Lemonis job Performance

[TNDawg35]

Let?s play a game? Your the AD. You either can fire Lemonis or keep him. If you fire him, give 5 names to replace. Take into account what he has done. Won a natty 2 trips to Omaha, 2 last place in SEC finishes, missed the tourney twice.

Here is my take. To me, this program is not where it should be and I don?t think it will get there under his leadership. We have too many issues. I thank him for his service, wrote the buyout, and send him on his way? I would then ask Justin Parker to stay on as intern coach for the year. Let him and Gotro run it this year. But be very clear the new coach will be allowed to get his own staff.

Here are my replacements
- Justin OHare (he didn?t forget to coach)
- Josh Elander (Assc HC at TN)
- Lane Burroughs
- Rob Vaughn (kick the bucket and see if he would move)
- Skip Johnson. What he has done at OU is excellent. Wonder if he would make a move?

[KOdawg1]

-Mark Wasikowski
-Rob Vaughn
-Nick Mingione
-Chris Pollard
-Wes Johnson

[StarkVegasSteve]

-I would not hire Justin Haire or Justin Ohare. Haire has not proven he can do it at this level. OHare is not in coaching to my knowledge.
-Elander is fine. Just understand you are not getting Tony and do not be mad when the results are not immediate like Tony.
-No
-This is my first call
-kick the bucket because of the Selmon connection.

[HoopsDawg]

The thing is, we don't have to find another Tony V. There are 50 coaches that could do this job better.

[Coach34]

Should we pull the trigger I'm going to once again say our next HC will not be from an SEC or top school. We will get another Indiana type HC or a top SEC asst- which Tenn did well with as did we with Cann until he screwed it up

[msstate7]

The thing is, we don't have to find another Tony V. There are 50 coaches that could do this job better.

^^^

[Ranchdawg]

The thing is, we don't have to find another Tony V. There are 50 coaches that could do this job better.

I agree, my goodness a high school coach could do better than Lemonis. And it has been that way since the natty. We keep expecting Lemonis to change and the sad truth he ain’t. Who ever we get as coach for the love of the game please recruit/get from the portal guys that look like dirtbags or guys that don’t look like your chemistry lab partner. Get guys that are alpha males, guys that you would be afraid of. Our teams under Lemonis have been full of weak looking guys or just ordinary.

Same with pitchers get some guys that are least 6’4” not 5’9” and look like they don’t know how to pitch.

[basedog]

Lot of good baseball coaches, Hell Ron Polk wasn’t at a big time program when hired. No reason we can’t get a good Coach.

[bulldogcountry1]

The question is how those pulling the strings look at the 2024 season. I think too many look at it just being glad we made it back to postseason. Given the number of draft picks we had, there?s no other way to look at it other than an underachievement. There?s no reason for that team to not host.

Now, all the issues we had in 2022 and 2023 are back.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Lot of good baseball coaches, Hell Ron Polk wasn’t at a big time program when hired. No reason we can’t get a good Coach.

That was when no one in the SEC cared about baseball. 5 to 8 of the top 20 coaches in the country now reside in the SEC. You cannot afford to hire a project.

[StateDawg44]

That was when no one in the SEC cared about baseball. 5 to 8 of the top 20 coaches in the country now reside in the SEC. You cannot afford to hire a project.

We can?t afford to keep trotting these sorry ass Lemonball teams out there either.

We have to rip the damn band aid off and get it started at some point. Why just drag us down even more?

Dude is an anchor for the program right now. It?s obvious recruits don?t buy what he is selling.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Agreed. It?s not heading in the right direction.

[basedog]

That was when no one in the SEC cared about baseball. 5 to 8 of the top 20 coaches in the country now reside in the SEC. You cannot afford to hire a project.

I never said we hire a project. Do you know how many college baseball programs there are? Way more than football.

[StarkVegasSteve]

I never said we hire a project. Do you know how many college baseball programs there are? Way more than football.

And 98% of them have coaches that could not handle the pressure of coaching at Mississippi State.

We hired a project when we hired Lemonis and anyone we hire is going to be a project. There are about 5-10 HCs that are ready for this job when they step on campus. Andy Cannizarro was one of those.

[THE Bruce Dickinson]

If we decide to move, Elander should be the first call

[basedog]

And 98% of them have coaches that could not handle the pressure of coaching at Mississippi State.

We hired a project when we hired Lemonis and anyone we hire is going to be a project. There are about 5-10 HCs that are ready for this job when they step on campus. Andy Cannizarro was one of those.

Guess where Tn, Fl and Vandy Head Coaches came from? Assistant coaches. Your 98% is way way off. We can get a better HC.

[Saltydog]

Another shitty season w/o making a regional and I think you don't have much choice.

I know they may have fallen off a bit because NIL somewhat neutralized their advantages but I'd throw Corbin in the mix. Everyone says "no" on Mingione but he's done some good things at UK. May be worth a call. Lane Burroughs is a no brainer. Mitch Canham at Oregon State would get a call too They're in a no win situation. I'd at least call Wes Johnson. He wouldn't come but I'd call him.

[BankerDog]

Another shitty season w/o making a regional and I think you don't have much choice.

I know they may have fallen off a bit because NIL somewhat neutralized their advantages but I'd throw Corbin in the mix. Everyone says "no" on Mingione but he's done some good things at UK. May be worth a call. Lane Burroughs is a no brainer. Mitch Canham at Oregon State would get a call too They're in a no win situation. I'd at least call Wes Johnson. He wouldn't come but I'd call him.

The people who say ?no? on Nick are the same ones who wanted Mullen gone because they wouldn?t be buds with them.

[Cowbell]

I personally would love to see Parker finish out this season as the HC - at the least, I'm curious to see what changes are made with the assistants out from under Lemonis.

[StarkVegasSteve]

The people who say ?no? on Nick are the same ones who wanted Mullen gone because they wouldn?t be buds with them.

The hire is sitting right in front of everyone and has been for 5 years. Jordan Bischel is Cann remade without the sexting issue. He is what we need. Put him at a premier program and watch. It will be Vitello 2.0.

[Coach34]

No the Clown at Kentucky just wasnt very well-liked here. His record at Kentucky isnt just stellar either. I guess his 2-4 start in the SEC vs Auburn and Georgia has everybody tingly.

He has job security at Kentucky. He's a northern guy. I dont want him and also doubt he would leave.

[Coach34]

The hire is sitting right in front of everyone and has been for 5 years. Jordan Bischel is Cann remade without the sexting issue. He is what we need. Put him at a premier program and watch. It will be Vitello 2.0.

Hmmmm- definitely worth an interview

[StarkVegasSteve]

Guess where Tn, Fl and Vandy Head Coaches came from? Assistant coaches. Your 98% is way way off. We can get a better HC.

And I will ask you this, when did they hire those guys? Because I for a fact know they were not hired during NIL. So your point is moot. You have to hire a guy that can live in Starkville without the recruiting advantages we had prior to NIL and deal with this fanbase. There are not a whole lot of HCs that can live in that moment.

The quicker some of you start figuring out our recruiting advantage that we had no longer exists then the quicker you will figure out there are not a lot of people who are willing to take this job. It is a EXTREMELY TOUGH job. The recruiting advantages you had were a bigger stadium and a passionate fan base when no one could legally pay. Now everyone can and you are recruiting to the middle of nowhere with a fan base that wants to burn the 2B on a grill in left field every time he boots a ball.

[CadaverDawg]

The hire is sitting right in front of everyone and has been for 5 years. Jordan Bischel is Cann remade without the sexting issue. He is what we need. Put him at a premier program and watch. It will be Vitello 2.0.

I'll bite. Tell me more about this guy. Cann without the issues sounds incredible right now. I admittedly have been tuned out since Lemonis tanked us after a Title, so I'm Not familiar with this guy at all....why do you compare him to Cann?

[basedog]

And I will ask you this, when did they hire those guys? Because I for a fact know they were not hired during NIL. So your point is moot. You have to hire a guy that can live in Starkville without the recruiting advantages we had prior to NIL and deal with this fanbase. There are not a whole lot of HCs that can live in that moment.

The quicker some of you start figuring out our recruiting advantage that we had no longer exists then the quicker you will figure out there are not a lot of people who are willing to take this job. It is a EXTREMELY TOUGH job. The recruiting advantages you had were a bigger stadium and a passionate fan base when no one could legally pay. Now everyone can and you are recruiting to the middle of nowhere with a fan base that wants to burn the 2B on a grill in left field every time he boots a ball.

Dude, you are part of the problem by downgrading Starkville time after time. We also have pretty good NIL money for baseball. Recruiting can happen in Baseball in StarkVegas.
Stop ur madness, you sure don’t have all the answers!! It is disgusting being a MSU graduate and you blasting Starkville all the time.

Btw how much coaching experience do you have anyway?

[StarkVegasSteve]

Dude, you are part of the problem by downgrading Starkville time after time. We also have pretty good NIL money for baseball. Recruiting can happen in Baseball in StarkVegas.
Stop ur madness, you sure don’t have all the answers!! It is disgusting being a MSU graduate and you blasting Starkville all the time.

Btw how much coaching experience do you have anyway?

Well I have a condo in Starkville and I actually give a shit about NIL and give. Do you? I doubt it. I say that about Starkville because I live in Dallas. And I see what is possible. You do not apparently and that is ok. Some people are ok with simple life. We cannot have a Mayberry university and compete in this era. Good ole Boys do not win anymore.

Also, I do not really care for you acting like I hate Starkville. Ask anyone who knows me well. I 17 love it with everything I got. But as usual, some of you take hard truths as bashing.

[Coach34]

And I will ask you this, when did they hire those guys? Because I for a fact know they were not hired during NIL. So your point is moot. You have to hire a guy that can live in Starkville without the recruiting advantages we had prior to NIL and deal with this fanbase. There are not a whole lot of HCs that can live in that moment.

The quicker some of you start figuring out our recruiting advantage that we had no longer exists then the quicker you will figure out there are not a lot of people who are willing to take this job. It is a EXTREMELY TOUGH job. The recruiting advantages you had were a bigger stadium and a passionate fan base when no one could legally pay. Now everyone can and you are recruiting to the middle of nowhere with a fan base that wants to burn the 2B on a grill in left field every time he boots a ball.

This is 100%. We no longer have a recruiting advantage. Kids are taking less money to play at other schools. Our fans dont understand this.

[StateDawg44]

This is 100%. We no longer have a recruiting advantage. Kids are taking less money to play at other schools. Our fans dont understand this.

Because they know our current staff and coaches are pure shit. Why would they want to play for Lemo?

[StarkVegasSteve]

Because they know our current staff and coaches are pure shit. Why would they want to play for Lemo?

No it is because we do not have any sort of advantage. Like really, what advantage do we have over another program these days? Seriously. Name one thing. Because no one gives a crap about a stadium. They will play in it anyways playing in this conference.

[Coach34]

Because they know our current staff and coaches are pure shit. Why would they want to play for Lemo?

We are signing good classes. We literally have one of the best freshman pitcher classes in the country

[Coach34]

Because they know our current staff and coaches are pure shit. Why would they want to play for Lemo?

This is State fans refusing to realize where we are now. It's easier to blame the coach than to acknowledge the problem

[StateDawg44]

This is State fans refusing to realize where we are now. It's easier to blame the coach than to acknowledge the problem

It?s also easier to recruit quality players when your coach doesn?t consistently churn out shit products to sell said recruits.

ETA: and it?s not even about recruiting the top players. It?s not absolutely squandering the players who have take t that we do get.

[Coach34]

Our stadium mattered 30 years ago and helped us. Today its pretty much a non-factor

[Coach34]

It?s also easier to recruit quality players when your coach doesn?t consistently churn out shit products to sell said recruits.

Lemon is churning out pro players right and left. It's literally his biggest selling point. We led the world in players drafted last July

[StarkVegasSteve]

Our stadium mattered 30 years ago and helped us. Today its pretty much a non-factor

Thank you. Maybe people will finally recognize that we have to revitalize the damn town instead of talking about two bars that do not completely suck. This is the kick in the ass we needed tbh. We need to realize Ole Miss has passed us in everything and it is time to change everything.

[EdwardDrayton]

Lemon is churning out pro players right and left. It's literally his biggest selling point. We led the world in players drafted last July

Hmmmm ........ that seems like an indictment more than a defense.

[Coach34]

Thank you. Maybe people will finally recognize that we have to revitalize the damn town instead of talking about two bars that do not completely suck. This is the kick in the ass we needed tbh. We need to realize Ole Miss has passed us in everything and it is time to change everything.

Mississippi embraced the party school mantra and created a downtown party scene that recruits college age kids. Our lunch pail personna is good but hurts us alot.

[Coach34]

Hmmmm ........ that seems like an indictment more than a defense.

Not if you are a player

[Todd4State]

Guess where Tn, Fl and Vandy Head Coaches came from? Assistant coaches. Your 98% is way way off. We can get a better HC.

None of those programs are the monster that MSU baseball is. Vandy was awful when Corbin took over and they still have the smallest baseball fanbase in the SEC. It's literally two old guys whistling the entire game and Buster Olney.

Tennessee still draws about HALF of what we do in baseball attendance and that's with Vitello.

Florida doesn't care about baseball. Maybe the new stadium has helped but they have never drawn well.

The only comparable programs to us in the SEC are LSU and Arkansas.

We have extremely high expectations and expect to win at a high level every year. And we should for the record- I'm not about to pull an Everett Kennard here and call us spoiled. You have to recruit at an elite level and get most of those elite recruits to campus. You have to deal with different fan factions that make up the MSU baseball fan base. LFL, students, locals, cigar boy boosters, former players, out of towners, students, etc. You don't have that at Florida, Vandy or Tennessee.

But in the midst of all of that you have to deal with losing and also success. I think dealing with success is actually what ruined Cann and I think it's what may partially get Lemonis. When the team does well you have to deal with fans telling you how awesome you are and how special you are and at the same time you maintain hunger to keep winning and not be satisfied.

Beyond that with any assistant there is risk because using Elander as an example- who would his pitching coach be? He could keep Parker. He also might hire someone else good. He also may not have very many pitching coach contacts and we get stuck with another Foxhall. How are his in game decisions? Again- we don't know. He might be Tony LaRussa 2.0. He might be worse than Lemonis is.

There's just too much risk with hiring an assistant. We need someone with some experience.

Chris Pollard would be ideal. He is winning at Duke for Heaven's sakes and I don't know anyone else that has won there besides our own Tom D'Armi. They hadn't been to a regional since 1961 until Pollard took over. He has won at Appalachain State too and that's another impossible place to win at. With resources like ours he could be very dangerous.

Oh- and he has this guy on staff. He could be very useful in recruiting.

https://goduke.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/brian-sakowski/5067

Rob Vaughn from Alabama would be my second choice. He has won at Maryland (Who does that?) and now he's taken Alabama back out of the wilderness. His SEC experience is a big plus.

I don't think the search would go much further than these two.

[Todd4State]

Thank you. Maybe people will finally recognize that we have to revitalize the damn town instead of talking about two bars that do not completely suck. This is the kick in the ass we needed tbh. We need to realize Ole Miss has passed us in everything and it is time to change everything.

I saw where they're about to do some kind of a Main St. project in Starkville. No idea what that entails though.

[BankerDog]

Dude, you are part of the problem by downgrading Starkville time after time. We also have pretty good NIL money for baseball. Recruiting can happen in Baseball in StarkVegas.
Stop ur madness, you sure don’t have all the answers!! It is disgusting being a MSU graduate and you blasting Starkville all the time.

Btw how much coaching experience do you have anyway?

Compared to other SEC towns-Starkville is dead last. It works for a certain type of person but not everyone. And that?s okay to admit it. Outside of four bars, there isn?t much to do at all.

[Turfdawg67]

I saw where they're about to do some kind of a Main St. project in Starkville. No idea what that entails though.

They could start by just paving that horrible street. Embarrassing.

[HoopsDawg]

The hire is sitting right in front of everyone and has been for 5 years. Jordan Bischel is Cann remade without the sexting issue. He is what we need. Put him at a premier program and watch. It will be Vitello 2.0.

If you love bunts, Bischel is your guy.

[CadaverDawg]

If you love bunts, Bischel is your guy.

I like winning. Don't care how. Does he win?

[Brobi-wan]

And I will ask you this, when did they hire those guys? Because I for a fact know they were not hired during NIL. So your point is moot. You have to hire a guy that can live in Starkville without the recruiting advantages we had prior to NIL and deal with this fanbase. There are not a whole lot of HCs that can live in that moment.

The quicker some of you start figuring out our recruiting advantage that we had no longer exists then the quicker you will figure out there are not a lot of people who are willing to take this job. It is a EXTREMELY TOUGH job. The recruiting advantages you had were a bigger stadium and a passionate fan base when no one could legally pay. Now everyone can and you are recruiting to the middle of nowhere with a fan base that wants to burn the 2B on a grill in left field every time he boots a ball.

I still can?t believe this is a controversial opinion. I?m there every other weekend. There?s not a lot to do but slam margs at the Mexican places when there?s not something going on at State. It works for people who like the quiet life. There?s nothing wrong with that. BUT it shouldn?t shock anyone when that doesn?t enthuse all18 YOs

[StarkVegasSteve]

I still can?t believe this is a controversial opinion. I?m there every other weekend. There?s not a lot to do but slam margs at the Mexican places when there?s not something going on at State. It works for people who like the quiet life. There?s nothing wrong with that. BUT it shouldn?t shock anyone when that doesn?t enthuse all18 YOs

Thank you.

[StarkVegasSteve]

I like winning. Don't care how. Does he win?

He wins. And wins a lot. You put him in a top 15 program and you will see Cann, without the sexting, reincarnated.

[Cowbell]

You guys blaming Starkville for our baseball woes need to look at the top 25 right now. Southern Miss? I didn't realize Hattisburg had so much to offer. Stillwater, Ok - now that is the middle of nowhere - trust me on this one. Norman Oklahoma ain't nothing special either. I didn't realize that Fayetteville had so much to offer- apparently enough to keep churning out top 5 programs year after year. I could go on and on. It ain't an excuse for losing so yall need to stop with it.

[the_real_MSU_is_us]

C34, you seem to be pushing 2 contradictory views:

You say our recruiting advantage is gone, recruits don't care about what we offer, ect

But you also say we're signing "top classes" and are pumping out pro players.

Maybe the conclusion you'd like us to draw is that Lemo is a god tier recruiter (not buying it) but the fact is if Lemo can do it, the right hire could too.

[StateDawg44]

Why would players want to come play for a loser coach and a program that no one improves in? They may even regress. Or could go play for a coach who actually coaches and builds the players up instead of letting them flounder and look like idiots out there.

Y?all act like players can?t watch the games on TV and see the product that Lemonis puts on the field the past 3 seasons. I wouldn?t want to play for Lemonis if I were able to choose either.

I?d be willing to bet the program recruits itself for some of these players in spite of Lemonis even. That?s certainly losing it luster each day we have him here too.

[StateDawg44]

And those using OM ?the metropolis party school? as an example. I wonder if hiring the right coach named Kiffin got the fanbase in order and rowing in the right direction for football? Their fanbase is over Bianco even after the championship as well. They must be stupid too. Wonder if that?s caused the drop in support or if they hire Godwin what that will spark. You know, getting a good coach may actually improve support.

My God look at Tennessee. No one spoke of baseball up here in Tennessee until 6-7 years ago. Wonder what happened then? It was pre-NIL we all know that. Couldn?t be a great coach was hired. And no chance he could?ve been, wait for it, AN ASSISTANT!!!!!! How could they!?

I?m not saying we gonna go make a splash hire for baseball. We just need a coach who will do what he is supposed to do and create excitement for players, fans, and the program. Lemonis does none of that and those blaming it on Starkville know good and well that?s the case.

[Coach34]

C34, you seem to be pushing 2 contradictory views:

You say our recruiting advantage is gone, recruits don't care about what we offer, ect

But you also say we're signing "top classes" and are pumping out pro players.

Maybe the conclusion you'd like us to draw is that Lemo is a god tier recruiter (not buying it) but the fact is if Lemo can do it, the right hire could too.

Starkville is not easy to recruit to these days- but Lemon has done a pretty good job. He needs to win. There are no excuses for this team to be a bad baseball team

[StarkVegasSteve]

And those using OM ?the metropolis party school? as an example. I wonder if hiring the right coach named Kiffin got the fanbase in order and rowing in the right direction for football? Their fanbase is over Bianco even after the championship as well. They must be stupid too. Wonder if that?s caused the drop in support or if they hire Godwin what that will spark. You know, getting a good coach may actually improve support.

My God look at Tennessee. No one spoke of baseball up here in Tennessee until 6-7 years ago. Wonder what happened then? It was pre-NIL we all know that. Couldn?t be a great coach was hired. And no chance he could?ve been, wait for it, AN ASSISTANT!!!!!! How could they!?

I?m not saying we gonna go make a splash hire for baseball. We just need a coach who will do what he is supposed to do and create excitement for players, fans, and the program. Lemonis does none of that and those blaming it on Starkville know good and well that?s the case.

I wasn't blaming Starkville for Lemonis sucking. He's done that all on his own. My point was that the advantages we had prior to NIL outweighed the fact that we're located in the middle of nowhere. The issue with that is that for all those decades, we never did anything to push back on that narrative and perception that Starkville is some sleepy college town with 4 stop lights. Ole Miss pushed back on their narrative for decades and so now they're reaping the rewards of that. Because now, although it is the same size as Starkville, it is looked at as a top city in the SEC. They have recruits, students, transfers, coaches, etc. who want to go to Oxford.

Now how that ties back into the original point, it is really hard to coach and live in the pressure cooker that is the Mississippi State head baseball job. You have to have a VERY THICK SKIN. Because some people live for Mississippi State baseball. Like that is their being. So if you're the HC and you're not doing good they'll let you know. Whether that is yelling at you in the parking lot, tweeting at you, direct messaging you, yelling fire Lemonis for 9 innings, etc. Add in to all of that, there's nowhere to escape. If you're doing bad, you're family can't go out to eat. Your wife can't go to the grocery store. The small town aspect does us absolutely no favors. It takes a special type of coach to be able to operate in that pressure cooker 24/7 365. Polk operated in it because he made it. He wanted it at that way. McMahon was able to operate in it because he watched Polk do it. Cohen lived it as a player. Cann came from LSU, which is as big a pressure cooker. Lemonis has been at The Citadel, Louisville, and Indiana. We've probably had weekend crowds that were bigger than Indiana had for a season. Now add into all that stuff, you have to recruit to a town that's not near a whole lot. It's facts. It's not an opinion. Starkville is two hours away from any type of population center. And when you're constantly fighting the perception that Starkville is a sleepy town for 4 stop lights, it's really tough. It can be done. Cann did it. Polk did it. McMahon did it. Cohen did it.

We honestly just need a reset. We don't need Tony Vitello. We'd love to have him but he's not the only one who could turn this around. You just need someone with that type of bravado and charisma. You have to have something that sets your program apart. Because in the NIL age, the stadium and the fanbase don't do it anymore. And the town is 5-10 years of consistent growth from being able to be a recruiting factor. And again I'll just mention....we had that. We had him. And I know he had to go, but it's in times like these that I wonder what he would be doing with this program. Because I don't think it'd be in this shape with him. I don't think we would consistently have players folding in the big moments with Andy Cannizarro on the top step of the dugout. He could live in that moment. He made people talk about Mississippi State and Starkville. He set us apart and made kids want to come play for HIM. Didn't matter the name on the front. They wanted to play for Andy.

[Santiago]

I wasn't blaming Starkville for Lemonis sucking. He's done that all on his own. My point was that the advantages we had prior to NIL outweighed the fact that we're located in the middle of nowhere. The issue with that is that for all those decades, we never did anything to push back on that narrative and perception that Starkville is some sleepy college town with 4 stop lights. Ole Miss pushed back on their narrative for decades and so now they're reaping the rewards of that. Because now, although it is the same size as Starkville, it is looked at as a top city in the SEC. They have recruits, students, transfers, coaches, etc. who want to go to Oxford.

Now how that ties back into the original point, it is really hard to coach and live in the pressure cooker that is the Mississippi State head baseball job. You have to have a VERY THICK SKIN. Because some people live for Mississippi State baseball. Like that is their being. So if you're the HC and you're not doing good they'll let you know. Whether that is yelling at you in the parking lot, tweeting at you, direct messaging you, yelling fire Lemonis for 9 innings, etc. Add in to all of that, there's nowhere to escape. If you're doing bad, you're family can't go out to eat. Your wife can't go to the grocery store. The small town aspect does us absolutely no favors. It takes a special type of coach to be able to operate in that pressure cooker 24/7 365. Polk operated in it because he made it. He wanted it at that way. McMahon was able to operate in it because he watched Polk do it. Cohen lived it as a player. Cann came from LSU, which is as big a pressure cooker. Lemonis has been at The Citadel, Louisville, and Indiana. We've probably had weekend crowds that were bigger than Indiana had for a season. Now add into all that stuff, you have to recruit to a town that's not near a whole lot. It's facts. It's not an opinion. Starkville is two hours away from any type of population center. And when you're constantly fighting the perception that Starkville is a sleepy town for 4 stop lights, it's really tough. It can be done. Cann did it. Polk did it. McMahon did it. Cohen did it.

We honestly just need a reset. We don't need Tony Vitello. We'd love to have him but he's not the only one who could turn this around. You just need someone with that type of bravado and charisma. You have to have something that sets your program apart. Because in the NIL age, the stadium and the fanbase don't do it anymore. And the town is 5-10 years of consistent growth from being able to be a recruiting factor. And again I'll just mention....we had that. We had him. And I know he had to go, but it's in times like these that I wonder what he would be doing with this program. Because I don't think it'd be in this shape with him. I don't think we would consistently have players folding in the big moments with Andy Cannizarro on the top step of the dugout. He could live in that moment. He made people talk about Mississippi State and Starkville. He set us apart and made kids want to come play for HIM. Didn't matter the name on the front. They wanted to play for Andy.


I really enjoy your posts.
Just replying on your post, because I was not sure where to post this comment, but on Spring weekends Starkville community needs college baseball . The atmosphere is different in Starkville for baseball weekends than other places that have other things to do.
It become our pro sport in MS.
It may not be a money sport for the university, but it seems to help the local economy. Perhaps the local community has become accustomed to the crowds, no matter the wins and losses.
But I would bet if they start seeing the impact in attendance if it dropped to 50% on weekends, they would would to get involved and motivated.

Just rambling here, but it is not a money sport, but then again has meaning to the community if that crowd ever stops showing up.


Also, baseball players, typically, like the attention. At least the mentally tough ones. To go around town and be known, and experience that. Maybe not the weirdness that some of our fans project onto them, but they are treated differently in Starkville that other places.
The coach with the "IT" factor knows the players that will thrive in that environment and create a definite home field advantage with it.

[StarkVegasSteve]

I really enjoy your posts.
Just replying on your post, because I was not sure where to post this comment, but on Spring weekends Starkville community needs college baseball . The atmosphere is different in Starkville for baseball weekends than other places that have other things to do.
It become our pro sport in MS.
It may not be a money sport for the university, but it seems to help the local economy. Perhaps the local community has become accustomed to the crowds, no matter the wins and losses.
But I would bet if they start seeing the impact in attendance if it dropped to 50% on weekends, they would would to get involved and motivated.

Just rambling here, but it is not a money sport, but then again has meaning to the community if that crowd ever stops showing up.


Also, baseball players, typically, like the attention. At least the mentally tough ones. To go around town and be known, and experience that. Maybe not the weirdness that some of our fans project onto them, but they are treated differently in Starkville that other places.
The coach with the "IT" factor knows the players that will thrive in that environment and create a definite home field advantage with it.

And I agree. I think you hit the nail on the head with the last statement. The players we were recruiting from 2011-2019 did thrive in that. The coaches that were recruiting them knew the makeup of those guys. I just don't know that we are recruiting a lot of those types of guys. I think we have a few of them (Pico, Ace Reese, Stallman, Chance) but we used to have a team of them. Just don't anymore.

[Pancho]

all goes back to assessing and evaluating. we seem to be lacking on these areas and it is showing ultimately in recruiting

[KB21]

all goes back to assessing and evaluating. we seem to be lacking on these areas and it is showing ultimately in recruiting

It's not recruiting. We have consistently recruited better than Alabama and Georgia. The difference is how you are developing those players once you get them.

[CaptainObvious]

What a colossal mess our entire Athletics Program is in! It started with Keenum hiring Cohen as AD, a job he was no more qualified for than I am. Cohen hires Cann who cannot keep it in his pants and then brags about this great Coaching search that was going to get one of the best coaches in the country. Thankfully Cohen and Cannizzaro built the nucleus of the 2021 team, so even a clown like Cohens 10th choice as HC couldn't screw it up!

Now that is just the baseball fiasco we have now. Football? Oh my! Waiting for Lebby, another in a long line of Assistant Coaches hired because "Po Ol' Missippi State"!

Basketball: good coach, overrated recruiter, poor motivator. Where have we seen that before? Oh yeah! At "Po Ol' Missippi State"

Women's Basketball: good recruiter, average coach, middling motivator, under-achiever

[Coach34]

all goes back to assessing and evaluating. we seem to be lacking on these areas and it is showing ultimately in recruiting

we led the country in draft picks last season- the recruiting is obviously pretty good

[StateDawg44]

we led the country in draft picks last season- the recruiting is obviously pretty good

And what did we accomplish with all of those picks?

[Coach34]

And what did we accomplish with all of those picks?

a Regional final

I think everybody would agree that we probably should have made it to a Super last year. The injury to our Friday night SP definitely affected our season as well as our lack of clutch hitting vs Virginia

[Tbonewannabe]

a Regional final

I think everybody would agree that we probably should have made it to a Super last year. The injury to our Friday night SP definitely affected our season as well as our lack of clutch hitting vs Virginia

I consider a Regional final as one game away from the Super. We didn't make it to the final game.

[Pancho]

Lemo shoulda done a lot of things but so far he hasn't since he had the other guys players.