Coach 34 and some others

[Santiago]

You were right.
Recruiting the right coach to Starkville will be a challenge.
We may land one who sees the new landscape in baseball and college support, but a sitting HC will still be a big pull from one of our top tier choices.

I want to be wrong.
We will get a good coach, but maybe not without a meltdown on the boards.

[ZedFedder]

Where did you hear that?

[Coursesuper]

You were right.
Recruiting the right coach to Starkville will be a challenge.
We may land one who sees the new landscape in baseball and college support, but a sitting HC will still be a big pull from one of our top tier choices.

I want to be wrong.
We will get a good coach, but maybe not without a meltdown on the boards.

A lot of people here don't want to realize that everyone doesn't want to live in a small town in the bible belt. No matter what the accolades the town garners, it's still a small town in the deep south and that is not for everyone.

[Santiago]

A lot of people here don't want to realize that everyone doesn't want to live in a small town in the bible belt. No matter what the accolades the town garners, it's still a small town in the deep south and that is not for everyone.

It really is different. Hoping to be wrong, but all the posting yesterday knocking some coaches way down the list, we might want to chill, and start there and be surprised and thrilled for hiring up the ladder.
As some posted in the past and you were one as well , it takes a coach that gets MSU, gets Starkville, loves it, thrives on it for baseball above other things in life.

[Pinto]

Why are you pushing this narrative so hard? Posted same mess in 2 or 3 other threads and then made a whole new thread to push your narrative.

[EdwardDrayton]

Always has been and still is a bullshit narrative. If we don't have the right people in place to make it happen, clear the whole lot and get some administrators that know how to make things happen. Tired of this po' ole Missipity Tate bullshit.

[Santiago]

Why are you pushing this narrative so hard? Posted same mess in 2 or 3 other threads and then made a whole new thread to push your narrative.

I don't think I posted it any more than the million posts on we are too good for anything less than the top 5. I hope we do hit the top guys or second level. Just seemed we need to cool it with "typical msu fans" comments toward anyone that is keeping all options open for now.
No narrative. Just keeping it even steven

[Coursesuper]

It really is different. Hoping to be wrong, but all the posting yesterday knocking some coaches way down the list, we might want to chill, and start there and be surprised and thrilled for hiring up the ladder.
As some posted in the past and you were one as well , it takes a coach that gets MSU, gets Starkville, loves it, thrives on it for baseball above other things in life.

I?m not saying we won?t get the right guy, we will, theses guys are not your typical boosters, they are serious people that will measure 3 times before making a cut. That said we have a lot of people here who think that just because we are MState baseball anyone would jump at the opportunity. But we are not for everyone. Neither is Starkville or the Deep South. There are a lot of pluses in our job but there are also a lot of negatives to be measured out.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Because it?s the reality, and people keep posting we are going to get Joe Torre kind of guy that wants to come to the greatest college ballpark in the nation.

[cheewgumm]

Our fans will definitely outline all the negatives to our job.

I never see any other SEC schools do this.

- Yeah, but Starkville is small
- Yeah, but we can?t pay enough
- Yeah, we have a great stadium but that doesn?t matter
- Yeah we have great fan support but that doesnt matter

We are very talented no and probably about to make a run.

Why did they come here?

Someone needs to interview our current players and ask them why they came to State to give our fans some perspective.

[Santiago]

I?m not saying we won?t get the right guy, we will, theses guys are not your typical boosters, they are serious people that will measure 3 times before making a cut. That said we have a lot of people here who think that just because we are MState baseball anyone would jump at the opportunity. But we are not for everyone. Neither is Starkville or the Deep South. There are a lot of pluses in our job but there are also a lot of negatives to be measured out.

We are on the same page, and matches a conversation I had this weekend with a couple of people that are in entirely different groups.
The conversation was that we will get the best guy , best fit, but some need to cool the jets thinking every top coach in another conference wants to jump.

[Coursesuper]

We are on the same page, and matches a conversation I had this weekend with a couple of people that are in entirely different groups.
The conversation was that we will get the best guy , best fit, but some need to cool the jets thinking every top coach in another conference wants to jump.

We are on the same page. This has been the plan from day one.

[cheewgumm]

A lot of this sounds like

1) negotiating 101 - if k was offered this job id say - the town is small, and k can?t recruit here. Ok, we will give you more money.

2) sounds like the administration wanting to resent expectations lower so whoever they hire will be good.

I?m sure it?s a little of both.

[Todd4State]

This Starkville small town stuff would matter a lot more in 1986 but we live in a society where flying is very common and we have University jets that I am sure our coaches will have access to when they and the family want to get out of town.

We did this with Howland and Leach I know for sure and I'm sure Dan used the jet as well and also the other coaches.

You don't get into education or college employment if you aren't willing to live and work in a small town because so many colleges are in towns just like Starkville- or smaller or worse.

[Todd4State]

It really is different. Hoping to be wrong, but all the posting yesterday knocking some coaches way down the list, we might want to chill, and start there and be surprised and thrilled for hiring up the ladder.
As some posted in the past and you were one as well , it takes a coach that gets MSU, gets Starkville, loves it, thrives on it for baseball above other things in life.

You will not find a college baseball program like MSU anywhere else in the country. Yes that includes LSU. And if you are coaching college baseball I guarantee that you thrive on it.

[StarkVegasSteve]

You will not find a college baseball program like MSU anywhere else in the country. Yes that includes LSU. And if you are coaching college baseball I guarantee that you thrive on it.

There's a half a dozen places in this conference that are like us.

Look, we're going to hire a sitting HC if we want to. I would imagine Mark Wazikowski at Oregon is the absolute floor. But the reason we're able to hire a little better this time isn't because of Starkville, a stadium, or a fan base. It's because we're going to allocate rev share funds to baseball and have baseball NIL money from boosters. It's very simple.

[Santiago]

This Starkville small town stuff would matter a lot more in 1986 but we live in a society where flying is very common and we have University jets that I am sure our coaches will have access to when they and the family want to get out of town.

We did this with Howland and Leach I know for sure and I'm sure Dan used the jet as well and also the other coaches.

You don't get into education or college employment if you aren't willing to live and work in a small town because so many colleges are in towns just like Starkville- or smaller or worse.

I love the town, and actually know several out of state ,non MSU people, that want their kids to go to Starkville because they do love the town, and everything about MSU. It really is a special place.
I hope we market and embrace the Best Small Town awards.
Some people though , it is not their thing. So it almost serves as natural selection in the coaching search of finding the best candidate who is hungry on winning baseball more than anything else.
Some sitting HC's are settled very well , with kids in schools with friends etc, and have a steady job for the foreseeable future. It does factor in. Their family has a vote in it also.

[cheewgumm]

I love the town, and actually know several out of state ,non MSU people, that want their kids to go to Starkville because they do love the town, and everything about MSU. It really is a special place.
I hope we market and embrace the Best Small Town awards.
Some people though , it is not their thing. So it almost serves as natural selection in the coaching search of finding the best candidate who is hungry on winning baseball more than anything else.
Some sitting HC's are settled very well , with kids in schools with friends etc, and have a steady job for the foreseeable future. It does factor in. Their family has a vote in it also.

Isn?t this the case for every coaching search for every coach on the planet?

People have different tastes.

However, LSU fans aren?t on boards outlining how Baton Rouge isn?t for everyone.

You could t pay me to live in BR, but LSU fans don?t say that. Why do ours?

[Santiago]

Isn?t this the case for every coaching search for every coach on the planet?

People have different tastes.

However, LSU fans aren?t on boards outlining how Baton Rouge isn?t for everyone.

You could t pay me to live in BR, but LSU fans don?t say that. Why do ours?

yes! The right guy, right hunger, and fit will work out as the leading guy. But online many posters think every candidate wants to come to Town X. Never that easy especially in baseball. The money is not life changing from what sitting P5 coaches already make to move usually. It takes one wanting to win and win big, etc. We have a great town for him hungry to win also.

[cheewgumm]

There's a half a dozen places in this conference that are like us.

Look, we're going to hire a sitting HC if we want to. I would imagine Mark Wazikowski at Oregon is the absolute floor. But the reason we're able to hire a little better this time isn't because of Starkville, a stadium, or a fan base. It's because we're going to allocate rev share funds to baseball and have baseball NIL money from boosters. It's very simple.

When Georgia has 3k at the baseball game they tweet it out as an accomplishment.

Doesn?t matter to me why the coaches say they are going somewhere or even if it truly doesn?t matter to them.

It?s obviously a part of how college baseball is judged. You can tell by how all the teams tweet out their crowd sizes.

It may not matter to the coaches but It matters to somebody.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Isn?t this the case for every coaching search for every coach on the planet?

People have different tastes.

However, LSU fans aren?t on boards outlining how Baton Rouge isn?t for everyone.

You could t pay me to live in BR, but LSU fans don?t say that. Why do ours?

Because at the end of the day, Baton Rouge is a big city and there's inherently more to do, safe or not. We joke about the Target thing but Baton Rouge has 2. They have a Top Golf. They have MULTIPLE entertainment districts. We have, now, 7 bars within 50 yards of each other and 5 of them you can't move if there's more than 30 people in there.

Starkville has thankfully grown a lot in the last 25 years, most of it was just getting out of it's own way and actually embracing the University, but it still has a lot more growing it needs to do. I think that growth is coming but it may take another 20 years.

[cheewgumm]

yes! The right guy, right hunger, and fit will work out as the leading guy. But online many posters think every candidate wants to come to Town X. Never that easy especially in baseball. The money is not life changing from what sitting P5 coaches already make to move usually. It takes one wanting to win and win big, etc. We have a great town for him hungry to win also.

When LSU football job opens up, I?ll come o. Here and trash Baton Rouge as not for everyone and see how it goes.

[StarkVegasSteve]

When Georgia has 3k at the baseball game they tweet it out as an accomplishment.

Doesn?t matter to me why the coaches say they are going somewhere or even if it truly doesn?t matter to them.

It?s obviously a part of how college baseball is judged. You can tell by how all the teams tweet out their crowd sizes.

It may not matter to the coaches but It matters to somebody.

The fans are the only ones that really care. The players and coaches could care less. Because if coaches cared, Vitello would've never gone to TN and we would've had Dan McDonnell in 2019. If players cared, we would have the number 1 or number 2 class every year in recruiting and the portal.

The attendance thing is solely for fans.

[cheewgumm]

Our fans are the only ones that will talk you out of being a fan.

It?s great.

[Santiago]

When LSU football job opens up, I?ll come o. Here and trash Baton Rouge as not for everyone and see how it goes.

They did not get Riley.
LSU was also played by the former TX coach, from houston. He played LSU until he had the TX offer.
The current coach even though he is winning, is not seemingly embraced or a fit for the fan base.
So yeah, not for everyone in BR.

In Baseball they tried for Vitello, and could not get him.

[Brobi-wan]

I’ll be happy with most coaches we could potentially hire. I just am not a huge fan of Thompson. I know some of you guys like him, and those of you that do know ball better than me. I just don’t love the idea.

[BravesDoggy]

Because at the end of the day, Baton Rouge is a big city and there's inherently more to do, safe or not. We joke about the Target thing but Baton Rouge has 2. They have a Top Golf. They have MULTIPLE entertainment districts. We have, now, 7 bars within 50 yards of each other and 5 of them you can't move if there's more than 30 people in there.

Starkville has thankfully grown a lot in the last 25 years, most of it was just getting out of it's own way and actually embracing the University, but it still has a lot more growing it needs to do. I think that growth is coming but it may take another 20 years.

The ball was really dropped when they extended 25 and built the 82 loop. It should have been expanded with infrastructure along 82 like an interstate. Sadly once you get past Hwy 12 there is nothing really but a car dealership and a Pinelake.

[Coach34]

We will likely hire a good baseball coach

We also will likely not hire a big name as baseball coach. With Parker as our floor we are in a good place

[Dawgology]

This Starkville small town stuff would matter a lot more in 1986 but we live in a society where flying is very common and we have University jets that I am sure our coaches will have access to when they and the family want to get out of town.

We did this with Howland and Leach I know for sure and I'm sure Dan used the jet as well and also the other coaches.

You don't get into education or college employment if you aren't willing to live and work in a small town because so many colleges are in towns just like Starkville- or smaller or worse.

This is where I?m at. We have multiple boosters with private jets as well as university jets. You can be wheels up in 45 minutes and I New Orleans or Memphis in 30 minutes. Atlanta in an hour. Nashville in 45 minutes.

I?ve actually looked at getting my pilots license just so we can do this also. Then I remembered I get motion sickness and can?t afford a plane?.which is probably a good thing hahah

[bulldogcountry1]

I just hope the powers that be are, indeed, looking for the best fit and not just saying it. Yes, Starkville is a small town that does not appeal to a lot of students, coaches, families, etc. It is, somehow, a town that has the best college baseball stadium in the country that holds attendance records. The team has a long history of success. Expectations are high. The team has multiple message boards where fans are passionate about college baseball. There are multiple podcasts that consistently talk State baseball because people care.

It takes a special coach to be able to navigate all this and then compete in the hardest conference in the land. That's why I am nervous when people throw out names of program builders. That's great and all, but that shouldn't be a major factor in choosing a new coach. We need someone who is familiar with what to expect in an established program like State in a town like Starkville.

[Santiago]

This Starkville small town stuff would matter a lot more in 1986 but we live in a society where flying is very common and we have University jets that I am sure our coaches will have access to when they and the family want to get out of town.

We did this with Howland and Leach I know for sure and I'm sure Dan used the jet as well and also the other coaches.

You don't get into education or college employment if you aren't willing to live and work in a small town because so many colleges are in towns just like Starkville- or smaller or worse.

That is an interesting question for me, as to how much access to a university plane would a baseball coach compared to Basketball and Football coaches get.
But if a baseball coach is trying to fund it, then his earnings evaporate quickly if he is flying monthly. Typically a net worth of 25 million is where you get to where flying private often does not affect any financial plans.
Netjets are join a charter group and fly a few times a year is manageable.

I flew 3 times in one month private on my dime and thought man that sucks the money fast.

[cheewgumm]

The fans are the only ones that really care. The players and coaches could care less. Because if coaches cared, Vitello would've never gone to TN and we would've had Dan McDonnell in 2019. If players cared, we would have the number 1 or number 2 class every year in recruiting and the portal.

The attendance thing is solely for fans.

I?ll disagree that players don?t care how many fans go to games.

I think players like playing in front of more people.

I?ll die on this hill. Ha

[StarkVegasSteve]

I?ll disagree that players don?t care how many fans go to games.

I think players like playing in front of more people.

I?ll die on this hill. Ha

But that's the thing. They can go anywhere in the SEC and play in front of 10K people. Arkansas, LSU, and Ole Miss all have capacities over 10K. Tennessee, Texas, Florida, and USCe all have in the 6500-7K range. Like they are going to play in front of big crowds in this conference. It's a fact. They don't have to come here to do that. That's what I was saying, if they really cared about attendance records then we would have the number 1 or number 2 class every year.

[StarkVegasSteve]

That is an interesting question for me, as to how much access to a university plane would a baseball coach compared to Basketball and Football coaches get.
But if a baseball coach is trying to fund it, then his earnings evaporate quickly if he is flying monthly. Typically a net worth of 25 million is where you get to where flying private often does not affect any financial plans.
Netjets are join a charter group and fly a few times a year is manageable.

I flew 3 times in one month private on my dime and thought man that sucks the money fast.

The university has two jets. One is generally used for athletics and the other for academics. We also have boosters with jets that coaches can use during recruiting. As far as the NetJets thing goes, most of these coaches have jet cards and memberships to these things. As far as just personal travel though, I doubt a baseball coach is very high on the pecking order for the university jet. I do know jet access is written into most of their contracts though.

[HoopsDawg]

I?ll disagree that players don?t care how many fans go to games.

I think players like playing in front of more people.

I?ll die on this hill. Ha

They absolutely do care. Dumb narrative by a couple of posters.

[Cooterpoot]

You were right.
Recruiting the right coach to Starkville will be a challenge.
We may land one who sees the new landscape in baseball and college support, but a sitting HC will still be a big pull from one of our top tier choices.

I want to be wrong.
We will get a good coach, but maybe not without a meltdown on the boards.

You're going to be wrong. Selmon would have to really 17 up to not get a real good coach and he knows it. That's why the list is strong and deep. He also knows an assistant hire would raise eyebrows as yet another training ground hire like the football hire.

[StarkVegasSteve]

They absolutely do care. Dumb narrative by a couple of posters.

Maybe I should've clarified, they do care. Obviously no one wants to play in empty ballparks, but with the level of player we're recruiting they are going to be playing in front of big crowds wherever they go. Our attendance records are not a deciding factor. Just like our fans are not a deciding factor because the kids we're recruiting are choosing between us, OM, LSU, Arky, etc and all those fanbases have very passionate fans.

[StarkVegasSteve]

You're going to be wrong

Right or wrong is going to be a matter of perspective. I said this 3 weeks ago when the O'Conner stuff got fired up. We're going to have a portion of the fanbase that is going to get so fixated on O'Conner that anyone else is going to be seen as a failure. I don't think Santiago is doing that but there's going to a percentage of the fanbase that is going to be upset if we don't hire O'Conner. Just like there's going to be a percentage that gets mad that we don't just promote Parker.

A coaching search is rarely ever going to please everybody. Hell, the Lemonis search pleased very few and we got a national championship out of the deal.

[Santiago]

Right or wrong is going to be a matter of perspective. I said this 3 weeks ago when the O'Conner stuff got fired up. We're going to have a portion of the fanbase that is going to get so fixated on O'Conner that anyone else is going to be seen as a failure. I don't think Santiago is doing that but there's going to a percentage of the fanbase that is going to be upset if we don't hire O'Conner. Just like there's going to be a percentage that gets mad that we don't just promote Parker.

A coaching search is rarely ever going to please everybody. Hell, the Lemonis search pleased very few and we got a national championship out of the deal.

I agree. I am saying what you are saying, but I did it in a very awkward and wrong way.
We will have a good coach, but we should not fixate on just 3-4 names only.

[Santiago]

You're going to be wrong. Selmon would have to really 17 up to not get a real good coach and he knows it. That's why the list is strong and deep. He also knows an assistant hire would raise eyebrows as yet another training ground hire like the football hire.
nm

[Thick]

Arkansas set the single game attendance record for baseball?17,998, 18k fans. They have also won 20 SEC games for 3 consecutive years. They might be the best program in the conference due to consistency in being in the top echelon of the SEC and nation year in and out.

[Coach34]

We?ll see. I think we are getting blue-balled by big names for more money and resources. Baseball coaches don?t like to move. Case in point- it?s been rumored Lemon turned down SC last summer. Thats dumb as hell to me considering where he was with our fanbase.

I stand by lower P4/G5/Top Asst

[MBDawg601]

Arkansas set the single game attendance record for baseball?17,998, 18k fans. They have also won 20 SEC games for 3 consecutive years. They might be the best program in the conference due to consistency in being in the top echelon of the SEC and nation year in and out.

They set that this past weekend?

NM I see, it wasn?t at their home field. Few months ago.

[cheewgumm]

Arkansas set the single game attendance record for baseball?17,998, 18k fans. They have also won 20 SEC games for 3 consecutive years. They might be the best program in the conference due to consistency in being in the top echelon of the SEC and nation year in and out.

Agree

I admit I put a lot of weight on attendance .

For that reason I rate State, LSU, ArkansaS and even Ole Miss high.

[Thick]

Yes, I saw it this morning.

[cheewgumm]

Maybe I should've clarified, they do care. Obviously no one wants to play in empty ballparks, but with the level of player we're recruiting they are going to be playing in front of big crowds wherever they go. Our attendance records are not a deciding factor. Just like our fans are not a deciding factor because the kids we're recruiting are choosing between us, OM, LSU, Arky, etc and all those fanbases have very passionate fans.

👍🏼

[Cooterpoot]

Right or wrong is going to be a matter of perspective. I said this 3 weeks ago when the O'Conner stuff got fired up. We're going to have a portion of the fanbase that is going to get so fixated on O'Conner that anyone else is going to be seen as a failure. I don't think Santiago is doing that but there's going to a percentage of the fanbase that is going to be upset if we don't hire O'Conner. Just like there's going to be a percentage that gets mad that we don't just promote Parker.

A coaching search is rarely ever going to please everybody. Hell, the Lemonis search pleased very few and we got a national championship out of the deal.

No it's not, we're going to get a proven coach IMO. Whether it's O'Connor, Was, or Fitz or whoever else it's a good hire. I'll agree if we hire an assistant or G5 guy. Too many are interested and affordable this time. This was planned IMO. I feel confident that we'll get a good one.

[StarkVegasSteve]

We?ll see. I think we are getting blue-balled by big names for more money and resources. Baseball coaches don?t like to move. Case in point- it?s been rumored Lemon turned down SC last summer. Thats dumb as hell to me considering where he was with our fanbase.

I stand by lower P4/G5/Top Asst

And I think some are playing poker with a bad hand. Virginia isn't going to give O'Conner more resources.

[StarkVegasSteve]

No it's not, we're going to get a proven coach IMO. Whether it's O'Connor, Was, or Fitz or whoever else it's a good hire. I'll agree if we hire an assistant or G5 guy. Too many are interested and affordable this time. This was planned IMO. I feel confident that we'll get a good one.

That's literally not what I said at all. Because if we get Wasikowski, or Fitzgerald, or Pollard, or Wes Johnson, or etc. there is going to be backlash because a portion of the fanbase got locked in on Brian O'Conner. That's what I was saying. And by the way, all those guys I mentioned are proven coaches. As are Skylar Meade, Andrew Checketts, Rob Vaughn, etc. We're going to make a good hire, but it may not be the first candidate mentioned or the primary candidate that everyone has fixated on. That doesn't make it a bad hire.

[Quaoarsking]

Arkansas set the single game attendance record for baseball?17,998, 18k fans. They have also won 20 SEC games for 3 consecutive years. They might be the best program in the conference due to consistency in being in the top echelon of the SEC and nation year in and out.

This is not true. The game was not on campus, and there have been much higher off-campus crowds than that.

We still own the entire top 20 on campus crowds.

[StarkVegasSteve]

This is not true. The game was not on campus, and there have been much higher off-campus crowds than that.

We still own the entire top 20 on campus crowds.

Yea the top off campus crowd, at least the last time I saw it, was like 40K for a San Diego St game and they were playing it at PETCO and it was the first game ever at PETCO. I think UGA and Tech had the same deal when Truist Park opened and they drew like 32K. It was LSU/Tulane for the longest time because they played a game in the Superdome in the early 00s

[Santiago]

That's literally not what I said at all. Because if we get Wasikowski, or Fitzgerald, or Pollard, or Wes Johnson, or etc. there is going to be backlash because a portion of the fanbase got locked in on Brian O'Conner. That's what I was saying. And by the way, all those guys I mentioned are proven coaches. As are Skylar Meade, Andrew Checketts, Rob Vaughn, etc. We're going to make a good hire, but it may not be the first candidate mentioned or the primary candidate that everyone has fixated on. That doesn't make it a bad hire.

None of these coaches you mentioned sit on a bucket, at least from what I saw of their games. ***
Win win, we improved. But really any coach with a drive to win, will do well with the NIL resources we are committed to.
I am fine with anyone including Meade, Coggins, Parker . I do think the bearded coaches win more, so there is that. A coach that looks like he just go out of the tree stand.

We are going to win.

[StarkVegasSteve]

None of these coaches you mentioned sit on a bucket, at least from what I saw of their games. ***
Win win, we improved. But really any coach with a drive to win, will do well with the NIL resources we are committed to.
I am fine with anyone including Meade, Coggins, Parker . I do think the bearded coaches win more, so there is that. A coach that looks like he just go out of the tree stand.

We are going to win.

It's going to be wildly interesting to see who's actually interested in this job. Some of the names I've been given are truly shocking. I mean I've heard some MLB managers have interest in it.

From what I can gather though, I think Brian O'Conner definitely has interest. I think Wes Johnson has some level of interest, I don't think he's realistic at the end of the day though. I keep hearing Eric Bakich's name thrown around and I know he's got interest. I don't think the search gets past Pollard or Wasikowski. I think it's a guarantee that if Wasikowski is offered, he would take it.

[Santiago]

It's going to be wildly interesting to see who's actually interested in this job. Some of the names I've been given are truly shocking. I mean I've heard some MLB managers have interest in it.

From what I can gather though, I think Brian O'Conner definitely has interest. I think Wes Johnson has some level of interest, I don't think he's realistic at the end of the day though. I keep hearing Eric Bakich's name thrown around and I know he's got interest. I don't think the search gets past Pollard or Wasikowski. I think it's a guarantee that if Wasikowski is offered, he would take it.

depends if Nike kicks some money his way. They are really set up at Oregon now to run through their conference with west coast players. Unless that grind to Big Ten country is getting old.

[StarkVegasSteve]

depends if Nike kicks some money his way. They are really set up at Oregon now to run through their conference with west coast players. Unless that grind to Big Ten country is getting old.

I've learned that Nike is not as big of a deal with their baseball program. I don't think they'd ask Uncle Phil to kick in any money. I also think he wants to be in the SEC. At least that's what I have gathered.

[DownwardDawg]

Most people I know from Mississippi and other surrounded states are doing everything in their power to move away from larger cities and towns and get to smaller communities.

[DownwardDawg]

They set that this past weekend?

NM I see, it wasn?t at their home field. Few months ago.

Yes. We own all the on campus records. These other teams play in big cities and parks from time to time. Like LSU playing Tulane at Zephyr field.

[Santiago]

I've learned that Nike is not as big of a deal with their baseball program. I don't think they'd ask Uncle Phil to kick in any money. I also think he wants to be in the SEC. At least that's what I have gathered.

Is this through his agent or from him on wanting in the SEC?
I can see it , that he wants a baseball program that helps him recruit.
Just seemed he had a better path to host regionals as the Big ten #1 or #2 team each year, since the committee wants to "grow the game"

[StarkVegasSteve]

Is this through his agent or from him on wanting in the SEC?
I can see it , that he wants a baseball program that helps him recruit.
Just seemed he had a better path to host regionals as the Big ten #1 or #2 team each year, since the committee wants to "grow the game"

It's kind of a take your pick.

1. He's up in the Pacific Northwest which is not exactly fertile recruiting ground.

2. He's sees himself as an elite coach and wants to test himself in the best conference in college baseball.

3. He's only making around 700K. We could probably offer 1.1 and Oregon would not come close to matching it.

[Cooterpoot]

It's going to be wildly interesting to see who's actually interested in this job. Some of the names I've been given are truly shocking. I mean I've heard some MLB managers have interest in it.

From what I can gather though, I think Brian O'Conner definitely has interest. I think Wes Johnson has some level of interest, I don't think he's realistic at the end of the day though. I keep hearing Eric Bakich's name thrown around and I know he's got interest. I don't think the search gets past Pollard or Wasikowski. I think it's a guarantee that if Wasikowski is offered, he would take it.

Definitely a couple guys hoping just to get raises/NIL. I still contend a large buyout is a problem on some of those anyway, so they're easy to predict IMO

[BigDawg81]

Nobody hates Starkville more than Mississippi State fans. There isn?t another fanbase that hates their city more than State fans hates Starkville. Jesus Christ

[BrunswickDawg]

Nobody hates Starkville more than Mississippi State fans. There isn?t another fanbase that hates their city more than State fans hates Starkville. Jesus Christ

A tradition like no other.....
Except always believing QB2 is the solution to our football woes.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Nobody hates Starkville more than Mississippi State fans. There isn?t another fanbase that hates their city more than State fans hates Starkville. Jesus Christ

I don't think it's hate. I think it's reality realizing that Starkville doesn't have a lot of appeal unless you're a Mississippi State fan or a student at Mississippi State. I mean if you weren't a Mississippi State fan, where would you spend a non gameday weekend? Athens or Starkville? Auburn or Starkville? Oxford or Starkville?

We love Starkville because we're Mississippi State fans. If you have no connection, would you feel the same way? Look a lot of it is simply just perception. For 5 decades, Ole Miss touted The Square, Velvet Ditch, The Grove, etc. They also touted that Starkville was a cow pasture. Starkville and Mississippi State, at that time, never did anything to fight that perception. Now, in today's day and age we are fighting back finally. But Ole Miss has a 50 year head start. I say this all the time and it's true PERCEPTION MATTERS. Our perception is finally changing, but it's not something that will change overnight. This goes back to another thing I continually harp on, we focus too much on in state students. The out of state students, however much you want to make fun of them, have helped Ole Miss change the perception. They spread that message, and it helps Ole Miss with recruits and coaches alike because they're told that Oxford is an amazing place.

[Santiago]

Nobody hates Starkville more than Mississippi State fans. There isn?t another fanbase that hates their city more than State fans hates Starkville. Jesus Christ

Starkville stands out as a great small town. And in this day and age of growth everywhere to the point you cannot breathe, the town is keeping its charm.

But we can be real about any town, when discussing attracting talented people, and then address how to do it. My OP is more about the blind view of the area, as if Coaches make decisions only on the sport they coach. More to it with a family and to consider how happy is momma at the current town and connections.
Like that TV show Love it Or List It if anyone has ever seen. Almost always the couple decides to stay, even if the new place is way better.
Creatures of comfort and hard for families to up and go without several boxes checked.

As Vegas said, we all assume everyone just wants to come here and it means the same thing to them.
Ask the academic side right now how are they doing on recruiting some positions of need?

[CaptainObvious]

Decided to do a little investigating. Bored sitting at home while guys close in the patio and build a shed for me.

Population figures as of 2023: without students

Austin- 979,882 Metro area- 2.473,275
Nashville- 681,150 Metro- 2,072,283
Lexington- 320,154 Metro- 517,056
Baton Rouge- 219,573 Metro- 870,569
Knoxville- 198,162 Metro- 868,546
Columbia SC- 142,416 Metro- 858,302
Norman- 130,046 Metro- 1,425,695 (OKC)
Columbia MO- 129,330
Athens- 128,628 Metro- 219,870
College Station- 125,192 Metro- 269,248
Tuscaloosa- 111,338 Metro- 277,494
Fayetteville- 101,680 Metro- 590,337
Gainesville- 97,500 Metro- 332,317
Auburn- 82,025 Metro- 206,337
Oxford- 27,008
Starkville- 25,444


Make of it what you will, but since 1941, the "overall" Athletics Department at MSU has felt the "Small Town" image. Imagine if the Golden Triangle area had a Sam and Bud Walton duo with the same vision. Look at everything that built around Wal-Mart that brought in hundreds of thousands more people. Every major Vendor built a satellite office employing hundreds. A major trucking company, a major poultry plant, a major paper company all built warehouses and distro centers. The NWA Airport is a major hub now. State used to have to fly into Tulsa and bus nearly 2 hours on mostly 2 lane roads to get to UA's stadium. Now they can land Air Force One and its entire Air Support!

Vision! Bryan just didn't have the Vision! Sara Lee Company had the Vision and took his product and closed his plant. Toyota didn't see the Golden Triangle as a better choice than East New Albany! Puhlease!!! Vision!!!

[Cooterpoot]

Where is "Metro Tuscaloosa" LOL

[StarkVegasSteve]

Where is "Metro Tuscaloosa" LOL

I'm assuming that's Birmingham. Kind of like how DFW has the metroplex but Dallas and Ft. Worth are an hour apart.

[Coursesuper]

Where is "Metro Tuscaloosa" LOL

Tuscaloosa County has exploded. Schools that we 2A ten years ago are 6A now.

[Santiago]

Decided to do a little investigating. Bored sitting at home while guys close in the patio and build a shed for me.

Population figures as of 2023: without students

Austin- 979,882 Metro area- 2.473,275
Nashville- 681,150 Metro- 2,072,283
Lexington- 320,154 Metro- 517,056
Baton Rouge- 219,573 Metro- 870,569
Knoxville- 198,162 Metro- 868,546
Columbia SC- 142,416 Metro- 858,302
Norman- 130,046 Metro- 1,425,695 (OKC)
Columbia MO- 129,330
Athens- 128,628 Metro- 219,870
College Station- 125,192 Metro- 269,248
Tuscaloosa- 111,338 Metro- 277,494
Fayetteville- 101,680 Metro- 590,337
Gainesville- 97,500 Metro- 332,317
Auburn- 82,025 Metro- 206,337
Oxford- 27,008
Starkville- 25,444


Make of it what you will, but since 1941, the "overall" Athletics Department at MSU has felt the "Small Town" image. Imagine if the Golden Triangle area had a Sam and Bud Walton duo with the same vision. Look at everything that built around Wal-Mart that brought in hundreds of thousands more people. Every major Vendor built a satellite office employing hundreds. A major trucking company, a major poultry plant, a major paper company all built warehouses and distro centers. The NWA Airport is a major hub now. State used to have to fly into Tulsa and bus nearly 2 hours on mostly 2 lane roads to get to UA's stadium. Now they can land Air Force One and its entire Air Support!

Vision! Bryan just didn't have the Vision! Sara Lee Company had the Vision and took his product and closed his plant. Toyota didn't see the Golden Triangle as a better choice than East New Albany! Puhlease!!! Vision!!!

Starkville - does that exclude students living off campus?
Assuming "residents"?

But either way.... just looking at that number, dang on baseball game days our crowds in the spring really is important for the town of Starkville.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Starkville - does that exclude students living off campus?
Assuming "residents"?

But either way.... just looking at that number, dang on baseball game days our crowds in the spring really is important for the town of Starkville.

Those number's don't include students, by and large. Generally you can add 20-23K to Starkville and Oxford on any given year. Which still puts them well behind any other SEC town.

You are correct though about how important the crowds are to the town. One of my good friends, and pledge brother, owns Boardtown and he says that those Regional/Super Regional crowds generally bring an extra 150-300K worth of revenue, just for a singular business. So multiply it by all the businesses and it's an 8 figure influx that we've missed out on the past 4 years.

[BigDawg81]

I don't think it's hate. I think it's reality realizing that Starkville doesn't have a lot of appeal unless you're a Mississippi State fan or a student at Mississippi State. I mean if you weren't a Mississippi State fan, where would you spend a non gameday weekend? Athens or Starkville? Auburn or Starkville? Oxford or Starkville?

We love Starkville because we're Mississippi State fans. If you have no connection, would you feel the same way? Look a lot of it is simply just perception. For 5 decades, Ole Miss touted The Square, Velvet Ditch, The Grove, etc. They also touted that Starkville was a cow pasture. Starkville and Mississippi State, at that time, never did anything to fight that perception. Now, in today's day and age we are fighting back finally. But Ole Miss has a 50 year head start. I say this all the time and it's true PERCEPTION MATTERS. Our perception is finally changing, but it's not something that will change overnight. This goes back to another thing I continually harp on, we focus too much on in state students. The out of state students, however much you want to make fun of them, have helped Ole Miss change the perception. They spread that message, and it helps Ole Miss with recruits and coaches alike because they're told that Oxford is an amazing place.
My point is that you will never hear me say that Starkville sucks regardless of how I feel. If any other fanbase goes combatant towards Starkville, I am the 1st to defend it. I grew up 35 minutes south of Starkville with a town that doesn’t have a red light. Skate Odyssey was the place to go as a kid. Ole Miss fans think that Oxford is best city in the SEC and it really isn’t that much different from Starkville.

[Santiago]

My point is that you will never hear me say that Starkville sucks regardless of how I feel. If any other fanbase goes combatant towards Starkville, I am the 1st to defend it. I grew up 35 minutes south of Starkville with a town that doesn’t have a red light. Skate Odyssey was the place to go as a kid. Ole Miss fans think that Oxford is best city in the SEC and it really isn’t that much different from Starkville.

Who on here said it sucks?

[StarkVegasSteve]

My point is that you will never hear me say that Starkville sucks regardless of how I feel. If any other fanbase goes combatant towards Starkville, I am the 1st to defend it. I grew up 35 minutes south of Starkville with a town that doesn’t have a red light. Skate Odyssey was the place to go as a kid. Ole Miss fans think that Oxford is best city in the SEC and it really isn’t that much different from Starkville.

PERCEPTION and 100 years ago they built a square in the middle of town and we built a cemetery.

[cheewgumm]

The way to fix this if you think it needs to be fixed is bring jobs to Starkville.

Easier said than done, but all the other development would follow jobs and population growth.

Make gambling legal in Okt Cty and build casinos. Done and done.

[Skydawg1]

The way to fix this if you think it needs to be fixed is bring jobs to Starkville.

Easier said than done, but all the other development would follow jobs and population growth.

Make gambling legal in Okt Cty and build casinos. Done and done.
Look up Joe Max Higgins and get back to me.

[R2Dawg]

Our fans will definitely outline all the negatives to our job.

I never see any other SEC schools do this.

- Yeah, but Starkville is small
- Yeah, but we can?t pay enough
- Yeah, we have a great stadium but that doesn?t matter
- Yeah we have great fan support but that doesnt matter

We are very talented no and probably about to make a run.

Why did they come here?

Someone needs to interview our current players and ask them why they came to State to give our fans some perspective.


Yeah I don't understand our fans constantly bashing MSU, Starkville, etc. OM talks up their crap even when it amounts to nothing. We are our own worst enemy.

[cheewgumm]

Look up Joe Max Higgins and get back to me.


Hahaha

Oh no, what happened.

I'lll look it up.

[CaptainObvious]

The way to fix this if you think it needs to be fixed is bring jobs to Starkville.

Easier said than done, but all the other development would follow jobs and population growth.

Make gambling legal in Okt Cty and build casinos. Done and done.

They would have to build the casino where Davis Wade is. Burial Grounds and all that stuff. Shaking them bones!

[CaptainObvious]

Where is "Metro Tuscaloosa" LOL

Includes Northport for sure!

[DownwardDawg]

A tradition like no other.....
Except always believing QB2 is the solution to our football woes.

And we beat a blue blood in football, they just sucked that year.

[MoreCowbell]

I keep seeing people talk about us getting the Oregon coach. Like pump the brakes. He has them winning B10 and national seed. We have no shot. Even if Oregon does not care about baseball they will not allow the perception that we can hire a coach from them, no matter the sport.

[Coach34]

I keep seeing people talk about us getting the Oregon coach. Like pump the brakes. He has them winning B10 and national seed. We have no shot. Even if Oregon does not care about baseball they will not allow the perception that we can hire a coach from them, no matter the sport.

agreed. He is going to be a national seed- host- and gets west coast talent. What advantage is gained to move cross country to small town Mississippi?

[DawgFromOxford]

agreed. He is going to be a national seed- host- and gets west coast talent. What advantage is gained to move cross country to small town Mississippi?

Potential pay raise. Money stretches further in Starkville compared to Eugene. Compete in the best conference. Work at a school that cares about baseball. Maybe he likes the southern climate better. Maybe he hates his boss. Chance to build a modern dynasty at a historic program.

There?s plenty of reasons for a top coach to take the job. Doesn?t mean one will but its not like we?re sitting here with nothing to sell.

[Coach34]

Potential pay raise. Money stretches further in Starkville compared to Eugene. Compete in the best conference. Work at a school that cares about baseball. Maybe he likes the southern climate better. Maybe he hates his boss. Chance to build a modern dynasty at a historic program.

There?s plenty of reasons for a top coach to take the job. Doesn?t mean one will but its not like we?re sitting here with nothing to sell.

Loves his job at Oregon
Will get to use us to get a raise
Gets his pick of West Coast talent
No worry of job pressure of getting fired
Will finish in the Top 4 of the conference year after year

I’m gonna sell my shit and move my family why?

[Quaoarsking]

As of right now (and this could change one day), finishing in the top 4 of the Big 10 doesn't guarantee you a Regional at all, but finishing in the top 12 of the SEC does.

It's easy to see why he might want to leave a school that isn't committed to baseball in a conference that isn't committed to baseball and go to a school and conference that is committed. To a school that has proven it can win a national championship, and a conference where you can finish in the bottom half at still expect to contend for Omaha.

You say that Wasikowski has no pressure of getting fired at Oregon, but his predecessor, George Horton (very accomplished coach) was fired by Oregon, so it's not impossible.

[Pancho]

Loves his job at Oregon
Will get to use us to get a raise
Gets his pick of West Coast talent
No worry of job pressure of getting fired
Will finish in the Top 4 of the conference year after year

I’m gonna sell my shit and move my family why?

describes lazy to me. didn't we just rid ourselves of a guy like that and why would we want another? all we need is a strong willed guy not afraid of a challenge. quit considering the mentally weak.

[Santiago]

Speaking of Metro Tuscaloosa, where is Tusk these days?

[Santiago]

Loves his job at Oregon
Will get to use us to get a raise
Gets his pick of West Coast talent
No worry of job pressure of getting fired
Will finish in the Top 4 of the conference year after year

I?m gonna sell my shit and move my family why?

And he is a west coast guy growing up. Won a NC at Pepperdine. I would love to get this guy. Just sizing up our approach to get him here. Our NIL setup may be a big help, but we definitely will need to throw money at this.
Edit: I just looked up his salary. Oregon is not paying him very well, so yeah from money standpoint, if Uncle Phil is not bumping up the money, this is interesting.

[DawgFromOxford]

Loves his job at Oregon
Will get to use us to get a raise
Gets his pick of West Coast talent
No worry of job pressure of getting fired
Will finish in the Top 4 of the conference year after year

I’m gonna sell my shit and move my family why?

You asked for a list of advantages and I gave you some. Every job has pros and cons.

[Saltydog]

Cooking meth in an abandoned trailer in Hightogy.........

[Coach34]

We are a good job. He might very well want to make that move. It would surprise me tho if he did

[Cooterpoot]

I keep seeing people talk about us getting the Oregon coach. Like pump the brakes. He has them winning B10 and national seed. We have no shot. Even if Oregon does not care about baseball they will not allow the perception that we can hire a coach from them, no matter the sport.

He's talked to us and his buyout is nothing. But he's a west coast guy playing in a northern, bad conference. He can ride that or he can go to a more committed program in the best conference. We'd pay more by a mile. I don't expect him to be the guy but we can hope.

[StarkVegasSteve]

He's talked to us and his buyout is nothing. But he's a west coast guy playing in a northern, bad conference. He can ride that or he can go to a more committed program in the best conference. We'd pay more by a mile. I don't expect him to be the guy but we can hope.

He has tried to use every connection he could to politic to boosters for this job. That is why I have kept saying he is the absolute floor. He would ride a Greyhound from Eugene to take our job if we told him to.

[Cooterpoot]

He has tried to use every connection he could to politic to boosters for this job. That is why I have kept saying he is the absolute floor. He would ride a Greyhound from Eugene to take our job if we told him to.

Yeah, that's my hope. He tried to get the job last time, but he's a west coast guy on the west coach and not many of those actually make the move. I'd say Fitz is the floor.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Also on the Lemonis front, there is smoke that South Carolina may can Manieri to get Lemonis because they could get him on the cheap and he is obviously an upgrade over Manieri.

They really wanted him last time and I think they thought they would get him.

[StateDawg44]

Also on the Lemonis front, there is smoke that South Carolina may can Manieri to get Lemonis because they could get him on the cheap and he is obviously an upgrade over Manieri.

They really wanted him last time and I think they thought they would get him.

That would be a good landing spot for him and would be a better hire for SC than Manieri for certain.

Hope that happens for him.