[TruthSlayer11]

we're definitely going to have the "pro" and "con" camps on this one, just like RD and MBB

but I'm glad that the AD is putting ALL programs on notice, equally, that LU will no longer be satisfied to be middle of the pack

somewhere- Rock Royer is proud.

must add, again, that I respect Coach Royer and the job that he did with our program- and wish him nothing but the best .

It's not a matter of Pro and Cons or even "who's camp are you in" grab a random player and ask them how they feel! It's as simple as that.

Typical to be involved with baseball and be paranoid. Find anywhere where I said they would be happy or vise versa, but by you jumping to that conclusion makes me realize you indeed do know the feelings of the players.

[LUconn]

...there really needs to be a lot of progress in other areas as well, esp the facilities- I'm assuming the change here is meant to facilitate those upgrades as well.

following the course of football/MBB.

That's exactly opposite what is happening. If Royer was retianed and given a contract, I know for a fact that one person was going to step up and provide money for stadium improvents, and possibly build a new stadium.

Based on what you've just said you could replace Royer's name with Hankinson and I would still say we made a terrible move. Or a combination of Karcher and Hankinson. We should have re-signed Karchinson to be able to get that.

[HenryGale]

Hold my own closed the last thread and I think it has relevance here. Sorry:)

Oh well just keep it clean folks and keep in mind a man with a family just lost his job.

Remember the assistants and their families as well. Weaver and Reynolds are great people and deserve your prayers as well. They are now out of a job too...

[prototype]

Typical to be involved with baseball and be paranoid. Find anywhere where I said they would be happy or vise versa, but by you jumping to that conclusion makes me realize you indeed do know the feelings of the players.

hat thread was closed, and probably smartly so, but if you wish to continue the discussion here then fine.

prototype wrote:
...Is it about Politics, becuase a few children on the team weren't getting there way...

Yes, but when those "few children" make up 95% of your team thats when it becomes a problem. It used to be that only the upper class man would speak up, now it's everyone.""

[Ed Dantes]

http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm? ... 85&TeamID=

Royer Resigns as Liberty's Baseball Coach

Head Baseball Coach Matt Royer has resigned from his position.

June 8, 2007
Lynchburg, Va.

Liberty University Director of Athletics Jeff Barber has announced that Matt Royer has resigned from his position as head baseball coach. A national search for a new head baseball coach will commence immediately.

Royer recently finished his fifth year at the helm of the Flames’ baseball program, posting a 36-25 record and a third-place finish in Big South Conference play with a 14-7 mark. During Royer’s five-year tenure, the Flames posted a 153-132 overall record and a 57-55 in Big South action.

Royer began his association with the baseball program during the late 70s as a three-year middle infielder for the Flames from 1977-79. He graduated from the school in 1980 with a degree in physical education.

Stunning news... I thought the guy had a pretty decent track record -- we were usually decent in the regular season, but he knew how to manage his personnel, which is why he had such success during the tournament and the multiple games over multiple days format. Geez!

And other than Tomlin (who I was never too thrilled with -- we lacked pitching depth when he was there) -- who are we guessing will step in?

[grm]

LU baseball coach resigns

By Chris Lang
clang@newsadvance.com
June 8, 2007

The last two years, he guided the Flames to the Big South tournament championship game. LU lost to UNC Asheville in 2006 and lost to Coastal Carolina last month.

“.....We both agreed that we needed a change in direction. He felt like he wanted to resign."

“We want to win this conference and we want to go the College World Series,” Barber said. “We want to find the right coaching staff to allow us to get there.”

It's sad to see another coach leave, but we can all be thankful for the vison of the AD. Now we can start planning for the CWS. Of course, if that doesn't happen within 5 years, the AD will have failed in his duties, and I'm sure he'll "want" to resign, and "decide to resign" so that we can "go in a different direction."

[Fumblerooskies]

My prayers are with Matt, Terry, and Reggie...as well as their families.
I am sure a good man like Royer will land on his feet...most AD's looking to hire a coach should be doing at the prospect of hiring a man with the record Matt had at LU.

[knobodywest]

Well, I guess now we just have to wait and see how extreme this home makeover will be.

[absturgill]

I've packed away my media guide for the Nationals, but I believe Randy Tomlin was also a bench coach for the Washington Nationals last year.

[flameshaw]

I do not think this had a lot to do with the players whining, that was a symptom of some other problems that have been around for a while. From all accounts Royer was a very good person and knew his X's and O's, but his record was just over .500 and I have a feeling he wasn't 100% happy at LU. Sometimes it is just a good thing for both parties to move in other directions.

I would be VERY suprised if any former LU player or coach is hired as a replacement.

[grm]

I'm positive that he was disappointed to not remain at LU.

[The Judge]

Today my close friend was pushed out of his job ! Yeah I know the AD has his " line " about Matt's feeling that he wanted to resign...but please !

What I KNOW is that when he got here he believed with all his heart he was " Home ". Jerry Falwell told me personally he knew he had someone who was a hard worker ! Not a complainer, someone who could achieve results with the scholarship money provided. He had the support of several ex pro players, alumni, and even a world series winner beloved by Jerry. But reality changed almost immediatley ! It won't get his job back so I will leave out the dirty details. But MR was undermined from the very beginning ! Wolves in sheeps clothing " comes to mind when I want to view it biblically.

But what I will remember most about Matt is how he found scholarship money for some players who were pastors kids who had nothing. How he never once let a " name " get in the way of what was the right thing to do! How he cleaned up a program in terms of integrity with the rules and spirit of those same rules. And uh BTW he won games ! He was and is simply a master teacher of the game. Not elequint with words..not ever given to self promotion, or willing to manipulate others in exchange for earthly gain...but a simple man who underneath it all saught to honor his Lord, his family, Coach Worthington and Dr. Falwell. He never once went to JF or the AD for anything ! He just did his job and won games the way he had done it for 12 years before his arrival at LU

So that is my friend. He has a witness and character still intact and while hurting... is on solid ground. He will land on his feet. I love LU...but am ashamed at the lack of resolve to address the sinful conduct of a few insiders who tried to ruin a good man's reputation. Matt Royer deserved better from LU ! He gave LU everything he had !

[SuperJon]

Judge, that is hands down the best post you've ever written. I saw you had posted and thought, "Oh man, what's he going to say now?" and was very, VERY, impressed with the way you stated that.

[grm]

Me too, Judge, and I know you could have said more. Some of the things going on are not right, & not in the best interests of LU. Since this is an opinion board... this is my strong opinion here stated. Why are we ditching a man that loved Liberty & could do the job. What's it really all about?

[RagingTireFire]

What's it really all about?

Oh, this is going to be fun.

How about that 95% of the players really did hate him? How about his unique coaching technique of sitting in the corner of the dugout and pouting when things weren't going the team's way? How about that for all his good intentions and ideals he didn't make his players better? I never met Hankinson but this guy was for sure the second coming of Ken Karcher. Both Borek hires. Hmmm.

Anyway, Proto, if Royer really did have donors lined up for improvements then where have they been for the last five years? Also, if this mystery donor is going to pull out just because Royer's gone then I say they can keep their money. In fact, they can wad that cash into a tiny little ball, hand it to a TSA agent and have it relocated on themselves because I guarantee you that Barber's rolodex has a few more pages in it than Royer's.

[bigsmooth]

i want to thank everyone for keeping it clean for the most part. i will say this royer has resigned, and it is over, so we need to look to the future. jeff barber IMO has not given anyone reason to doubt his moves. i trust he will be in a top quality coach, and that improvements to the stadium will be made. as tire fire said, he has a big rolodex and fundraising is his forte. so if a major donor wants to pull out fine. maybe they are not a true LU fan. make no mistake about it, i would love to know the details as it seems a group of players caused the problems and royer said enough is enough, but will we really ever know? i doubt it. we have two opposing sides here. just remember, we are all LU baseball fans, so keep it clean in our postings.

[Stevev]

All I can say right now is that Coach Royer did a pretty decent job as coach just by looking at his results over a 5 year stretch. When Dave Pastors left the program most of his guys either graduated or were drafted as juniors (Butler, Hagan, and Monahan) so that left Royer with not much left from the Pastors era to build on so Royer did it with his players. LU took their lumps for 2 years and then were very respectable for 3 years against descent competition. His scheduling was suspect at times but not really a big issue. Pastors did a better job in scheduling more ACC teams. I was not aware of some of the allegations about Royer that are brought about on this board from time to time but I am sure that there is some truth to it considering the source and some of those posting seem to be closer to the program than I am but all I can say based on results is that he did a fine job coaching LU baseball. But we can do better I am sure. I am hoping that we go for Delmonico, the former UT coach if we can afford to pay him. That would be a nice upgrade that would take us to a higher level than where we are at right now. I wish Coach Royer the best.

[knobodywest]

Matt Royer is a fine coach, He had decent years during His time at Liberty. They were not WOW years, but He has nothing to be ashamed of. Jerry Falwell had His reason, and they were not just from a handful of cry babies. This decison was made months ago, there are key people who will verify that. If anyone was use to taking critism and knew how to handle it, I imagine it would be Jerry Falwell, which leads me to believe that there were issues that He felt would not go away with Matt, so He made the decison, for the best interst of the team, and Matt. The other thing is that the issues with Matt go back three to four years, and each time He was given an opportunity to change, He was not ditched, He was asked to leave, based on the continual problems. I am sure that if it were only a few cry babies on the team, Dr. Falwell would have seen through them, and Matt would still be coaching! Matt is good coach, just not for Liberty. and that is o.k. There are no victims here, its time to move forward and wish Matt, Weaver, and Regg best of luck. Lets stand behind Jeff Barber in His search for a new Head coach. Liberty Baseball will get better.

[Libertine]

*<slowly taking off helmet>*

Wow. I'm legitimately impressed with my fellow FlameFans on this thread. There's been a few histrionics but, largely, you guys have shown a remarkable amount of decorum about this. Yay, you.

[Fumblerooskies]

(tip-toeing in)
I concur. One thing I think we all can agree on is that Matt Royer was a very classy individual...and this thread mirrors that. Well done.
(tip-toeing out)

[PAmedic]

agree.

pleasantly surprised by all

thank you guys, and Coach Royer.

[4everfsu]

Is Matt Royer related to Rock Royer?

[Sly Fox]

I just got back in town and saw the developments.

Much as I felt with Coach Dunton's departure, my first reaction is an appreciation for the hard work Coach Royer gave to the school. His imprint on the program will be felt for years to come. While I am sure he is disappointed things ended in this fashion, I feel strongly God has someplace special lined up for him and its just a matter of evaluating his situation and moving forward. The same goes for his assistants.

And I echo the comments that I am glad to see this thread was handled with class in light of the contentious threads we've had over the course of the past year or so.

God bless Coach Royer and his family.

[bbrothers224]

1st. thing: Matt was at Liberty the same time I was. I recall him wearing long johns, shorts and a one of those hats that cover the entire face except for the eyes and mouth, running on top of dorm 4 late at night. All the talk around campus the next day was of those unexplained sightings of Spider-man

2nd thing: I know I don't know all of the details...but this sounds a bit like what happened with that football coach named Hout (he was after my time). I do know that he was at U of R before he came to Liberty...and when he was "let go"....you should have seen the articles that ran in the Richmond papers. Let's just say that the papers thought that Hout got the shaft in order to bring in another coach with a big name. You should have seen some of those articles. One even went so far as to say that one of the stipulations for the new stadium was a big name coach with NFL experience. That was Sam R wasn't it?

[Sly Fox]

Since this is a baseball forum, we'll save the 'Out with Hout' & 'Sam's the Man' discussion for another day.