]

I do not care if you're talking about a winning team or losing team, how much "joy" can you have if you come out to your home games and the numbers are awful, and everyone is sitting down.

I mean seriously, these guys were recruited most likely being pitched the idea that the Vines would be packed and rocking. They're representing a team at the moment whose student body is apathetic and has no passion.

For the love of everything that this school stands for, please don't even consider blaming the students and attendance numbers for poor performance. Good Lord. When was the last time you heard a successful coach say, "Well, we couldn't win today because we didn't have enough fans here." I've never in my life witnessed so much ignorance from a fan base. No matter what you say and no matter how you look at it, the problem is within the organization. Is it a new coach or better players...etc.? I don't know. I don't have to know that though to know the problem isn't injured players or poor attendance. What a dumb, lousy excuse. Fewer fans show up to watch the girls and they dominate year in and year out.

[FlamesBeBallin]

Believe me I'm not blaming the teams performance on the attendance by no means, but you guys can't sit here and tell me that the atmosphere doesn't play into the players emotions a little bit?

A winning attitude doesn't come from a high energy atmosphere. It comes from just plain WINS, period!

All I'm saying is that the student body is pathetic when it comes to basketball games. So someone please tell me or not if recruits and players feed off stadium/crowd atmosphere. Am I seriously the only one that thinks this? Because I sure as heck know that I'm one of the only ones standing the entire game.

[Purple Haize]

Believe me I'm not blaming the teams performance on the attendance by no means, but you guys can't sit here and tell me that the atmosphere doesn't play into the players emotions a little bit?

A winning attitude doesn't come from a high energy atmosphere. It comes from just plain WINS, period!

All I'm saying is that the student body is pathetic when it comes to basketball games. So someone please tell me or not if recruits and players feed off stadium/crowd atmosphere. Am I seriously the only one that thinks this? Because I sure as heck know that I'm one of the only ones standing the entire game.

I can. I know players who play very excitedly and with emotion and energy....in front of <200 people.

[FlamesBeBallin]

Believe me I'm not blaming the teams performance on the attendance by no means, but you guys can't sit here and tell me that the atmosphere doesn't play into the players emotions a little bit?

A winning attitude doesn't come from a high energy atmosphere. It comes from just plain WINS, period!

All I'm saying is that the student body is pathetic when it comes to basketball games. So someone please tell me or not if recruits and players feed off stadium/crowd atmosphere. Am I seriously the only one that thinks this? Because I sure as heck know that I'm one of the only ones standing the entire game.

I can. I know players who play very excitedly and with emotion and energy....in front of <200 people.

Division 1 players?

[Purple Haize]

Yep

[alabama24]

History would show you are wrong.

And what "history" would that be? I remember when the vine's center was packed out… But my point isn't "win one game." It is "have a winning program" and over time you will develop fans. Why should the locals bring their kids to see a team that is 9-18.

The best year LU Men's Basketball has had since 2001 they were 23-12… Which isn't "great" or "good" but merely "fair." Only one "good" year and they didn't even make the "big dance." FYI - If you want a little "history," things were better in the mid 90's.

01-02: 5-25
02-03: 14-15
03-04: 18-15
04-05: 13-15
05-06: 7-23
06-07: 14-17
07-08: 16-16
08-09: 23-12
09-10: 15-16
10-11: 19-13
11-12: 14-18

[BJWilliams]

Believe me I'm not blaming the teams performance on the attendance by no means, but you guys can't sit here and tell me that the atmosphere doesn't play into the players emotions a little bit?

A winning attitude doesn't come from a high energy atmosphere. It comes from just plain WINS, period!

All I'm saying is that the student body is pathetic when it comes to basketball games. So someone please tell me or not if recruits and players feed off stadium/crowd atmosphere. Am I seriously the only one that thinks this? Because I sure as heck know that I'm one of the only ones standing the entire game.

I can. I know players who play very excitedly and with emotion and energy....in front of <200 people.

+1 to PH on this one...if you were at the women's game on Saturday afternoon you could probably count the number of fans in the stands by yourself, but they still were diving for 50-50 balls, still getting fired up by big plays and still giving 100% even with so few people in attendance. If their attitude on the court was different with over 3000 in attendance (like they had for Best Field Trip Ever day) than it was having less than 1000 in attendance, that is a problem on the players themselves

[jbock13]

As long as we're terrible, who's going to come? The crowd came back in 2010 when we started out great in conference play. Then, when we lost five straight, it disappeared.

I don't think you can call the students support pathetic, while the team had been, well... pathetic.

[From the class of 09]

History would show you are wrong.

And what "history" would that be? I remember when the vine's center was packed out… But my point isn't "win one game." It is "have a winning program" and over time you will develop fans. Why should the locals bring their kids to see a team that is 9-18.

The best year LU Men's Basketball has had since 2001 they were 23-12… Which isn't "great" or "good" but merely "fair." Only one "good" year and they didn't even make the "big dance." FYI - If you want a little "history," things were better in the mid 90's.

01-02: 5-25
02-03: 14-15
03-04: 18-15
04-05: 13-15
05-06: 7-23
06-07: 14-17
07-08: 16-16
08-09: 23-12
09-10: 15-16
10-11: 19-13
11-12: 14-18

i was agreeing with you...go back reread

alabama fans

[alabama24]

if you were at the women's game on Saturday afternoon you could probably count the number of fans in the stands by yourself, but they still were diving for 50-50 balls, still getting fired up by big plays and still giving 100% even with so few people in attendance.

I was there, with my wife and kids. Attendance WAS pathetic. The ladies played much better in the second half…

[alabama24]

i was agreeing with you...go back reread

alabama fans

Sorry about that…

It would be nice if the forum software made it easier to quote people. I thought you were +1ing FlamesBeBallin.

Nebraska fans. Sheesh.