Let the Diamond Girls on the Field

I guess we should let the players take their unis home and wash them so we can get rid of the managers. I mean the managers being close to them might cause a way bigger risk****

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BrunswickDawg

No offense - but yalll are acting like this isn't happening all over the place with activities and student organizations of all kinds. It has been and will continue probably they the rest of this school year at least. Neither of my kids have had what I would call "normal" experiences at college the past 2+ years. In 2020, my daughter was the lead organizer for a major regional conference that is on campus every spring. It's a big deal in her department for post-grad networking. She had worked her tail off and gotten nationally prominent speakers to attend. COVID hit 3 weeks before the conference, and they had to go all on-line and wiped out all travel and all the events they had planned. She had to learn to roll with it and the disappointment. My son spent all Fall of 2020 going to marching band rehearsals 3 days a week so they could be prepared for "if" Valdosta State was allowed to let them play at games at some point - 14 weeks including band camp for shows they never got to play. Neither of them went crying to the university about it because they realize it's all about bigger things than them.

It's a damn world wide pandemic that has killed 850,000 Americans. I'm glad of the policies MSU and a lot of universities have enacted - it's kept both my kids from getting it over the past 2+ years. I'm glad they didn't get it like I did - where I was nearly intubated because my O2 levels crashed. I'm glad they didn't have to spend a week in the hospital and 3 weeks recovering like me. I'm glad they haven't caught it and died like 4 of my family members have. If missing a season of games, or going online, or wearing a mask, or having a conference and hard work cancelled - so be it.

---

Yet, the other teams aren't eliminating them. So your argument is invalid. Do you really believe college kids aren't at bars and parties during the week or season? You don't think they're banging their girlfriends and talking to their side piece? Not a damn soul is catching Covid outside.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homedawg

But they can wait outside the locker room and give them a hug. They can sit beside them in class. They can go to a bar and be 2' from them. They can go to their room. So they whole thing is about optics and that's it.... nothing more nothing less. By not letting diamond girls on the field, are we slowing the spread of covid? If you say yes I've got some land I'd like to sell you.

---

Classes are requiring masks now, so, so much for that example. As for optics you are exactly right, what other choice do they have? Outside of a university sponsored event they can?t control things nor do I think they care, something most here fail to understand. But, this tread consists of mostly regurgitated political talking points from an effete population with a narrow point of view.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Coursesuper

Classes are requiring masks now, so, so much for that example. As for optics you are exactly right, what other choice do they have? Outside of a university sponsored event they can?t control things nor do I think they care, something most here fail to understand. But, this tread consists of mostly regurgitated political talking points from an effete population with a narrow point of view.

---

Great, masks in classes and no diamond girls on the field, we'll have this covid thing whipped in no time***

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cooterpoot

Yet, the other teams aren't eliminating them. So your argument is invalid. Do you really believe college kids aren't at bars and parties during the week or season? You don't think they're banging their girlfriends and talking to their side piece? Not a damn soul is catching Covid outside.

---

No, I'm not naive. Universities are controlling what they can control and mitigating risk and liability. It's the way of the world right now and will be until we transition from pandemic to endemic. They are also looking at the bottom line. Which is more important for all of the above - keeping ball players on the field playing games and avoiding forfeits, or having non ball players picking up bats and handing balls to the umps? Frankly, as they are assessing it, I am sure a lot of "we have no issues last year, so let's keep the status quo" is a big motivator.

Covid is a convenient excuse by Cohen, who has wanted to do this for years. He hated it when he was coach. He got called out on it, so we'll see how it ends up. Probably like our marketing dept, they'll disappear.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homedawg

Great, masks in classes and no diamond girls on the field, we'll have this covid thing whipped in no time***

---

We would, if people gave a shit. They just don't. So we have to continue with this. I said it from day 1. Wear a mask, stay socially distant, wear a mask indoors, wash your hands. Then when the vaccine came out, do all of that and get the vaccine. When the numbers are way down, ditch the mask. Keep you circle small.

But nope. People don't want to do any of it. So.... here we are. Greatest country in the world, with the greatest toughest son of a bitches in the world, can't take a small shot and wear a mask. 17n bunch of C**ts if you ask me.

I would like to add, I like seeing the young coed girls up there dancing and what not. So I hope they do get to do it. They are very attractive so I support it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BrunswickDawg

No, I'm not naive. Universities are controlling what they can control and mitigating risk and liability. It's the way of the world right now and will be until we transition from pandemic to endemic. They are also looking at the bottom line. Which is more important for all of the above - keeping ball players on the field playing games and avoiding forfeits, or having non ball players picking up bats and handing balls to the umps? Frankly, as they are assessing it, I am sure a lot of "we have no issues last year, so let's keep the status quo" is a big motivator.

---

Exactly. Every other statement has now been defeated. None of these jokers have to make the decision with the risk and liability.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lord McBuckethead

We would, if people gave a shit. They just don't. So we have to continue with this. I said it from day 1. Wear a mask, stay socially distant, wear a mask indoors, wash your hands. Then when the vaccine came out, do all of that and get the vaccine. When the numbers are way down, ditch the mask. Keep you circle small.

But nope. People don't want to do any of it. So.... here we are. Greatest country in the world, with the greatest toughest son of a bitches in the world, can't take a small shot and wear a mask. 17n bunch of C**ts if you ask me.

---

Then explain to me why countries that have done ALL of that have similar numbers to ours?? States that have done all of that etc. yeah I know you'll blame no masks(which don't work) and everyone else. Go ahead I've heard it before.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lord McBuckethead

I would like to add, I like seeing the young coed girls up there dancing and what not. So I hope they do get to do it. They are very attractive so I support it.

---

The dancers are not the Diamond Girls.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homedawg

I guess we should let the players take their unis home and wash them so we can get rid of the managers. I mean the managers being close to them might cause a way bigger risk****

---

Ha! Have some rep!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homedawg

I guess we should let the players take their unis home and wash them so we can get rid of the managers. I mean the managers being close to them might cause a way bigger risk****

---

Excellent!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TigerMomofaDawg

The dancers are not the Diamond Girls.

---

So what exactly do the Diamond Girls do?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Vandownbytheriver

So what exactly do the Diamond Girls do?

---

What exactly do cheerleaders do

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cowbell

What exactly do cheerleaders do

---

These days they seem to do the latest TikTok craze that will get them 10s of 10s of views.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Vandownbytheriver

So what exactly do the Diamond Girls do?

---

Normally, on game days, they retrieve bats and foul balls and take water to the umpires. They also greet fans and used to sell programs until State did away with printed programs. On non-game days, they help work events for former players and baseball camps. They also step up to do whatever else needs doing, such as decorating Christmas trees at the Bryan. They work with Maroon Memories to help with all the goodwill programs for little kids. They are the ambassadors of the baseball program. Since Covid, all they are doing is selling merchandise on game days. That is a task that marketing handled pre-Covid.

What is crazy is that these Covid decisions are ostensibly being made to protect the students at State, all of whom are young adults and are perfectly capable of making their own decisions to protect themselves. For example, my family chose to get vaccinated. Some choose not to. That is a decision for each person to make after conducting his or her own risk-benefit analysis. Individuals can evaluate the level of risk and take steps to mitigate that risk or not, but many people are sick and tired of this nonsense of canceling and modifying the things we do in life especially when those decisions are made based on optics rather than actual risk.

Sho is some optics for sure.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BrunswickDawg

No, I'm not naive. Universities are controlling what they can control and mitigating risk and liability. It's the way of the world right now and will be until we transition from pandemic to endemic. They are also looking at the bottom line. Which is more important for all of the above - keeping ball players on the field playing games and avoiding forfeits, or having non ball players picking up bats and handing balls to the umps? Frankly, as they are assessing it, I am sure a lot of "we have no issues last year, so let's keep the status quo" is a big motivator.

---

Isn't the consensus now that the virus is airborne only, and not passed along by touching surfaces?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cowbell

What exactly do cheerleaders do

---

if they are allowed on the football field then they should be allowed on the baseball field

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TigerMomofaDawg

The dancers are not the Diamond Girls.

---

Then I have to ask, what the heck do diamond girls do, and why are they considered a tradition if I didn?t know what they do after going to games for 20 years? Seems to me, they are something we do and not really integral to our team.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homedawg

They are not on scholarship no. They are volunteers and get nothing in return other than the "prestige" that comes with it

---

What ?prestige??

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TigerMomofaDawg

Homedawg gets it.

---

I disagree. Home dog doesn?t get it. The university only controls what it controls. They are responsible to limit what they can. Diamond dogs girls are something that frankly doesn?t offer much and can be temporarily eliminated. I, you, and home dog do not have that responsibility. I now support this decision. Let these gals just go to the game like everyone else. What happens away from the field, is not the universities responsibility.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lord McBuckethead

I disagree. Home dog doesn?t get it. The university only controls what it controls. They are responsible to limit what they can. Diamond dogs girls are something that frankly doesn?t offer much and can be temporarily eliminated. I, you, and home dog do not have that responsibility. I now support this decision. Let these gals just go to the game like everyone else. What happens away from the field, is not the universities responsibility.

---

Yep, they made the right decision. There will always be people that can't understand that will bitch an moan. These are hard decisions that real leaders make in these times. It may help the team stay on the field playing even through this latest surge.

I think we all hope that thing will end and soon. I believe this Omicron variant is just what we all needed to make that very thing happen too. It is so contagious that everyone is getting exposed and those that are going to get it, vaccinated or not will have gotten it in a few more weeks. That ever elusive herd immunity will finally arrive until the next variant but as I understand it, as the new variants come and go they will be less and less deadly.

Is this situation to be reviewed once more later this month? At this point it's like a cat chasing his tail. He gets tired and quits for a bit but then eventually gets back at it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lord McBuckethead

I disagree. Home dog doesn?t get it. The university only controls what it controls. They are responsible to limit what they can. Diamond dogs girls are something that frankly doesn?t offer much and can be temporarily eliminated. I, you, and home dog do not have that responsibility. I now support this decision. Let these gals just go to the game like everyone else. What happens away from the field, is not the universities responsibility.

---

Yes, that's true. So why not get rid of the managers? The radio crew and everyone else? Guess those people can't pass covid along to baseball players though****

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lord McBuckethead

I disagree. Home dog doesn?t get it. The university only controls what it controls. They are responsible to limit what they can. Diamond dogs girls are something that frankly doesn?t offer much and can be temporarily eliminated. I, you, and home dog do not have that responsibility. I now support this decision. Let these gals just go to the game like everyone else. What happens away from the field, is not the universities responsibility.

---

And again, two other schools in the same state, one in the conference, both under the same IHL and same SDH, have not eliminated them. Even you don't believe Covid is the real reason. Neither do all the former players fighting this against our AD & President.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homedawg

Yes, that's true. So why not get rid of the managers? The radio crew and everyone else? Guess those people can't pass covid along to baseball players though****

---

The managers are around the team all the time, and I would argue are necessary to get our team outfitted and ready to play.
The radio crew? They are in the booth and do not mix with the club on any practical level. I would argue, that if they did meet with players, they should stop doing that too.

This "whataboutism" does absolutely nothing for this conversation. The fact is, Diamond Girls are just something we do not have to have for baseball to take place. It is a luxury, and as adults we should all understand that it isn't required or even necessary.

Again, the only thing that matters is that the people that are responsible for the health and safety of our players is doing their jobs. It sucks, yes. But necessary. And you can second guess them all you want, if the responsibility fell to you, I would bet 100% you would change your tune.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cooterpoot

And again, two other schools in the same state, one in the conference, both under the same IHL and same SDH, have not eliminated them. Even you don't believe Covid is the real reason. Neither do all the former players fighting this against our AD & President.

---

I would argue that their leadership is 17n up and being dumbasses.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cooterpoot

And again, two other schools in the same state, one in the conference, both under the same IHL and same SDH, have not eliminated them. Even you don't believe Covid is the real reason. Neither do all the former players fighting this against our AD & President.

---

Well then, what is it then? Because I have not seen a single person with inside knowledge of this situation spell it out. To me, it is temporarily eliminating something we do not need due to covid, which makes 100% sense. So spell it out. What is really going on here, and make sure what you say is 1st hand knowledge of the situation. Adding bullshit to this discussion isn't going to help anything.

Delete

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lord McBuckethead

The managers are around the team all the time, and I would argue are necessary to get our team outfitted and ready to play.
The radio crew? They are in the booth and do not mix with the club on any practical level. I would argue, that if they did meet with players, they should stop doing that too.

This "whataboutism" does absolutely nothing for this conversation. The fact is, Diamond Girls are just something we do not have to have for baseball to take place. It is a luxury, and as adults we should all understand that it isn't required or even necessary.

Again, the only thing that matters is that the people that are responsible for the health and safety of our players is doing their jobs. It sucks, yes. But necessary. And you can second guess them all you want, if the responsibility fell to you, I would bet 100% you would change your tune.

---

So if you're and integral part, it's ok to be around them? As for radio crew they are on the field with them pregame, ride the bus with them and do pregame meals with them, just fyi.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lord McBuckethead

The managers are around the team all the time, and I would argue are necessary to get our team outfitted and ready to play.
The radio crew? They are in the booth and do not mix with the club on any practical level. I would argue, that if they did meet with players, they should stop doing that too.

This "whataboutism" does absolutely nothing for this conversation. The fact is, Diamond Girls are just something we do not have to have for baseball to take place. It is a luxury, and as adults we should all understand that it isn't required or even necessary.

Again, the only thing that matters is that the people that are responsible for the health and safety of our players is doing their jobs. It sucks, yes. But necessary. And you can second guess them all you want, if the responsibility fell to you, I would bet 100% you would change your tune.

---

chill

https://www.google.com/search?q=cele...KRn1QwYSmA1DRM

This is from an article that Steve wrote about the DGs. Seems that it's not just an instance of them being singled out.

"The number of working staff employed by the University and members of the press have been limited on the sidelines over the course of the global pandemic. The number of photographers for football has been drastically cut. Free lance photogs who were once a part of the Saturday shooting gallery have not been issued credentials for the past two seasons.
During the 2021 college baseball season, Mississippi State provided photographs for working media. The close quarters of the dugout camera wells did not provide sufficient room for the usual demand for photographer credentials.
The basketball ball kid program has been suspended for two seasons now as the University seeks to limit the number of personnel on the floor. In fact, members of the Mississippi State media have been relocated to the upper sections of Humphrey Coliseum."

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Vandownbytheriver

This is from an article that Steve wrote about the DGs. Seems that it's not just an instance of them being singled out.

"The number of working staff employed by the University and members of the press have been limited on the sidelines over the course of the global pandemic. The number of photographers for football has been drastically cut. Free lance photogs who were once a part of the Saturday shooting gallery have not been issued credentials for the past two seasons.
During the 2021 college baseball season, Mississippi State provided photographs for working media. The close quarters of the dugout camera wells did not provide sufficient room for the usual demand for photographer credentials.
The basketball ball kid program has been suspended for two seasons now as the University seeks to limit the number of personnel on the floor. In fact, members of the Mississippi State media have been relocated to the upper sections of Humphrey Coliseum."

---

in other words - Blame China ... Not Cohen