Monday night was a big night for our Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams. Both teams were on the road playing important games. Our men were in Boiling Springs, NC playing Gardner Webb University while our women were playing Southern Conference member Appalachian State in Boone, NC.
Both teams had very impressive outings. Our men beat Gardner Webb in two overtimes. It was great listening to this game on the radio, it was so intense and hard fought. Our team had some outstanding individual efforts such as Amir Johnson’s 26 points and Kenny Thomas’ 24 points -but what I liked most about our win was the total team effort. Coach Greenberg talked about it being “an authentic team effort” and a game that “tested our resiliency, mental toughness and stamina—and we passed.” Keep in mind this is an excellent Gardner Webb team-the same team that beat the University of Kentucky in Rupp Arena last month! Our team is getting better with every practice and every game and a win like this is huge for our confidence. Let’s make sure we have a great turnout for our upcoming game Saturday against Campbell. Tip-off is at 7:00pm in the Dedmon Center.
Our Women’s team also had a very impressive win in the mountains of North Carolina beating Appalachian State by 20 points, 65-45. We once again had two players record “Double-Doubles”. Corrie Ferritta had 15 points and 12 rebounds and Johnette Walker scored 12 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. What a night for these two players! Taleia Morton also had a great game scoring 15 points and 8 steals-I would hate to be the point guard that has to bring the ball down the floor against Taleia as she can flat out play defense. What these numbers tell me is that our team plays hard. They pursue the ball and do the little things that lead to wins. We return to action against VCU Saturday at 4:30 in the Segal Center. I am calling out to all Highlanders in the Richmond area…we want you in the stands to support this basketball team! VCU is one of the best teams we have faced and we need your support in this key non-conference road game.
Have you heard former women’s player Sarah Stevens sing the National Anthem at our games? Wow! She is fantastic.
One last thing…a good source in Charlottesville who just happens to be my brother, (UVA Assistant Football Coach, Wayne Lineburg), informed me last night tickets go on sale for the April 30th Bruce Springsteen show at the John Paul Jones Center in Charlottesville this coming Friday. Soccer Coach Spencer Smith and Field Hockey Coach Jeff Woods…hope you are reading my blog!
GO HIGHLANDERS!!!!
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Sunday, December 2, 2007
A Great Week!
Tuesday was a special day for our athletic staff and me. We were honored to have Jim Copeland spend the day with us. Jim has been the Athletics Director at William & Mary, Utah, University of Virginia, and Southern Methodist University. I had the pleasure of spending 11 years at SMU working under Jim’s leadership. He is a dear friend of mine and I have never made a career decision without speaking with Jim. Jim shared so many great ideas and thoughts about how we can get better as an athletic department at Radford University.
After doing a lot of travelling recently it has been good to be in Radford for a few days. I really enjoyed meeting with four terrific student-athletes Tuesday night. Corin O’Donnell, Paul Caruso, Josie Hanners, and Ashley Carlson are outstanding student leaders in our Student Athlete Advisory Committee. We talked about a number of issues and I am certain I learned a lot more from them than they learned from me. We are so lucky to have students like these four. They are smart and motivated and each has a great influence on our campus community. I am also certain we will see great things from these four as they graduate and embark on what I know will be successful careers.
One of the most exciting games I have seen recently was our women’s basketball game against William & Mary this past Friday. The Highlanders played exceptional basketball and beat a William & Mary team that has been predicted to be among the best in this season’s Colonial Conference race.
The Highlanders returned to the Dedmon Center last night and played an excellent game against Navy, winning 63-51. It was a terrific team effort. Kelli Darden had a fantastic game scoring 21 points and pulling down 16 rebounds. Forward Corrie Feritta had 15 points and 12 rebounds. It is very rare in the game of basketball to have two players finish with "Double/Doubles." Congratulations to Kelli and Corrie! Taleia Morton and Johnette Walker also had excellent games as well as the rest of our team. Our next three games are on the road and I want our alumni and fans in the following areas to come out and support this outstanding basketball team. We play in Boone, NC Monday, December 3rd against Appalachian State, Saturday December 8th at VCU (4:30pm) in Richmond, and Sunday, December 16th against Wake Forest in Winston Salem, NC. These are big road games and our team needs your support.
I want to once again thank our student body for the great turnout for the Men’s game against Southern Virginia last Wednesday. We had a large and enthusiastic group of students come out to cheer on the Highlanders. I want to continue to emphasize to all Highlander Fans that to wear RED at all of our contests. We want to be loud and visible
Our Men’s Basketball Team has a busy week with games at Presbyterian in Clinton, SC Saturday, December 1st, at Gardner Webb Monday, December 3rd, and finally back home to the Dedmon Center Saturday, December 8th when we take on Campbell University.
Best of luck to our Men’s and Women’s Track teams as they open their indoor season at Appalachian State this Saturday in a big invitational meet.
I was thrilled to get a phone call from Chris Hawkins this week. Chris is a Radford University graduate and current Assistant Basketball Coach at Tulane University. Chris and I played together at Radford and he is one of my all time favorite teammates. Chris was a tremendous leader as a player and he has great reputation as a coach and recruiter in college basketball. He has a great love for Radford University.
I hope everyone has a safe weekend.
Go Highlanders!
After doing a lot of travelling recently it has been good to be in Radford for a few days. I really enjoyed meeting with four terrific student-athletes Tuesday night. Corin O’Donnell, Paul Caruso, Josie Hanners, and Ashley Carlson are outstanding student leaders in our Student Athlete Advisory Committee. We talked about a number of issues and I am certain I learned a lot more from them than they learned from me. We are so lucky to have students like these four. They are smart and motivated and each has a great influence on our campus community. I am also certain we will see great things from these four as they graduate and embark on what I know will be successful careers.
One of the most exciting games I have seen recently was our women’s basketball game against William & Mary this past Friday. The Highlanders played exceptional basketball and beat a William & Mary team that has been predicted to be among the best in this season’s Colonial Conference race.
The Highlanders returned to the Dedmon Center last night and played an excellent game against Navy, winning 63-51. It was a terrific team effort. Kelli Darden had a fantastic game scoring 21 points and pulling down 16 rebounds. Forward Corrie Feritta had 15 points and 12 rebounds. It is very rare in the game of basketball to have two players finish with "Double/Doubles." Congratulations to Kelli and Corrie! Taleia Morton and Johnette Walker also had excellent games as well as the rest of our team. Our next three games are on the road and I want our alumni and fans in the following areas to come out and support this outstanding basketball team. We play in Boone, NC Monday, December 3rd against Appalachian State, Saturday December 8th at VCU (4:30pm) in Richmond, and Sunday, December 16th against Wake Forest in Winston Salem, NC. These are big road games and our team needs your support.
I want to once again thank our student body for the great turnout for the Men’s game against Southern Virginia last Wednesday. We had a large and enthusiastic group of students come out to cheer on the Highlanders. I want to continue to emphasize to all Highlander Fans that to wear RED at all of our contests. We want to be loud and visible
Our Men’s Basketball Team has a busy week with games at Presbyterian in Clinton, SC Saturday, December 1st, at Gardner Webb Monday, December 3rd, and finally back home to the Dedmon Center Saturday, December 8th when we take on Campbell University.
Best of luck to our Men’s and Women’s Track teams as they open their indoor season at Appalachian State this Saturday in a big invitational meet.
I was thrilled to get a phone call from Chris Hawkins this week. Chris is a Radford University graduate and current Assistant Basketball Coach at Tulane University. Chris and I played together at Radford and he is one of my all time favorite teammates. Chris was a tremendous leader as a player and he has great reputation as a coach and recruiter in college basketball. He has a great love for Radford University.
I hope everyone has a safe weekend.
Go Highlanders!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving!
On behalf of the Radford University Athletic Department I would like to wish everyone a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving.
Go Highlanders!
Robert
Go Highlanders!
Robert
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Supporting Soccer!
I had a great day yesterday. I had several productive meetings and then jumped in the car for a three hour drive to Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC for the Big South Men's Soccer semi final game. I actually love to get in the car and drive...well, maybe not the recent 17 hour drive from “Big D” to Radford with a 75 pound collie dog as my copilot. On this trip I had five CD’s I recently burned and I listened to a lot of my favorites. Most of the folks who know me know I am a huge Rock and Roll fan. I was finally able to review Bruce Springsteen’s new album titled “Magic”. It’s not Born to Run ,The Wild the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle, or Darkness on the Edge of Town but as always with Bruce, it is very, very good.
And to borrow a theme from a classic Bruce tune, our men’s soccer team was truly “Born to Run” yesterday afternoon. What a match! We got off to a great start, took an early 2-0 lead and never looked back. There were so many great plays in this game, but my favorite was when James Leith scored on a breakaway goal to make it 3-1 and seal the game for the Highlanders at 74:42. After that goal our defense, which was great all afternoon, dug in and a really good Coastal Carolina team never had another good look at the goal.
This win results in a championship appearance for our Highlanders. We now advance to take on Liberty, Sunday at 2:00pm. The winner advances to the NCAA playoffs. I am calling on every Highlander fan to make this trip and see this championship game. This is HUGE! -A HUGE opportunity for our men’s soccer program and a huge opportunity for our university. Let’s make the stands at the Winthrop Soccer Stadium a sea of RED just like our men’s basketball game Wednesday. Folks, let me repeat myself…our Men’s soccer team is one game away from the NCAA PLAYOFFS. Simply put, this is what it is all about.
One of my observations about our team is that they are physically tough. They play hard and they compete. Several of the guys took hard shots but immediately got up, brushed the dirt off, and went back to the business of winning. I had an opportunity to visit with our team after the game and I was so proud of them. I saw a team on a mission and I am very confident that they will play a great match tomorrow.
So get in the car, put in your favorite CD (and if you need a copy of my latest mix-heavy on the Counting Crows, Pearl Jam, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac and the Grateful Dead, call me) and come support the Highlanders as they play for the Big South Championship Sunday at 2:00pm.
Go Highlanders!
Robert
And to borrow a theme from a classic Bruce tune, our men’s soccer team was truly “Born to Run” yesterday afternoon. What a match! We got off to a great start, took an early 2-0 lead and never looked back. There were so many great plays in this game, but my favorite was when James Leith scored on a breakaway goal to make it 3-1 and seal the game for the Highlanders at 74:42. After that goal our defense, which was great all afternoon, dug in and a really good Coastal Carolina team never had another good look at the goal.
This win results in a championship appearance for our Highlanders. We now advance to take on Liberty, Sunday at 2:00pm. The winner advances to the NCAA playoffs. I am calling on every Highlander fan to make this trip and see this championship game. This is HUGE! -A HUGE opportunity for our men’s soccer program and a huge opportunity for our university. Let’s make the stands at the Winthrop Soccer Stadium a sea of RED just like our men’s basketball game Wednesday. Folks, let me repeat myself…our Men’s soccer team is one game away from the NCAA PLAYOFFS. Simply put, this is what it is all about.
One of my observations about our team is that they are physically tough. They play hard and they compete. Several of the guys took hard shots but immediately got up, brushed the dirt off, and went back to the business of winning. I had an opportunity to visit with our team after the game and I was so proud of them. I saw a team on a mission and I am very confident that they will play a great match tomorrow.
So get in the car, put in your favorite CD (and if you need a copy of my latest mix-heavy on the Counting Crows, Pearl Jam, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac and the Grateful Dead, call me) and come support the Highlanders as they play for the Big South Championship Sunday at 2:00pm.
Go Highlanders!
Robert
Friday, November 16, 2007
Big South Travels!
Congratulations to Coach Spencer Smith and our men’s soccer team on a great win in the Big South Conference Tournament over VMI yesterday! The team returns to action at 4:00 pm this afternoon vs. Coastal Carolina. I am excited to be traveling Rock Hill, SC and tournament host Winthrop University to see this game.
Last night I drove to Liberty University to see our volleyball team take on Coastal Carolina. My travels were interesting as it had been about 10 years since I had been Lynchburg. I didn’t print out any directions since I thought I knew my way around the “Hill City.” Well, let me tell you, either I am directionally challenged or Lynchburg has changed a lot since I lasted visited. I ended up at EC Glass High School, had the scenic tour, and finally wove my way onto the LU campus and the Vines Center. Moral of the story…when in doubt always have your directions!
I enjoyed watching the Highlander volleyball team play. They are an exciting young team with only two seniors. We played hard and competed against a strong Coastal Carolina team with great enthusiasm. Even when playing from behind, our team constantly encouraged one another and cheered each other on.
The last time I saw a Highlander volleyball game, Coach Janelle Dobbins was running the show. She is in our Athletic Hall of Fame and is a first class person--one of the nicest people one will ever meet. I had Coach Dobbins for a class as a student at Radford and she is one of the finest professors I have ever had. She is a huge part of the Radford Community and she and her husband Don, were the first people I saw at the men’s basketball game Wednesday night.
I am always aware of what a small world it really is and it was evident last night at the volleyball match when I watched freshman Jessica Sullivan play. Jessica grew up in the same Dallas, Texas neighborhood where my wife and I lived the past seven years. Jessica attended Lake Highlands High School which is known throughout the state of Texas for its excellent academics and athletics. Jessica, Kiley Kent, Maggie Wagner, and Heidi Haubrich are part of an exciting freshman class that Coach Crystal Poskey has brought to RU.
I also want to congratulate junior volleyball student-athlete Melinda Clelland. Melinda is a junior from Richmond, Va. and was named to the Big South All-Academic Team. Great job Melinda…we are very proud of you on this fantastic accomplishment!
Big game for our women’s basketball team tonight. Make sure you listen at 6:00 pm as we take on Miami (OH) on the road in Oxford, Ohio. The Highlanders opened with an outstanding TCU team in Fort Worth, Texas and played very well despite not finishing on the winning end. We get to see them in action against William & Mary on Friday, November 23rd when they return to friendly confines of our Dedmon Center.
I’m off for a tour of our baseball facility and then I’m headed down I-77 to cheer for the soccer team. I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe weekend.
LET’S TOP IT IN ALL THAT WE DO!
Go Highlanders!
Last night I drove to Liberty University to see our volleyball team take on Coastal Carolina. My travels were interesting as it had been about 10 years since I had been Lynchburg. I didn’t print out any directions since I thought I knew my way around the “Hill City.” Well, let me tell you, either I am directionally challenged or Lynchburg has changed a lot since I lasted visited. I ended up at EC Glass High School, had the scenic tour, and finally wove my way onto the LU campus and the Vines Center. Moral of the story…when in doubt always have your directions!
I enjoyed watching the Highlander volleyball team play. They are an exciting young team with only two seniors. We played hard and competed against a strong Coastal Carolina team with great enthusiasm. Even when playing from behind, our team constantly encouraged one another and cheered each other on.
The last time I saw a Highlander volleyball game, Coach Janelle Dobbins was running the show. She is in our Athletic Hall of Fame and is a first class person--one of the nicest people one will ever meet. I had Coach Dobbins for a class as a student at Radford and she is one of the finest professors I have ever had. She is a huge part of the Radford Community and she and her husband Don, were the first people I saw at the men’s basketball game Wednesday night.
I am always aware of what a small world it really is and it was evident last night at the volleyball match when I watched freshman Jessica Sullivan play. Jessica grew up in the same Dallas, Texas neighborhood where my wife and I lived the past seven years. Jessica attended Lake Highlands High School which is known throughout the state of Texas for its excellent academics and athletics. Jessica, Kiley Kent, Maggie Wagner, and Heidi Haubrich are part of an exciting freshman class that Coach Crystal Poskey has brought to RU.
I also want to congratulate junior volleyball student-athlete Melinda Clelland. Melinda is a junior from Richmond, Va. and was named to the Big South All-Academic Team. Great job Melinda…we are very proud of you on this fantastic accomplishment!
Big game for our women’s basketball team tonight. Make sure you listen at 6:00 pm as we take on Miami (OH) on the road in Oxford, Ohio. The Highlanders opened with an outstanding TCU team in Fort Worth, Texas and played very well despite not finishing on the winning end. We get to see them in action against William & Mary on Friday, November 23rd when they return to friendly confines of our Dedmon Center.
I’m off for a tour of our baseball facility and then I’m headed down I-77 to cheer for the soccer team. I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe weekend.
LET’S TOP IT IN ALL THAT WE DO!
Go Highlanders!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
THANK YOU!
It is amazing what can be accomplished when we work together. I‘ve always believed in this quotation, try to live by it, and I’ve never seen it fail.
v in the Dedmon Center, the Radford University Community came together for what we will one day be remembered as the beginning of a new era in Radford University Athletics. Tonight we saw our Men’s Basketball team defeat Presbyterian College with tremendous teamwork, determination, and passion. We saw a student body full of energy and great school spirit cheer our team to victory in a home opener that rivaled any college basketball venue anywhere. I recently had an opposing head coach tell me that Radford University and the Dedmon Center had lost its home court advantage. Tonight that notion could not have been further from the truth. The atmosphere in our Dedmon Center was electric from start to finish and our players fed off of the crowd’s emotion.
On behalf of our entire athletic department, I want to thank each and every person that came to our home opener tonight. It started with a tailgate party in the Dedmon Center parking lot and ended with a huge win over future conference member Presbyterian College. Tonight we saw this student body come out in the “Dread the Red” t-shirts that became a sea of RED throughout the arena. The participation was incredible. Our band, our cheerleaders, the Rockers, the fraternities and sororities and each and every student who attended the game needs to understand what an amazing contribution that you made tonight. The fans were truly the Highlander’s 6th man tonight! The key is this…it cannot stop here.
The men’s basketball team returns to action Saturday night at 7:00pm to take on a Gardner-Webb University team that went into Rupp Arena at the University of Kentucky and beat the Wildcats, just last week. We want every Highlander fan to come dressed in RED. Let’s not duplicate tonight’s atmosphere-LET’S TOP IT!
And LET’S TOP IT! In every Highlander sport-it IS the beginning of a new era—the women’s basketball team takes on Miami (OH) in the WNIT Friday night, the soccer team is playing a huge Big South Tournament match today with VMI and our women’s volleyball team takes on Coastal Carolina in the 1st round of Big South Tournament play at Liberty tonight at 7:00pm. Join us for this ride because the future of Radford University Athletics is very, very bright and never forget that is amazing what can be accomplished when we work together.
It is great to be a Highlander!
Best, Robert Lineburg
v in the Dedmon Center, the Radford University Community came together for what we will one day be remembered as the beginning of a new era in Radford University Athletics. Tonight we saw our Men’s Basketball team defeat Presbyterian College with tremendous teamwork, determination, and passion. We saw a student body full of energy and great school spirit cheer our team to victory in a home opener that rivaled any college basketball venue anywhere. I recently had an opposing head coach tell me that Radford University and the Dedmon Center had lost its home court advantage. Tonight that notion could not have been further from the truth. The atmosphere in our Dedmon Center was electric from start to finish and our players fed off of the crowd’s emotion.
On behalf of our entire athletic department, I want to thank each and every person that came to our home opener tonight. It started with a tailgate party in the Dedmon Center parking lot and ended with a huge win over future conference member Presbyterian College. Tonight we saw this student body come out in the “Dread the Red” t-shirts that became a sea of RED throughout the arena. The participation was incredible. Our band, our cheerleaders, the Rockers, the fraternities and sororities and each and every student who attended the game needs to understand what an amazing contribution that you made tonight. The fans were truly the Highlander’s 6th man tonight! The key is this…it cannot stop here.
The men’s basketball team returns to action Saturday night at 7:00pm to take on a Gardner-Webb University team that went into Rupp Arena at the University of Kentucky and beat the Wildcats, just last week. We want every Highlander fan to come dressed in RED. Let’s not duplicate tonight’s atmosphere-LET’S TOP IT!
And LET’S TOP IT! In every Highlander sport-it IS the beginning of a new era—the women’s basketball team takes on Miami (OH) in the WNIT Friday night, the soccer team is playing a huge Big South Tournament match today with VMI and our women’s volleyball team takes on Coastal Carolina in the 1st round of Big South Tournament play at Liberty tonight at 7:00pm. Join us for this ride because the future of Radford University Athletics is very, very bright and never forget that is amazing what can be accomplished when we work together.
It is great to be a Highlander!
Best, Robert Lineburg
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