Dunton still on the hot seat?

[LU Fan]

There was a lot of talk early in the season about Dunton on the hot seat. Now that the flames are in 2nd place and looking to win their second conference tournament...is Dunton's job still safe? We still tend to not be able to win the big ones aka Winthrop and our for the games I have been to on campus our teams come out flat. There have been many rumors that float around our circles about the players and coaches being unhappy with the way things are run. It just seems at times that the team looks as organized as a rec league. They fired a AD with a decent record and standing, would they do it to a basketball coach?

And am I the only one to notice the man is a complete psycho on the bench?

[eddantes]

As for Dunton being a complete psycho, I was doing the radio broadcast for his first game back, and it was funny because I said, "And Dunton is on the sidelines - and you know he's livid because he doesn't have his coat on!" Little did I know that was status quo.

I've addressed this topic before... It is erroneous to say that Dunton tends not to be able to win the big ones - when he won the championship last year! Granted, we didn't go through either Winthrop or Radford to win, but still. This will be the third straight year that Dunton exceeds the preseason expectations the Big South predicted for him (assuming we hold on to second place).

Dunton's a proven winner. He proved that a year ago - and is entitled to a buffer period from criticism.

Our loser football coach? Different story. But he got a five-year extension. And I will go on record to say that if we give an extension to Karcher, but fire Kim Graham and Randy Dunton, then I'll withdraw my support for everything LU.

[Yohan]

Could virtual ed buy some sunglasses? His stare still spooks me.

Where are the reports of the Radford game? Those not in Lynchburg want to hear these things.

# of Rowdies, fights, game cubes, cow bells?, general atmosphere, etc



As for Dunton, he seems like a great coach to me.

[Stevev]

I don't think that Dunton should be fired right now. In my opinion he is doing an okay job. Get him outside the confines of the Big South Conference and we will see what he is really capable of. The out of conference schedule has been tough but hope to see more results in the future even with that tough schedule. Needs to step the recruiting up just a little to do that.

[krh44]

Why would he be on the hot seat? You have to give a coach time no matter what the college especially after Hankinson had Liberty as the worst team in the country. Appparently no Liberty coach can win at Radford and Winthrop has a great team this year, in the top 100 in the RPIs w/ wins over Providence, ECU, and Weber ST. When Dunton was the Interim coach w/ only 7 scholarship player he had won 11 or 12 games and beat UVa.
They wanted to fire Jef Meyer forever he left and now a asst w/ the Missouri Tigers.
The schedule they play they are not going to win at Maryland or Seton Hall. I don't think that they should be getting beat by 50 pts though.

[Guest4life]

Dunton really does not bother me to much. I agree he is a live psycho on the bench and he really does not interact with the student body much but neither does Karcher. I heard rumors last week that Blair's dad has been saying Larry is looking to leave school. There has been talk just around campus of Dees leaving to. If he loses Dees and Blair along with whoever the guys he lost this year, I think there should be question. Overall we are getting wins, and teh games are fun. This team is good and young.

[Duntonville]

guest4life, please tell me you are screwing with us.

Can anybody confirm this Blair and Dees stuff?

[LUconn]

Rumors are gay. They're good enough to be 6th or 7th men on some pretty good teams, but if they were transfering, I would think they would have last year. I often wonder why Blair didn't transfer but he's still here and he hasn't made too much of a case for himself this year more than last year.

[Sly Fox]

You have to be VERY unhappy to transfer from a Division I school. You options are to either drop down to Division II so you can play right away or transfer to another DI school and sit for an entire year. That's why transfers have become so rare over the years.

Hopefully this speculation is just blowing in the wind.

[Guest4Life]

It is not for sure whether they are leaving or not, as Sly says it is a big step and you do have to sit out a year. From the source that is close with the Blairs say that he is getting a lot of talk from ACC schools, so in my opinion that is worth the year out. Dees is said to be wanting to go back home, that one is not as sure, but for these guys to talk about leaving and the guys that have left just leave me to speculate the program. I am a Flames fan all the way, and I am with you guys, I really hope they stay. Lets go get Asheville

[Formerplayer]

I'm still very close to the program and I heard last year Blair was unhappy and demanded more shots. His father made a trip down to Lynchburg and had a talk with Dunton about getting more shots for Larry, later that day @ shoot around Dunton put in a few plays for Blair. I will not go into too much more detail but I heard that from a very reliable source, I know people use that term very loosely, but it doesn't get any closer than that (my source). The news about Dees is new, I know he doesn't get along with certain players, but as a former player I will keep that in the circle. Not just for Dunton's sake I hope those are just rumors, they usually are.

[Sly Fox]

Nobody gets along with everybody all the time. Hopefully whatever issues there may be are being blown well out of proportion. We could be poised to make a nice step forward if we keep these guys around to finish out their eligibility.

[GOAT]

Blair and Dees would be fools to leave Liberty. They both get major touches and are the focal point of the offense. The grass ain't always greener on the other side. I guarantee if they go somewhere else they would regret it. I played for Jeff Meyer and Randy Dunton. Very both different individuals and different styles. There were mixed emotions about both coaches from all the players they coached. If Blair and Dees are thinking about transferring they should think otherwise and consider looking at the big picture. If they transfer to another school they will lose considerable hours because of all the theology/Biblical courses you have to take at Liberty, they will have to sit out a year, there will always be playing time @ Liberty and the ball will be in their hand, hopefully get there degree in 4 years etc...I can list a number of pros for not transferring if indeed that is what they want to do after the season.

[eddantes]

Yohan - Sorry about the icy stare, but ESPN has this thing where you can be a virtual host, and this guy looks so much like me it's not even funny.

[Guest4Life]

I am just worried a little bit as a fan. I have been to almost all the games this season and have not seen either parents of the players, but in the last two weeks i have seen both Dees and Blairs familys in town after hearing these rumors. As a former player myself, no not here at LU, but it is obvious not everything is happy go lucky in a program. I would just hate to see these kids go, they are great for the school. From the complaints that have come back to me it is not just these 2 that are unhappy. Many complaints are all over campus from teammates to office assistants to athletic dept workers. Kim Graham's firings just stirred the pot more, I would just like to know whats going on here? Are we all under the rug?

[aLUmnus]

I can see Blair saying last year that he wanted more shots, but it just gets weird because this year he's been the most unselfish player on the team. I wish he would take more shots, but he seems to be playing more for the team's sake than his own this year.

It would be great for him to stay here and continue being a leader on the team, something he may not get somewhere else. But, it's a rumor and rumors are stupid.

[Jacksparrow81]

just wanted to make sure this was fresh in everyone's memory

[FlamesFanatic5482]

In regards to the rumors of Dees and Blair jetting to other programs, I believe they are just rumors. Personally I feel they would be stupid for leaving at this point, due to how the NCAA bylaws handles D-I transfer players. If they were smart they would stay here where they are guaranteed a starting position and where they will ultimately be the go-to men down the stretch.

I could see Larry leaving, because lets face it powerhouse programs would love to get a hold of him knowing his scoring potential and he most definitly helped his case when he lit up High Point in the Big South Championship on ESPN 2. Personally I was surprised he was back this season. His best opportunity to transfer was after his freshman year. Now that he came back for his sophomore year leads me to believe he is going to fullfill his commitment to the university.

And the times that I have talked with David Dees, it seems to me that he enjoys Liberty and is glad to be part of the University.

I think both of these players will fulfill there commitments to the University.

[HoldMyOwn]

Guys....correct me if I'm wrong but it seems like just a few years ago LU was the worst team in the nation, and now Dunton's on the hot seat?

[guest]

Any college basketball coach who SAYS our goal is to be "top 25" in the Nation then schedules Cincinnati Christian AND Lynchburg college in the same season is certainly lacking INTEGRITY (by definition: the words and the actions do not square/they are NOT consistent) and should be on the hot seat @ Liberty University (where integrity of words/actions are valued). It is a sham and mockery of Dr. Falwell"s vision for Excellence with the LU sports program.

[Sly Fox]

Its a traveshamockery! ;D

Yeah, we're not thrilled with those two matchups. But our trip to #2 Kentucky makes up for them.

[grm]

Integrity: Webster's New Twentieth Century Unabridged (2nd Edition) #3 (closest to what we are talking about) "The quality or state of being of sound moral principle; uprightness,
honesty, and sincerity." Randy Dunton fits that definition just fine.
Note: please notice that mine is simply a retaliatory strike, as opposed to an offensive one.
It's almost always a "guest" shooting his mouth off, saying things that ought not be said. If you want to say the guy can't coach, then just say it! But cut the baloney/balderdash about
character. Anybody that knows him knows that he is a man of integrity (even if he is playing LC - I'm just praying we win the game.)

[PAmedic]

I can tell you, from personally meeting this man over the weekend (he graciously took the time to spend 15 min or more chatting w/ me) that he is an intense man, bent on winning, and has absolute confidence in this team for this season and the future.
I can't speak for the coaching- but I read people well and he strikes me as a sincere person.
He is excited about the prospects, the new recruits, the guys coming back, and the opportunity to play Kentucky.
I'm looking forward to seeing the start of the season more than ever. Best of luck to you, Coach.

*he also introduced me to the young man from Plano- Anthony. Coach is very high on this kid- #15 in TX I believe.

[PAmedic]

in other words: EVERYBODY CHILL OUT.

[grm]

Hey PA, I'm glad you got to meet coach.

[PAmedic]

It was very cool of him to speak w/ me- and he didn't deck me when I helpfully suggested he look to recruit from the northeast (couldn't help myself!)

Like I know what I'm talking about when it comes to hoops!

we did agree that a certain Texan on the board must be insane. LOL

[jmthingyens]

This is something that should be brought back up for several reasons.....

#1: We haven't won on the road in almost two years...
#2: We have had 1 Winning season since he has been coach 03-04 (18-15)
#3: The number of players who did not pan out/left is outrageous
#4: No attendance
#5: He cannot keep assistants
#6: No evidence of improving the program
#7: This is his 5th year, and we are still perceived by the basketball world as one of the worst in the NCAA

[grm]

I think you guys (or you, to be more specific) are a pain in the you-know-what. You know he's not going to get fired in the middle of the season, so why not hold off until the facts are in? You're not helping anyone, and certainly are not supportive. Say what you will, - you have that right, but it makes no sense to me, other than you having a chance to build your case in advance and vent some of your feelings. When the results are in, then have at it, is what I would prefer. I am hoping we win on the road this week, have a winning season,
have ouir players "pan out," win enough to rekindle the attendance, (I love our assistants, and I believe that they are happy), .... well, I guess that would pretty much cover the list. Nobody knows for sure until after the games are played - not even you.

It's going to unfold very soon. We'll all have something objective to point out in a few days.
I'm looking for a win - obviously you are expecting a loss. My understanding is that you are faithful to attend the games, and that you want nothing more than to win, but you have not been willing to concede much in the way of Coach that I have seen, and I have to believe that, above all else, you just want to see him gone. If that is your # 1 point on your agenda,
then it seems you should forfeit credibility. (You already have with me - I'm just speaking of the other readers). I'll say it again - if the team stinks, I'll give way to some of your comments, but I don't believe you'll do the same if he has a respectable season. And I don't think "respectable" has to be defined as 24 wins and a bs championship. We can fight about respectable later, but the team will win games on the road - and will look very good at home.

[Guest]

You have to define respectable, and a .500 record is not respectable.

[jmthingyens]

grm said:

And I don't think "respectable" has to be defined as 24 wins and a bs championship. We can fight about respectable later, but the team will win games on the road - and will look very good at home.

Okay, below 500 is not respectable.....The announcers from the beginning of the game last night made our school out to be some D2 school the way they talked about our program. Either 24, or a championship would be respectable to me. Both would be incredible. That is just from all the BS you guys have said about this team. we have more talent now than any other teamunder Dunton. We have a good(seriously doubt it) coaching staff, and we have a week scedule backing us....why can't we be more successful.......I am sure some of us young people who will be around for quite a while would like to come back to LU one day and support a basketball team that is going to compete. We didn't even belong in the same state as Florida.....bye bye Dunton (the earlier post meant in the offseason.