VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE WINTHR0 P UNIVERSITY

Winthrop

Location: Rock Hill, S C

Enrollment: 6,610

Founded: 1886

Nickname: Eagles

Colors: Garnet M and Gold

Sasser Cups: 2 I

Head Coach Randy Dunton regroupsthe team during atime-out Coach Dunton became head coach ofthe team afterthe 2000-2001 season and brought the team from a5-25 losing seasontowinning theBig South Championship injustthree years:

The Flames'cheerleaders show theirsupport with high-flyingmaneuvers and catchycheers

The cheerleaderscheered atboth themen's and women's basketballgames duringtheseason

"We must protectthe house,"and "On the 8th day, let therebe Redmen,"were, thetrademark chants of the Redmeny explainediRedmSth;;

Brad Jackson The Redmen were an easilyrecognizable group ofLiberty.students, appearing atevery game completely painted...red.

The 2004-2005 Men's Basketballteam The team consisted ofsixplayers playingthe forward position fiveintheguard position, andthreeplayersin the • center position Theteam was relativelyyoung with only fourupperclassmen,threeof Sfhich I were seniors SubmittedbySports information

From the Streets to the Savior

Evan Rischer hadbeen playing basketball since he wasfive years old He hada desire toplay on a college team andbegan to look for prospective programs. After receiving mail from Liberty University,Rischer decided thiswasthe competitive program hedesiredto complete in

For most of Rischer's life, church attendance had been an off-and-on activity. He struggled with a lifestyle that conflicted with messages learned on occasional Sunday mornings.As Rischer put it,"You can grow up in church, but not necessarily beinto the meaning of church."

When Rischer started school at Liberty, he felt God's convicting presence increase in his life. "When I was at Campus Church, God was working with me. inthe old days, Iwould walk out when Iheard something that convicted me. ButoneWednesday night in September, Pastor Johnnie [Moore] waspreaching andhis words struck me."

That September night, Evan Rischer received Christ's salvation. Since then, Rischer has become serious about doing the Lord's work and glorifying himthrough basketball

"Evan is a shining example of what God can do with a person who surrenders his all and lays it at His feet," Rischer's SLD, David Guinn, said about the change in Rischer's life "With his leadership abilities,personality andhis love for Jesus, Evan willdefinitely make a difference in this world that cannever beerased."

David Deesattempts toadd apointtothescore

Dees had thehighest free throw percentagefortheFlames -PhotobyPaulYoung

With thefanslookingon anxiously, Team Captain Leo Lightbourne shootsafree throw,Lightbourne had a .635 freethrow percentage going intotheBigSouth championship tournament -PhotobyPaulYoung

High Hopes for a Successful Season

Depended on <:Fa; ort ith the prior season's accomplishments including a 12-4 Big South record and the memorable domination of Big South Championship game, Flames fanshad high hopes forthe 2004-2005 men's basketball season Lastyear' season had "...givenustraditionand drivesustoduplicatelastyear'ssuccess," said Randy Dunton,head coach ofmen's basketball

Lastyear'svictoryproved notonly thatthemen's basketballprogram was headed intherightdirection, butalsothatthepresence ofthefanswas one ofthemost important factorsintheteam's success.A record attendance of8,515 fansinthe "Furnace" proved initselfthat the fans played a necessary role inthe excited atmosphere of the Big South Championship. Coach Dunton emphasized, "Fans aren'tjustspectators, butparticipants. The sixthman is the student body and it's very important thatthey show up."

Among the masses of cheering fans,the "Redmen Group" from Dorm 23-3, was one ofthemost noticeableand colorfulgroups inthestands. These students paintedtheir entirebodies red, each displaying a lettertospellthe words, "LibertyFlames."

Along with fan support,leadership was another key role inthe Flame'ssuccess Senior and Team Captain,Leo Lightbourne, took on the important task of leading the learn."It has been a wonderful and adventurous day-in and day-out experience,stepping up and being a leader and captain on thisyear'sbasketball team," said Lightbourne.

Lightbourne,along with teammates Larry Blair and David Dees, helped lead the team innumerous victoriesand all were named to ihe Big South All-Conference Team

With teamwork and continued fan support spurring the Flames on, Liberty's hopes for future conference success continued to grow. Lightbourne agreed, "As a team we appreciate, commit to, trustand loveour fansjustaswe appreciate, commit to, trustand love one another." D