Dear Liberty Students, Alumni, and Athletic Department,
I believe that Tim Scarborough should be in the Hall of Fame at Liberty University.
Hall of Fame is defined by Webster as “a structure housing memorials to famous or illustrious individuals usually chosen by a group of electors”. Further, illustrious is defined by Webster as “well known, respected, and admired for past achievements”.
I am not writing to convince anyone that one person is more deserving than another to be inducted into the Liberty University Athletics Hall Of Fame. I am writing to explain that Liberty Alumni, current supporters, boosters, and current students need to take responsibility and pride in the Hall of Fame process. Every year, there is someone inducted into the Hall of Fame that a large population of these people say a resounding “Who?” I am not here to talk about any of this either. If you’re curious, that inductee who you said “Who” to is very deserving of their Hall of Fame spot.
Scar finished his career with 616 points, 222 rebounds, and 194 assists
I am here to spark a conversation. I am here to say, even if you don’t get a direct vote, make your feelings known. If you are still reading, I am asking you to appreciate what these people have done to lay the groundwork for athletics at the University. Also, I want to explain that there is a candidate that hasn’t been given a fair opportunity to be inducted. I am writing to tell you that Tim Scarborough (Scar) should be the next member of Liberty basketball to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. If you took a poll of all the people that pay attention to Liberty Athletics as well as pay attention to who is being inducted into the Hall of Fame, the percentage of people that have a “Who” moment for Scar would be significantly less than any other person. Why? Because in the last decade of instability of Liberty basketball with coaches coming and going, players transferring, assistant coaches moving on, Big South coaching changes, etc., Scar has been a face for Liberty basketball.
Before there is a group of people that shut down this page and move on, I want to address a couple of things. If you are going to close it, go ahead, it counted like you read the whole thing anyway. Duration is irrelevant. For the people that are serious, they might ask questions about performance as a player, numbers, etc. I would simply propose Dick Vitale. Dicky V. was never a great player, he was never a great coach, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame based on his contributions to the world of basketball. Keep that (and the initial definitions) in mind as you give this information strong consideration.
Scar began his Liberty journey as a walk-on for the basketball team. Yes, a walk-on. He had opportunities at Division I institutions, but believed in the vision of Liberty Athletics and Dr. Falwell. The University hadn’t even played a single Division I game before Scar took the floor as a freshman; he played the first one ever. It only took one semester of playing basketball before Scar had earned his scholarship that he would keep through the remainder of his playing career. In 87 games of playing time (to put that in perspective, your average season is 30 games in 2014, multiplied by 4 years, most scholarship players play in 120 games), Scar finished his career ranked 18th on the all-time scoring list and currently is in the top 50. In his first season, Scar played scarcely in 6 games total. To put that in perspective, he really only played three seasons, and Liberty did not play any post-season basketball during his 4-year career.
Scar worked for LFSN for 11 years
Right after graduating, the Philadelphia native stayed in Virginia to go into the business world, but not for long. Only a few short years passed before Scar was an Assistant Coach under Jeff Meyer for the Men’s Basketball team. As an Assistant Coach, Scar was part of recruiting and coaching arguably two of the best Liberty teams of all time, both having the honor of playing in back-to-back Big South Championship games. In two seasons as an assistant, the Men’s Basketball team compiled 40 wins. One of those years was a 23 win season that is still a Liberty record. In comparison, Liberty Men’s Basketball has had 40 losses the last two years. Scar’s impact on Liberty Men’s Basketball can be seen in some of the best players in Liberty history including: Marcus White, Larry Jackson, and Peter Aluma. This is not to mention those that Scar has mentored and helped as part of the Liberty Basketball Alumni Family.
For the younger audience, you will know Scar for his 11 years as the color commentator for Men’s basketball (15 years total on television). Scar helped take the Liberty Flames Sports Network from a small-time production to one of the largest at the mid-major level. The Liberty Flames Sports Network Men’s Basketball productions have gone from local Lynchburg channel 13 (depending on your provider) to now being seen on television all down the east coast on MASN and internationally on ESPN 3. Without his talent, understanding of the game, passion for Liberty Basketball, and countless other attributes, the Liberty Flames Sports Network would not be the production that it is today. Fortunately for most of you, you can now watch all of the Liberty Basketball games for free, and do not have to pay for bad video quality through the Big South website.
During this past Fall semester, LFSN let Scar go. It was only a matter of days before the American Sports Network recognized his talent and picked him up to be a color commentator. Currently, Scar covers Ivy League, Conference USA, the CAA, OVC, and Atlantic 10 basketball. Next season Scar will also begin covering the Big South and Southern Conferences. In these arenas, Scar has already been a part of history covering the 1st basketball game ever on the American Sports Network on November 14th, 2014. He now serves as color commentator on most nights along-side ESPN play-by-play analysts Ron Thulin, Mike Gleason, and Dave Armstrong.
Scar pictured with former LU head coach Jeff Meyer
I do not write this to give you his resume, or how great he has been in all of his professions, but just to say he deserves the spot in the Hall of Fame. Maybe not as a player, maybe not as a coach, and maybe not as a commentator, but he should be for his contributions to Liberty Athletics. This man has dedicated his entire adult life to Liberty Athletics. He might not be the guy sitting in a recruit’s living room anymore, but he is the voice they hear when they watch a highlight tape during their visit. He is a face that every person from recruit to visiting coach speaks to when they walk into the Vines Center. Based on all of this information: Who would you vote for? Who is more deserving? Who has laid more groundwork for Liberty Athletics to be as great it is?
Again, I believe that Tim Scarborough should be in the Hall of Fame at Liberty University. Combine an unlikely successful playing career with the odds stacked against him, a coaching record that speaks for itself, and being a mentor for not only players that played for him but also more recent players Larry Blair, Anthony Smith, and Jesse Sanders. Put this together with him bringing his undeniable, nationally recognized skill set to take LFSN to the next level, and the picture is pretty clear. Who has done more for Liberty Men’s Basketball as a whole over the last 43 years than Scar?
If you don’t buy into any of this stuff, I mean, he has the most famous dunk in Liberty history… and that was before the ESPN Top 10.
-Anonymous Alumni and Flames Supporter
Follow Scar on Twitter at @timscar20 and like his Facebook Page, Tim Scarborough – Public Figure
