(03-11-2015 09:16 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  Check out @ChrisLangLNA's Tweet: https://twitter.com/ChrisLangLNA/status/...65890?s=09

If you look at the string of tweets then you can see the context of the conversation.

I agree there are a lot of good reasons to coach at Liberty but there are some perceived weaknesses too. There is a reason why we haven't bought a big time basketball coach in a while (if ever). Liberty has never really had the cash it now has but that didn't stop them from hiring Layer.

Re-read the tweet and my guess is there are assistants at top 25 programs and not HC's interested in LU. If I'm wrong and those are top 25 HC's interested, that would simply be well beyond what I and most everyone else thought possible. I'm have more of a half-glass full view focusing on where the school is today. Many more upsides than down sides.

(03-11-2015 09:21 AM)NewTimes Wrote:  

(03-11-2015 09:16 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  Check out @ChrisLangLNA's Tweet: https://twitter.com/ChrisLangLNA/status/...65890?s=09

If you look at the string of tweets then you can see the context of the conversation.

I agree there are a lot of good reasons to coach at Liberty but there are some perceived weaknesses too. There is a reason why we haven't bought a big time basketball coach in a while (if ever). Liberty has never really had the cash it now has but that didn't stop them from hiring Layer.

Re-read the tweet and my guess is there are assistants at top 25 programs and not HC's interested in LU. If I'm wrong and those are top 25 HC's interested, that would simply be well beyond what I and most everyone else thought possible. I'm have more of a half-glass full view focusing on where the school is today. Many more upsides than down sides.

The tweet is pretty vague so it probably means just assistant coaches but I am not convinced it isn't head coaches no matter how small the odds. The biggest reason is Jeff Barber's priority to hire someone who has D I head coaching experience.

No matter who it is, we've got to have someone that can recruit and sell Liberty. There's lots of really good Christian high school basketball players. We just need 7 or 8 of them.

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(03-11-2015 12:13 PM)Libertygrad01 Wrote:  There's lots of really good Christian high school basketball players. We just need 7 or 8 of them.

Darn, let me play devil's advocate. I hate being that guy. We don't necessarily need good Christian high school players. We need Christians that are good high school players. It's a slight difference. I've seen some pretty worldly Christian HS kids. On the other hand, basketball players don't even have to be Christians at LU right? They just have to live by the school code.... and hopefully get saved along the way. I think either way works for me.

I believe that is what Libertygrad01 was suggesting. But i don't want to speak on his behalf.

(03-11-2015 09:31 PM)army56mike Wrote:  

(03-11-2015 12:13 PM)Libertygrad01 Wrote:  There's lots of really good Christian high school basketball players. We just need 7 or 8 of them.

Darn, let me play devil's advocate. I hate being that guy. We don't necessarily need good Christian high school players. We need Christians that are good high school players. It's a slight difference. I've seen some pretty worldly Christian HS kids. On the other hand, basketball players don't even have to be Christians at LU right? They just have to live by the school code.... and hopefully get saved along the way. I think either way works for me.

Sometimes a devils' advocate can bring out good points. Good question. Recruit both as that seems the best. Whose to judge one over the other? The best players with good moral character should be highest priority at LU and all schools.

I wasn't saying we need kids from Christian schools, but kids that love the Lord and are also good players. I don't care where they come from. Public, Christian, homeschool league. Doesn't matter to me.

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this is a whole 'nother argument but I'm of the opinion LU is NOT a place solely for church kids to cloister themselves

we should be recruiting the best players, period- let the environment/culture of the school change hearts and minds

thats what we're about

(03-12-2015 07:46 AM)PAmedic Wrote:  this is a whole 'nother argument but I'm of the opinion LU is NOT a place solely for church kids to cloister themselves

we should be recruiting the best players, period- let the environment/culture of the school change hearts and minds

thats what we're about

I agree with this thought. I would say only a little more than 50% of the students were Christians when I was a student. Liberty was the school that parents made their kids attend or the kids couldn't get into a better school. Back then Liberty had the idea that every kid deserves a Christian education and they rarely denied an application.

I think we should field the best teams regardless of religious beliefs of the students. They can choose to participate in the Christian atmosphere or not.

I think that has allot to do with the group you run with. I graduated in 96 and I would guess 90% were believers, but that had much more to do with my "environment". My wife had a different experience at Liberty. That's a little off subject, but I believe if you have a team that's made up by a majority of unbelievers you're noon going to be able to influence those kids to go in the right direction.

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I agree with most of what has been said. There is a fine line to be walked. Kids don't have to be Christian, but they do need to want to live by the standards set by the school. Otherwise they will be a distraction to team chemistry and won't be on the team for long. I also believe the team should be made up of a majority of believers to provide positive influence and direction to other players.

coaches and support staff are in place to mentor

athletes are there to play ball

though I agree we'd like to avoid a situation like Baylor where they start murdering one another

I think getting the best talent willing to play under the rules of Liberty is best. Don't get troublemakers who may not be worth the hassle. They will likely be headaches that aren't going to make us better and just do more harm than good.

I get the whole coaches and staff thing. I remember when I was a college student being more influenced by my peers.

I found this on cbssports tweet
Liberty

Out: Dale Layer. Layer led the Flames to an incredible, shocking Big South Tournament championship and NCAA berth in 2013 despite a 15-20 record, but beyond that there wasn't been much to write home about from the six-year coach. He ended this season 8-24 with a 2-16 mark in conference, and he'll finish with an 82-117 record at Liberty, with only one winning season under his belt and only one season with a league finish higher than fifth. This is now the second wash out at a school for Layer, as he was fired in 2007 at Colorado State. There are quite a few excellent coaching candidates in the Virginia area, including UVA assistants Jason Willimon and Ron Sanchez, who the athletic staff could look to in order to replace Layer. Also, another UVA assistant, Ritchie McKay, was the head man at Liberty prior to leaving in 2009 to join his friend Tony Bennett's staff. Any of those three would be a great hire.

(03-14-2015 04:34 PM)Highlander84 Wrote:  I found this on cbssports tweet
Liberty

Out: Dale Layer. Layer led the Flames to an incredible, shocking Big South Tournament championship and NCAA berth in 2013 despite a 15-20 record, but beyond that there wasn't been much to write home about from the six-year coach. He ended this season 8-24 with a 2-16 mark in conference, and he'll finish with an 82-117 record at Liberty, with only one winning season under his belt and only one season with a league finish higher than fifth. This is now the second wash out at a school for Layer, as he was fired in 2007 at Colorado State. There are quite a few excellent coaching candidates in the Virginia area, including UVA assistants Jason Willimon and Ron Sanchez, who the athletic staff could look to in order to replace Layer. Also, another UVA assistant, Ritchie McKay, was the head man at Liberty prior to leaving in 2009 to join his friend Tony Bennett's staff. Any of those three would be a great hire.

Much of that info has already been dissected here, especially about McKay. Good at least to see the word is out on many different platforms.

Little blurb on Bobby Lutz as a fit for LU. I'd take that. [url] http://www.hoopdirt.com/blog/498b94ab/da...ii-3-16-15[/url]

Thoughts?

(03-16-2015 09:40 PM)knucklehead Wrote:  Little blurb on Bobby Lutz as a fit for LU. I'd take that. [url] http://www.hoopdirt.com/blog/498b94ab/da...ii-3-16-15[/url]

Thoughts?

As mentioned in the article, the one-two punch of Lutz and Allison could be an exciting tandem. I expect we will have several more of these interested party stories as we go through the tournament. Good find KH.

Looks like the Lutz rumor may have some legs. http://www.libertyflamesnation.com/lutz-...eating-up/

I'm all for it.

(03-17-2015 01:51 PM)knucklehead Wrote:  Looks like the Lutz rumor may have some legs. http://www.libertyflamesnation.com/lutz-...eating-up/

I'm all for it.

Good pick for FN to list him in their top 12. Has the qualifications AD Barber had stated. Would like to see a better winning percentage. How were his Charlotte teams? Over or under achievers?

Let me answer my own question. Searched his bio, at Charlotte as HC, his alma mater, went to post season 8 times, 5 to NCAA, 3 to NIT. Coming as an assistant HC from an ACC school, NC State, this seems potentially very good.